http://www.absoluteskating.com/articles ... ice-1.htmlBy Atsuko Kuryu, Photos © Munenori HashimotoThe 2010 Dreams on Ice
Part IThis year’s edition of “Dreams On Ice” was held in the Shin-Yokohama Ice Skating Center on June 25 - 27. These shows are very popular and tickets were sold out just five minutes after they went on sale, several months ago. But an hour before the show started there was a long line of fans outside the venue, hoping to be able to buy one of the few ordered, but never picked up tickets.
Almost all Japanese top skaters, except Nobunari Oda but including the top three junior skaters, joined this annual exhibition. Originally it was created in order for young Japanese skaters to get a chance to perform in front of an audience and to enhance their own powers of expression because they seldom had that opportunity. However, figure skating became very popular in Japan and consequently the skaters already have many chances to skate in shows. So although the show might have lost its original significance, it’s still important to fans since, besides Nationals, it’s the only chance to watch Japanese top skaters perform together.
Added to the Japanese skaters were three wonderful guest skaters: Evgeni Plushenko, Stéphane Lambiel and Laura Lepistö.
The audience which filled the venue was really enthusiastic and seemed hardly able to wait.
ACT I whole text: http://www.absoluteskating.com/articles ... ice-1.html----------------------
http://www.absoluteskating.com/articles ... ice-2.htmlThe 2010 Dreams on Ice
Part IIACT II ...
Cathy Reed/Chris Reed
Takahiko Kozuka
Akiko Suzuki
Stéphane Lambiel
Laura Lepistö
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Evgeni Plushenko – Silver at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics
“Malade”Even if Stéphane usually enchants the Japanese women, the
star attraction for “Dreams On Ice” was Evgeni Plushenko.
As soon as he appeared on the ice, the crowd started cheering for him. Whatever he did in the performance, people went wild,
they didn’t even care that his jumps were a bit off. The highlight of the program was the quick footwork in the middle. Oh, how fast he made the steps alternately right and left! The standing ovation started before his performance even finished.
Evgeni : “My dream is to skate in the Sochi Winter Games. Maybe I will be past my peek by then, but still I want the challenge. I tried a quadruple Salchow three days ago, and I felt fairly content with the outcome. I want to keep skating if I can only be healthy enough, without injuries.”
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Miki Ando
Daisuke Takahashi
Mao Asada
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The finaleOn the first day the skaters had looked quite tense because most of them performed their new programs for the first time. They must have been worried about how well these programs would be received. Therefore the last day’s finale meant a huge relief and the skaters looked very relaxed and had so much fun together. After the regular finale was over, it was time for some special fun and almost all the skaters did encores, challenging themselves to a special jump or move. For some this worked out well, for others not so. I listed what they did:
Daisuke - quadruple flip,
Kozuka and Hanyu – quadruple toe , Takahashi/Tran – twist, Reeds – lift, Nanri and Nakamura – triple Axel, Uno – cantilever, Kanako – double toe-triple toe, Haruka – triple loop, Mao, Miki, Akiko and Laura – spirals,
Plushenko – double Axel, Lambiel – spins, Ice Messengers – a group lift.
Every year in “Dreams On Ice”, we spot some new talent that might pose a threat to the top skaters. This year it was very prominent, especially in the men’s field. Machida and Hanyu showed they will be ready to represent Japan in the 2011 WorldChampionships. And in the women’s field Kanako will move up to the senior stage this year. None of the Olympians should get too comfortable…
whole text: http://www.absoluteskating.com/articles ... ice-2.html