Doodlin’- Natalia Zaitseva, Jonathon Hunt, Erin Reed, Ryan Bradley
Have you ever wished that going to see figure skating were more like going to the ballet? Long, extended artistic pieces instead of short competitive programs packed with as many jumps and spins as possible? I sure have! And now I’ve experienced a show like that: Ice Theatre of New York’s premiere of Ice:Dance 2014 in Wenatchee, WA.
The Ice Theatre of New York is a non-profit dance company on ice, with a professional ensemble of skaters who train together and an extensive repertory. Most of the their pieces were created by ITNY’s artistic director Douglas Webster but the company also commissions and performs work by other choreographers. The skaters work with NYC and Miami Ballet legend Edward Villela and the show is certainly the most balletic skating I have ever seen.
My favorites of their pieces were the large ensembles with their long length and artistic freedom. The first such piece in the program was This is Forever, an adaptation to the ice of a ballet by Jacqulyn Buglisi. Happily, this is the one piece from the show that I’ve found posted online so I can share it with you.
The piece features Lynn Kriengkrairut and Logan Guilietti-Schmitt. They were strong and interesting to watch in competition and are perhaps even more interesting to watch in this artistic venue now that they have retired. In an interview about ITNY, Logan said: “It is really nice to just listen to the music and feel and interpret it as we wish, and not be restricted by rules.” Nice for the audience too!
My ice dance coach Ty, a Wenatchee native, was also in this number. He’s always the most elegant skater out there with long and beautiful lines: here are some photos from This is Forever:
Tyrell Gene and Carly Donowick
Carly and Ty
Carly and Ty
and with Lynn and Logan:
Lynne and Logan, Carly and Ty
The ice dance men in the ensemble:
Tyrell Gene, Brent Bommentre, Joel Dear
More about the show soon!
Related Posts:
Ice Theatre of New York Part III Ice Theatre of New York's premiere of Ice:Dance 2014 in Wenatchee, WA: Part III of my report.
Fiesta Flow Community Class by Douglas Webster A skating seminar by Douglas Webster on achieving flow and enjoying the artistic aspects of skating.
Ice Theatre of New York Part II Ice Theatre of New York's performance of Ice:Dance 2104, Oct. 3 in Wenatchee, WA. Part II of my report.
Sun Valley Skating Part I Sun Valley Ice Show August 23rd, and skating at Sun Valley.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks beautiful! Of course, I’m the spectator here…I know nothing about ice skating except what I see on TV.. :p
Wendy recently posted..Who do you run for?
If you can appreciate the beauty that’s all you need to enjoy artistic skating! Skating is both a sport and an art.
What a great show! Thanks for sharing it. We are in the midst of Skate America here. It’s been so cool for the kids (and me) to have World Champions showing up at our rink this week to practice. My daughter skates Sunday. : )
Marcia recently posted..Test Lab Thursday
I sure wish I could have been there tonight to see Jason Brown and Jeremy Abbott skate! It is cool when out of town top skaters come to your rink to practice, I’ve had that experience a few times at our rink here. I hope your daughter has a good experience out there tomorrow!
Very cool – I agree that sometimes we are so constrained by rules that the artistry of the sport gets lost. Maybe one day the powers that be in the ISU will change the rules so that skaters can become artists/entertainers again.
Eva recently posted..Skating Fridays
Or we can expand our horizons and have lots of other kinds of skating out there to enjoy other than competition. It just needs an audience, and with this kind of quality I think it can get one.
I tend to only notice ice skating every 4 years (Olympics!). But your passion is exhilarating. GREG
Sippitysup recently posted..Tasting Santa Barbara Wines: # SBCWine #COH14
Thanks, Greg, it is indeed a passion for me, one that I love to share!