No better time than this summer to relive some of the biggest moments of last season – and we’ll start by inviting you to travel with us to the Worlds in China: it’s the end of March, we’re in Shanghai Oriental Sports Center and the dancers are ready to take the ice for their practice. There are colors, enthusiasm, emotions in the photos taken by Wilma Alberti in Shanghai – and we gladly share them with you. Ready?
What an amazing short dance this was: Elena Ilinykh and Ruslan Zhiganshin – and their own version of “Carmen”, as choreographed by Antonio Najarro (practice session in Shanghai)
It’s all about attitude: Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri, practicing their short dance in Shanghai, to Flamenco (“Farrucas” by Jose Galvan) and Paso Doble (“Gato Montes” by Hugo Montenegro)
Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani – and one of the most powerful short dances of last season. Their choice of music was to die for (“Asturias Variations” and “The Last Corrida”)
One of our personal favorites: the story of the bull and the bullfighter, as told by Sara Hurtado and Adria Diaz – and choreographed by Antonio Najarro, director of the Ballet Nacional de España (practice session in Shanghai)
On their last season together on the ice, Cathy Reed and Cris Reed chose to skate to “El Cid” and “Gato Montes” for their short dance
A glorious short dance for Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, to “La Virgen de la Macarena”, one that suited them and their style of skating like a glove. “We relate to these Latin dances, we find themselves in them. Some of the best performances of our career have been to Latin music, we’re good in showing this music’s strengths and vulnerabilities”, said Kaitlyn in Barcelona, at the 2014-2015 Grand Prix Final
From where we stand, Alexandra Nazarova and Maxim Nikitin have been one of the revelations of last season: trained by Alexander Zhulin, the young Ukrainians took the bronze medal at 2015 Junior Worlds – and their creativity might prove one of their biggest aces in their senior career; here, practicing their free dance, to “Escalier”, “Tango Tchack” by Hugues Le Bars and “Air” by Johann Sebastian Bach
Nelli Zhiganshina and Alexander Gazsi practicing their free dance in Shanghai, to music from “Swan Lake Reloaded”. Unfortunately for them and their fans, they had to withdraw from the event due to Alexander’s stomach problems; this was actually the last event of their competitive career – and we’ll surely miss their distinct presence on the ice
Alexandra Paul and Mitchell Islam practicing their airy free dance in Shanghai, to “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel
A joy to the eyes – and ears: Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani and their “Blue Danube” free dance (practice session in Shanghai)
A historic 11th place for Denmark’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen at 2015 Worlds – and a beautiful free dance, to music by Frank Sinatra and Karl Hugo van Kerckhove (practice session in Shanghai)
Madison Chock and Evan Bates – and their way of telling the story of “An American in Paris” (practice session in Shanghai)
Madison and Evan’s enthusiasm is purely contagious
This free dance, to Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” arranged by Max Richter, is exactly like the expression on Kaitlyn’s face: serene, pure, beautiful.
Perfect alignment
Trusting each other with their thoughts, their goals, their story: Elena Ilinykh and Ruslan Zhiganshin
A jewel of a free dance: Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron in Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, the place where it all started. In November 2014, the French took the gold at Cup of China; 4 months later, they did it again, this time at the biggest competition of the season
No dance like this dance. Gabriella Papadakis, Guillaume Cizeron and the “Adagio” from Concerto No. 23 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
A powerful, dramatic free dance, to “Danse Macabre” by Camille Saint-Saens: Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte during a practice session in Shanghai
Make sure you’ll follow us through the summer: more photos from the Worlds in Shanghai are about to be published – including funny snapshots taken at the rehearsals for the Gala.