Ilia Kulik - choreographed by Ilia Kulik
SOI Lake Placid Nov, 27, 1999
Hi these are my thought on the show.. please remember that writing is not my strongest point, but I know people want to know about the show so here are my thoughts:
ACT I
WONDERFUL WORLD
Scott welcomes you from backstage, then Kurt comes out in his clown persona…with a bag.. that he uses throughout the show.. Much like Stevens janitor outfit last year. I guess the meaning of the bag is luggage to travel the world, since the theme of this years show is "What a Wonderful World". It is repeated in several languages at the beginning the skaters are introduced.
Strobe's Nanafushi by Kodo
Cast - Choreographed by Company Choreographers & A.C. Ciulla
The opening is not like last year where each skater is introduced they actually introduce
the whole cast at once with the lights off. Then they each start coming out in no specific
order they get together in square formation perform dance in semi darkness then squat
down. The spotlight hits each skater for a second one by on and they "pop up".
Once everyone is up they skate together.
Bailamos by Enrique Iglesias
Tara Lipinski, Ilia Kulik, Jenni Menno & Todd Sand
This is still part of the opening, everyone leaves and Ilia comes out… I can remember
if Tara is already there of if she comes out later, they do a bit dancing together, Ilia
does his best Ricky Martin imitation... LOL. Jeni and Todd are also in this but I really
don’t remember what they do.
Never by Leon Now
Lu Chen
Now Lulu comes out still in her opening number costume with golden fan. I liked this a
lot; the spins look wonderful with a fan behind her back. This is my favorite Lulu piece
from this and last years show.
Demeain by Les Nubians
Kristi Yamaguchi & Ekaterina Gordeeva
Now Kristi and Katia come out still in same opening costumes, they do brief synchronized
skate around. They look good together, since they are the same builds.
Swingtown by The Steve Miller Band
Scott Hamilton, Lu Chen, Steven Cousins, Elena Bechke & Denis Petrov
Still the opening, Elena and Denis do lifts, I was mostly watching them so I am not clear
on what the others do. I think Lulu is paired off with Steven, while Scott takes center
stage. Overall, I really enjoyed the opening its different from most of the other
SOI shows that I have seen. The costumes are beautiful glittery shinny black and gold, all
the girls have different ones.with same type of material, while the men are pretty much
the same. _____________________________________________________________________________________
Rag-GIDON-time by Gidon Kremmer/Oleg Mainsenberg
Kurt Browning - choreographed by Sandra Bezic & Michael Seibert
Well Kurt is the clown, I think most people have seen this routine. He used for
competitions last year. I love this number more and more! Kurt’s one-man clown act is
funnier than the whole SOI cast clown act from last year. Kurt has this clown personality
throughout the whole show. he just clowns around like only Kurt can do. he **is soo
funny** he had me cracking up the whole time.
Ghost by Bande Original Du Film
Renne Roca & Gorsha Sur - choreographed by Renne Roca & Gorsha Sur
Ahhhhhhhhh… is all I can say about this number.. It is so beautiful classical
skating. It’s my favorite number from the whole show. I could watch it over and over.
Much better than both of their programs from last year.
Ribbon - Franz Liszt/Vladimir Horowitz
Ekaterina Gordeeva - choreographed by Marina Zueva
Katia uses a gymnastic ribbon. its very effective especially during spins, she got
applause everytime she spinned. There is a tano lutz, which would look wonderful but she
singled it. I had seen this program before in Simsbury show and in this version.. it
seemed to me that some things were taken out, not sure. Katia wears a high neck midnight
blue dress and long skirt. It makes her look taller, so she is not so overpowered by the
ribbon.
|
Blues for Narada by Gary
Moore Ilia Kulik - choreographed by Ilia Kulik |
| Ilia’s blue’s number is filled with fancy footwork and interesting moves… he does throw in a 3axel so we don’t forget he can still jump. It’s an introverted number, but very intense. I liked it, but not as much as his SOI numbers from last year. | |
Baby Did a Bad Thing by Chirs Isaak
Jenni Meno & Todd Sand - Choreographed by Sandra Bezic & Michael Seibert
This is Jenni and Todd’s solo. I like it much better than Europa from last year.
Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera
Tara Lipinski - choreographed by Sandra Bezic & Michael Seibert
Very cute… Tara is carried out by Denis and Gorsha dressed as Gennie’s she then
blinks them away. This standard Tara stuff.but it’s very cute. Tara fans will love
it.
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OLD FRIENDS
This is the Simon & Garfunkel ensemble… I find it a bit confusing the first time I saw it, but I begin to understand what they were trying to do.
You can call Me Al byPaul Simon
Scott Hamilton - choreographed by Sarah Kawahara
Standard Scott stuff. Good number, I enjoyed and mostly because like the music.
Me & Julio by Simon & Garfunkel
Kurt Browning & Steven Cousins
Kurt and Steven pal around…it seems a bit contrived to me, but its cute short piece
and of course it fits the old friends theme.
Cecilia by Simon & Garfunkel
Scott Hamilton & Ekaterina Gordeeva
Katia skates around Scott "teasing" him … of course Scott’s
expressions are very funny.
The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel
Scott Hamilton, Elena Bechke & Denis Petrov, Jenni Meno & Todd Sands, Rene Roca
& Gorsha Sur
Good piece, I mostly watched Denis and Elena, but I was tough because I also love Rene
& Gorsha. Not sure how this fits the old friends theme? But of course it had to be
included in Simon and Garfunkel ensemble.
| Bridge over troubled
Water by Simon & Garfunkel Kristi Yamaguchi - choreographed by Sandra Bezic This is my second favorite piece of the show… just beautiful and of course I love the song. Kristi’s dress is just gorgeous. I loved the violin concerto last year, but I think I like this even better. |
 |
Old Friends by Simon & Garfunkel Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, Ekaterina Gordeeva, Kurt Browning,, & Steven Cousins |
|
 |
This is the "finale" of this ensemble.. they all skate around stopping to "pose" and they pretend to take photos of each other... is that what old friends do??? Well they look like they are having fun! |
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ACT II
CLUB ACT
This is my favorite of the
ensembles/acts
Luv Me Luv Me by Shaggy (featuring Janet)
Tara Lipinski, Ilia Kulik, Steven Cousins, Denis Petrov, Gorsha Sur - Choreographed
by A.C. Ciulla
A couch comes out with Kristy sitting on it, then I can’t remember I think the guys
come out and finally Tara, who is the "tease" skating around. Then Ilia, Denis,
and Gorsha do trio rap dance for Tara. Then Steven does short dance. The Russians seem to
have fun with their rap dance.
It's About That Walk
Steven Cousins - choreographed by Jayne Torvill & Chirstopher Dean
This is Stevens solo, very well skated … he does his usual moves, similar to last
years "invincible". I like Steven, this number is ok.. but not as good as last
year and this solo gets lost in this elaborate ensemble piece. I wish he had gotten a real
solo.
It't Not Right But It's Okay by Whitney Houston
Lu Chen - Choreographed by Michael Seibert & A. C. Ciulla
Well this is Lulu does disco, it’s entertaining. It’s not right , its ok
that’s exactly it! LOL
Jazzin by Kristine W
Kristi Yamaguchi & Lu Chen - Choreographed by A.C. Ciulla.
Now Kristi finally gets off the couch and joins Lulu in dance while the tease Steven. My
favorite part of this ensemble… I guess because Kristi is in it.. she really
outshines Lulu.. but they look good together. Steven enjoys being teased!! LOL
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DI BOLERO
Casi un Bolero by Ricky Martin
Jenni Meno & Todd Sand, Rene Roca & Gorsha Sur - choreographed by Jayne
Torvil & Chirstopher Dean
This is more of dance than pairs, Jenni and Todd do very well but of course Rene and
Gorsha outdance them. .. its not like 4 corners.. its just 2 pairs out out on the ice at
the same time.
Si Tu no Estas by Rosana/Casi un Bolero by Ricky
Martin
Ekaterina Gordeeva & Ilia Kulik - choreography by Sandra Bezic & Michael
Seibert
Katia comes out first in red Spanish style dress and skates alone with some very beautiful
movements, then Ilia joins her. He does lift her over head twice … once like Denis
did last year in 4 corners and another one where she pushes up on his arms(not sure of the
name of this lift.. but I have seen it done by many pairs). However, this is not a pairs
number…they don’t do everything in unison like pairs, its like Katia does one
thing then Ilia another, they do the same spiral from last years 4 corners and my favorite
a beautiful move where Ilia does spread eagle squat while he holds Katia who has her legs
around his thigh. They got a half-standing ovation from the crowd. If you are a Katia fan
you will love it. However I think that Ilia fades into the background partly because he
wears a white shirt and tan pants like Gorsha and Todd. I have trouble remembering what
Ilia did., you focus so much on Katia and her red dress. I think he does a deathdrop and
2axel …not sure. Personally, I prefer the 4 Corners number from last year because
Ilia was highlighted more, and I loved Katia and Denis’s pair spin. They don’t
have a pair spin here,.. Katia spins by herself. All and All it’s a great
program… I think the audiences will enjoy it.
Czardas - Leahy
Elena Bechke & Denis Petrov - choreographed by Tamara Moskovina
Denis and Elena do skate to Russian folk music.. they get the crowd got into it, it’s
the kind of music that you can easily clap to. It’s a good program, they do all their
tricks… but not inspiring like Eva or their r long program at ESPN pro... I wish they
had done that one instead.
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LA WALZ
Blue Walk - Lou Donaldson
Kurt Browning - choreographed by Sandra Bezic & Kurt Browning
Kurt comes out as the clown once again.. and "eats" his nose then he transforms
his costume… while Tara plays the lovesick teenager who runs and picks up the pieces
of costume he discards. His program is good, but I think it’s just too much of Kurt
as the clown… I wish he would have solo with a different theme altogether.
He's Got a Way by Bernadette Peters
Tara Likpinski - choreographed by Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean
Tara skates around Kurt as the lovesick puppy… while Kurt clowns around in center
ice… acting as goofy as possible. It’s very funny…. Kurt is
hilarious…I hardly noticed Tara because I dint want to miss any of Kurt’s
antics. The comedy of course is that Tara can see no wrong … ..and Kurt is acting
like a dork.
La Valse Moderne et Dada Je Suis by L'Orchestre Moderne
Tara Lipinski & Kurt Browning - choreographed by Jayne Torvill &
Christopher Dean
This is a continuation/finale of the program above … Kurt acknowledges Tara and they
"Kiss" and skate around.. together.. a bit of ice dancing.
I really enjoyed this ensemble. It’s wonderfully done and really funny. My only regret is that Kurt does his 2 solos as a clown… I would have enjoyed seeing something completely different from him for one of the solos.
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Smooth by Santana
Kristi Yamaguchi - choreographed by Sandra Bezic
Kristy wears beautiful hot pink costume, I was not as impressed with this program as her
other solo .. but its well choreographed and nicely performed.
Baseball Cap by Faithless
Ilia Kulik - Choreographed by Chistopher Dean
Ilia comes out and plays around with baseball cap… he is very fast with it …
taking off and on. Ilia moves well to the choreography, I think he might end this program
with a backflip I saw him practice it, but for the show he did a deathdrop. The audience
got into this number so I will probably be crowd pleaser. I did not like it as much as his
Noise program from last year; the "hat trick" has been done before. I wonder if
it is Chris Dean’s goal to eventually have every skater skate with some kind of hat
prop?
American Woman by Lenny Kravitz
Tara Lipinski - choreographed by Lee Ann Miller & Darrin Henson
Ilia skates around and introduces Tara.. who comes out in American flag outfit. This
number is kind of cheesy … Tara as the hot and sexy rock and roll Queen.. but I you
don’t take it too seriously you will enjoy it. I really love this song..but IMO Tara
does nothing special with it.
Don Quixote - Minkus
Scott Hamilton - Choreographed by Sarah Kawahara
Classical Scott… sorry for the pun! LOL Of course Scott is hilarious in his ballet
spoof.. the crowd and me loved it. He got standing ovation as usual.
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WWW.
What a Wonderful World by Wong/Dolgay 
Cast - Choreographed by Company choreographers & A.C. Ciulla
This is the finale.. once again they said "what a wonderful world in different
languages" and all the skaters come out for finale group number. It’s very well
choreographed… I don’t remember the exact details but every skater is
highlighted. The costumes are just beautiful my favorites from the whole show. In a lot of
ways I liked last years finale better.. "Face the Face" was such a catchy tune..
it stayed in my head on the whole way home! Maybe that is not a positive to some
people…LOL but I liked it.
All in All I enjoyed this show. Its more "themed" than
last years show. The emphasis is on group ensambles not individual solos. The entire cast
makes 4 to 5 appearances plus the opening and finale. Tara, Katia, Kurt and Scott
seem to be the most highlighted skaters, both Ilia and Kristi get 2 cold spot solos.
Mayi