... I went off the fitness cliff a while ago. Haven't exercised in weeks. What's so scary about that?
Anyway - Happy New Year to all of you!
January 1, 2013
December 24, 2012
Merry Christmas
Repost from 12/25/09
There were many times when I skated on Christmas Day ... the Nutcracker in Honolulu was especially nice ... doing three shows in freezing Germany was not so much.
Of course it was sad to be away from home and away from family, but it was fun to be with my family of skaters. We always did a Secret Santa or some massive party because everyone felt we had to make it really, really fun and festive or there would have been a big ol' bunch of depressed skaters out on the ice who were away from home and and away from family.
Nobody wants that.
So for all of you showskaters working today, give the gal next to you a little pinch and remember to enjoy the day. It will help the hangover. But remember, New Year's Eve is right around the corner.
There were many times when I skated on Christmas Day ... the Nutcracker in Honolulu was especially nice ... doing three shows in freezing Germany was not so much.
Of course it was sad to be away from home and away from family, but it was fun to be with my family of skaters. We always did a Secret Santa or some massive party because everyone felt we had to make it really, really fun and festive or there would have been a big ol' bunch of depressed skaters out on the ice who were away from home and and away from family.
Nobody wants that.
So for all of you showskaters working today, give the gal next to you a little pinch and remember to enjoy the day. It will help the hangover. But remember, New Year's Eve is right around the corner.
December 12, 2012
Supr'Ice is right!
Saw an ice show this past weekend at an amusement park.
You too?
There are a lot of them out there right now. Ice shows and Christmas go together like salt and pepper, like peanut butter and jelly, or if you're a fan of Talladega Nights, "like cocaine and waffles."
I finally got to Europa-Park in Germany, which was all decked out for the holidays. Europa-Park has a theme similar to Epcot with several countries from Europe sprawled out among the grounds. It was fun to walk from Iceland to Spain in less than five minutes.
So it was in Greece that I saw their Christmas show "Surpr'Ice." I hope that's not a bad omen.
It was a very good show. I loved the most of the music they skated to and the skaters were excellent. But I must be getting old, because my main complaint was that the music was too loud. It's good to have loud music, no doubt, I think it makes you feel more included in the show, BUT not too loud. It was so loud, it was coming across the speakers distorted. OR, that was my eardrums. Like I said, I'm getting old.
The principal skaters, like I said, were excellent. Watch out - here comes Finland. Both female principal skaters were from Finland.
But it was the male principal skater that did something I'd never seen before ... EVER. Kind of interesting.
His solo program had no jumps. Tricks - like Russian splits, hitchkicks, and lots of backflips - but NO jumps. Not an axel, not a double axel or triple toe loop which is standard fare for a male principal.
Can you think of a number that you watched where the skater didn't have any standard jumps? He did have two backflips in his solo and a backflip for the finale, so the guy can jump. AND he had excellent spins - including a beautiful flying camel back sit and an interesting position on a sit spin that had a lot of speed.
Almost every skater that can spin that well and throw in backflips to boot, can jump well too. There is no reason to think that he can't.
So why didn't he???? My theory is someone (the execs in the park, the choreographer, or the skater) decided the backflips would be better for the crowd than the jumps.
What do you think?
You too?
There are a lot of them out there right now. Ice shows and Christmas go together like salt and pepper, like peanut butter and jelly, or if you're a fan of Talladega Nights, "like cocaine and waffles."
I finally got to Europa-Park in Germany, which was all decked out for the holidays. Europa-Park has a theme similar to Epcot with several countries from Europe sprawled out among the grounds. It was fun to walk from Iceland to Spain in less than five minutes.
So it was in Greece that I saw their Christmas show "Surpr'Ice." I hope that's not a bad omen.
It was a very good show. I loved the most of the music they skated to and the skaters were excellent. But I must be getting old, because my main complaint was that the music was too loud. It's good to have loud music, no doubt, I think it makes you feel more included in the show, BUT not too loud. It was so loud, it was coming across the speakers distorted. OR, that was my eardrums. Like I said, I'm getting old.
The principal skaters, like I said, were excellent. Watch out - here comes Finland. Both female principal skaters were from Finland.
But it was the male principal skater that did something I'd never seen before ... EVER. Kind of interesting.
His solo program had no jumps. Tricks - like Russian splits, hitchkicks, and lots of backflips - but NO jumps. Not an axel, not a double axel or triple toe loop which is standard fare for a male principal.
Can you think of a number that you watched where the skater didn't have any standard jumps? He did have two backflips in his solo and a backflip for the finale, so the guy can jump. AND he had excellent spins - including a beautiful flying camel back sit and an interesting position on a sit spin that had a lot of speed.
Almost every skater that can spin that well and throw in backflips to boot, can jump well too. There is no reason to think that he can't.
So why didn't he???? My theory is someone (the execs in the park, the choreographer, or the skater) decided the backflips would be better for the crowd than the jumps.
What do you think?
December 4, 2012
Urgent Casting Call for the Seattle area
Cirque du Noel
looking for
6 Ensemble Girls
1 Solo Boy
1 Solo girl
1 Adagio Pair
Cirque Acts that skate
The Show is December 21 Seattle Washington Arena. Will fly Dec 18 rehersals 19,20,21 will provide salary, transportation,accommodations, & meals.
If you are interested Please contact A.S.A.P Rosstyn at 561-436-0128 or Laurilee at 561-436-0142
e-mail at rglproductions@aol.com or rglproductions@mac.com
Only three days of rehearsal ... how bad can that be?
November 29, 2012
Facebook Friend Requests: What Would You Do?
or as the guys from South Park asked: WWBBD?
... as in Brian Boitano, who shows up in my "Friends You May Know" list when I requested my long lost cousin to be my friend. So does Katarina Witt and Jayne Torville.
I credit Oksana with this. She's my gateway skater leading me to all sorts of untouchable Olympic Champions. First Oksana, then Tai, then who knows?
So, would you (or have you) befriended Brian or Katarina?
... as in Brian Boitano, who shows up in my "Friends You May Know" list when I requested my long lost cousin to be my friend. So does Katarina Witt and Jayne Torville.
I credit Oksana with this. She's my gateway skater leading me to all sorts of untouchable Olympic Champions. First Oksana, then Tai, then who knows?
So, would you (or have you) befriended Brian or Katarina?
November 20, 2012
This Made Me Laugh
... how about you? So true.
I discovered this gem courtesy of the Chive listed under today's Daily Morning Awesomeness. Go check them out ... and be awesome. :-)
I discovered this gem courtesy of the Chive listed under today's Daily Morning Awesomeness. Go check them out ... and be awesome. :-)
November 6, 2012
Bond, Skate Bond
About a month ago I was talking with a fellow show skater who said that Holiday On Ice wasn't doing well. I had to wonder because they don't have a new show coming out this year. That's not a good sign.
So, I've got an idea for HOI ... oh and you're welcome.
Much like when Feld production (the folks of Disney on Ice) produced a pretty successful ice show called "High School Musical On Ice". It sold well in the first and second years.
I think a skating show about James Bond has great potential. So many of the theme songs from the movies are fantastic and would be great to see with skating.
Bond, Skate Bond - what do you think?
Who didn't love Yu-na Kim's short program in Vancouver? Could it work in an entire show like High School Musical did?
I'm putting aside all of the licensing issues - I know it costs a lot to use the music, but I'm hoping the profits would take care of that.
Doing Bond is trickier in some respects. High School Musical On Ice followed the plots of two shows, so there was a natural progression that you wouldn't have with Bond. We're doing theme songs here, so there has to be a variety to keep people interested.
On the plus side, the theme of James Bond is instantly recognized. So let's make it into a show shall we?
Here's how I'd do it:
Opening - to me it would have to be the main "007 Theme" that starts out most of the movies (not to be confused with the "James Bond Theme" - who knew?). Your principal male skater would be this Bond and the chorus could be between robbers (villians) and other spys (gals in trench coats could be very stylish).
The Second number would tie in the newest movie "Skyfall" by Adele with your principal female skater.
The one problem I could see with a James Bond show is that most of the songs are the big ballad types and one after another in the line-up would get boring. So you've got to mix it up.
The third number could be Madonna's "Die Another Day" which has a modern, funky beat that will break up the slow tunes. I'm not crazy about this song though ... personally I don't think it's her best work. But you need this number for the variety. Full chorus for this number, put in a good ol' pinwheel and kickline for good measure.
You could blend this song with the second half of "The World Is Not Enough" by Garbage which has a rich orchestration that we're used to with most of the Bond songs.
Next, as great as all of the Shirley Bassey tunes are, they are the oldest and the audience may not recognize them. My suggestion: put "Goldfinger", "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Moonraker" in a montage with three different skaters in very different outfits. Gold, silver and blue, perhaps, and in that order.
Now we have four to sixish numbers so far, which doesn't make enough to get you through to intermission. The first half needs to be about 40 - 45 minutes at least. So I would add a couple non-Bond songs, like a Scottish-bag pipe song that reminds one of Great Britian, home of the spy. Another location song could be a beachy theme with Bond girls in bathing suits set to a Greek-style folk song. Or Italian accordian? Think the Riveria.
But in terms of this blog post, if you haven't stopped reading already you will soon if I don't speed up my show.
So, for the second half, you would want to include Sheryl Crow's "Tomorrow Never Dies" then Duran Duran's "View to a Kill" and a-ha's "The Living Daylights" to bring in a faster beat. I would have my last two ballads be the more well-known "For Your Eyes Only" by Sheena Easton and Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better" - a personal favorite - that could be the last solo number before the big finale.
The finale should restart the "007 Theme" blending with the "James Bond Theme" and blending into my personal favorite Bond theme (it's my show, so I get to pick the closer, ok?) "Live and Let Die."
So that's the show, plus or minus a few tunes. Like I said earlier, if you're still reading this, let me know what you think?
So, I've got an idea for HOI ... oh and you're welcome.
Much like when Feld production (the folks of Disney on Ice) produced a pretty successful ice show called "High School Musical On Ice". It sold well in the first and second years.
I think a skating show about James Bond has great potential. So many of the theme songs from the movies are fantastic and would be great to see with skating.
Bond, Skate Bond - what do you think?
Who didn't love Yu-na Kim's short program in Vancouver? Could it work in an entire show like High School Musical did?
I'm putting aside all of the licensing issues - I know it costs a lot to use the music, but I'm hoping the profits would take care of that.
Doing Bond is trickier in some respects. High School Musical On Ice followed the plots of two shows, so there was a natural progression that you wouldn't have with Bond. We're doing theme songs here, so there has to be a variety to keep people interested.
On the plus side, the theme of James Bond is instantly recognized. So let's make it into a show shall we?
Here's how I'd do it:
Opening - to me it would have to be the main "007 Theme" that starts out most of the movies (not to be confused with the "James Bond Theme" - who knew?). Your principal male skater would be this Bond and the chorus could be between robbers (villians) and other spys (gals in trench coats could be very stylish).
The Second number would tie in the newest movie "Skyfall" by Adele with your principal female skater.
The one problem I could see with a James Bond show is that most of the songs are the big ballad types and one after another in the line-up would get boring. So you've got to mix it up.
The third number could be Madonna's "Die Another Day" which has a modern, funky beat that will break up the slow tunes. I'm not crazy about this song though ... personally I don't think it's her best work. But you need this number for the variety. Full chorus for this number, put in a good ol' pinwheel and kickline for good measure.
You could blend this song with the second half of "The World Is Not Enough" by Garbage which has a rich orchestration that we're used to with most of the Bond songs.
Next, as great as all of the Shirley Bassey tunes are, they are the oldest and the audience may not recognize them. My suggestion: put "Goldfinger", "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Moonraker" in a montage with three different skaters in very different outfits. Gold, silver and blue, perhaps, and in that order.
Now we have four to sixish numbers so far, which doesn't make enough to get you through to intermission. The first half needs to be about 40 - 45 minutes at least. So I would add a couple non-Bond songs, like a Scottish-bag pipe song that reminds one of Great Britian, home of the spy. Another location song could be a beachy theme with Bond girls in bathing suits set to a Greek-style folk song. Or Italian accordian? Think the Riveria.
But in terms of this blog post, if you haven't stopped reading already you will soon if I don't speed up my show.
So, for the second half, you would want to include Sheryl Crow's "Tomorrow Never Dies" then Duran Duran's "View to a Kill" and a-ha's "The Living Daylights" to bring in a faster beat. I would have my last two ballads be the more well-known "For Your Eyes Only" by Sheena Easton and Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better" - a personal favorite - that could be the last solo number before the big finale.
The finale should restart the "007 Theme" blending with the "James Bond Theme" and blending into my personal favorite Bond theme (it's my show, so I get to pick the closer, ok?) "Live and Let Die."
So that's the show, plus or minus a few tunes. Like I said earlier, if you're still reading this, let me know what you think?
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