I want to be a figure skater in my next life!
Like most kids in New England, I learned how to ice skate as a kid. I can still skate forwards quite competently, and if no one else is on the ice, do some very rudimentary backwards skating.
In 1980, I happened to tune into the Winter Olympics and instantly became an avid, rabid figure skating fan. The two men who did this were Robin Cousins and Scott Hamilton. They bowled me over with their musicality and energy. For me, seeing these powerful skaters perform was the ultimate in music video.
In my opinion, music must come first in the heart, soul and mind of the skater. If they are in love with their music, the performance is 56% there already. (Don’t question that number – I was a statistician for 26 years!)
Brian Boitano asked Janet Lynn, many years after her retirement, if she still imagined herself skating to music that she encountered in elevators and other everday places. Boitano constantly experienced this, Lynn replied that she always did, too.
I also imagine myself skating to certain pieces of music, but since I can’t
figure skate in real life (some injuries, during my attempts at beginner lessons,
ended that dream) but more often, I picture famous skaters doing particular
pieces of music. Here are some of the programs that are on my wish list! If
you are one of the skaters listed, please try these musical selections! If you
know any of the skaters, please suggest the pieces to them. Otherwise, imagine
for yourself what these great performances could be like.