“Buon Ferragosto”, they say in Italy on August 15th, celebrating the beautiful days of summer (and the nostalgia surrounding the fast approaching end of it…) – and for the people in Varese, northern Italy, Ferragosto of 2024 was surely one to remember: Acinque Ice Arena in the city opened its doors to a fabulous skating show – Japanese Dream Ice Gala.
On the official poster, Carolina Kostner and sakura flowers, appropriately describing the essence, the meaning of the show: the gala featured some of the most prominent Japanese skaters of the present moment, in an early attempt to familiarize them with the city of Varese (set to become a training base for the Japanese skating team), with the Italian soil altogether, home to the next Winter Olympic Games.
On their part, the Japanese athletes came to Varese fully prepared to showcase their skills, and most of them even skated one of their competitive programs – almost like a teaser for the season set to begin. And some of them would actually start their season in Italy, just a month later, at 2024 Lombardia Trophy in Bergamo.
Carefully put together by Carolina Kostner and Ghiaccio Spettacolo, the show had dream&dreams as the main theme: the journey, the adventure of reaching the Olympics, the road to excellence, one’s highest goals and aspirations.
At the end of it, just like in “Pagliacci”, Leoncavallo’s masterpiece, one could easily sing with joy, with enthusiasm: “Oh, che bel sole di mezz’agosto!”, what a beautiful mid-august sun! And one could even point out to the rising sun on the official poster, highlighting this Italian-Japanese bond set for great things in view of the Olympics.
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For an accurate, detailed description of the show, do read Chloé Di Sanzio’s story for Golden Skate. And then come back to our photos with the air of a connoisseur…
The wonderful host that Carolina Kostner was on the night of August 15th in Varese. Of course, Carolina’s ties with the Japanese Skating Federation are already well-known: as of last season, she coaches the Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama.
Mai Mihara skated in Varese her new short program to “Grief” by Tony Ann
Sota Yamamoto skating to “Split, Postcard from Far Away” by Ezio Bosso, arranged by Cedric Tour, a short program choreographed by Benoît Richaud
Shun Sato skated his exhibition program in Varese – to “Rise (Leave Me Alone)” by Safri Duo featuring Clark Anderson – choreographed by Akiko Suzuki
Eyes that tell a story: ice dancers Utana Yoshida and Masaya Morita performing their rhythm dance to “Be-Bop-a-Lula” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”, choreo. by Cathy Reed
The dream on ice that Carolina Kostner is, skating to “Make It Your Dream” – she has fulfilled her Olympic dream, she now helps other brilliant skaters to reach their own
Gestures that are mirroring Carolina’s: “The Sound of Silence”, as imagined by Yuma Kagiyama in his short program for 2024-2025 season, choreographed by Lori Nichol
Feel the energy: Kao Miura skating to “Natural” by Imagine Dragons, an exhibition program choreographed by Kenji Miyamoto
Dreaming high, aiming high: Mone Chiba skating her long program to “Ariana Concerto No. 1” by Yves Lévèque, choreo. by Lori Nichol
Intriguingly beautiful: Hana Yoshida and her short program to “Temen Oblak (Dark Clouds)” by Christopher Tin and Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, choreo. by Benoît Richaud
Paint it Black, a short program that is dark, is beautiful, is them: Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne)
A tango for the three-time World Champion: Kaori Sakamoto skating to Astor Piazzolla (“Resurreccion del Angel”, “La Muerte del Angel”), her short program this season, choreographed by Rohene Ward
But the show in Varese also featured some very well-known Italian skaters, such as Matteo Rizzo, in his first appearance after his surgery…
…pair skaters Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini
…but also the exquisite ice dancers that Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri are – and the following photos are a joy to the eyes.
[Intro by Florentina Tone
Photos by Alberto Ponti, Varese]