One of the most exciting and popular young couples to emerge onto the
ice dance scene in recent years are Lithuania's very own Margarita (Rita)
Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas. Their style of dancing has always been
acclaimed for being energetic, fast and technically demanding together
with a charismatic flair that only they can demonstrate on the ice with
tremendous impact.
Margarita was born in Moscow on 21December 1971 and started skating
at the early age of 6. A promising athlete, she joined the Natalia Lininchuk
school at the age of 11 and later changed to the Natalia Dubova group.
She partnered Povilas at the age of 16 having previously danced with
Oleg Granionov.
Povilas, on the other hand had very little experience in ice dancing
when he teamed up with shy, yet attractive, Rita at the age of 18. He
was born in Siauliai, Lithuania on 23 July 1970 and started skating
at the age of four because of his mother involvement in the sport as
a coach. Povilas's mother is currently the Lithuanian national coach.
He took to single skating, becoming National Champion sic times before
making the switch to dance when he joined the Tatiana Tarasova school
and later partnered Rita. Many coaches have since said that Povilas
was born to be an ice dancer and see a rare quality in him which is
hard to find in both partners. Kriztina Regoezy, world ice dance champion
1980, claims that Povilas is the best male dancer on the scene since
Christopher Dean.
Povilas takes up the story of how he and Rita met. "It was in the
days of the old Soviet Union and all boys were required to go to the
Soviet Army in Moscow. I did not want to go but had to. So I went to
Moscow and was given the choice of either being in the army or taking
up skating full time because I could skate. I decided to skate and was
partnered with Rita. I had decided that after the term of national service
was over I would return back to Lithuania, but because we skated well
and enjoyed skating I decided stay in Moscow and continue".
"Lithuania was the first country to obtain independence from the
Soviet block in 1989 so we decided to start skating for my home land.
It was difficult at the beginning because there was so much friction
between Russia and Lithuania and with Rita being Russian at caused problems,
but now we are happy".
They skate for the "Pireuetas" club in Kaunas, Lithuania,
splitting their time between Moscow and Lithuania to train under the
watchful eye of their coach and choreographer Elena Maslennikova (who
had trained not only in ice dance, but also ballroom dancing) and assisted
choreography with Liudmila Buchkova - a former soloist in the Bolshoi
Ballet.
"Rita and Povilas made their first debut on the European and World
scene 1992. They gradually climbed the ranks and in 1994 placed 9th
in Worlds with a wonderful interpretation of a Blues by Duke Ellington.
In 1995 however, the judges seemed to forget about them and left them
lying 11th in Europe and 12th at Worlds.
Said one top coach, "Margarita and Povilas have been improving
so much that I could not understand why the judges marked as they did.
They have lots of crowd appeal and charisma and very good skating ability
- I'm surprised it isn't being rewarded".
Such is talent of this formidable partnership that during the 1995 Spring
and Summer, Rita and Povilas were honoured when they were invited to
take part in the Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean World Tour in Britain.
Not only did they get the opportunity to work alongside these skating
legends, but were able to obtain artistic inspiration from Christopher
Dean who provided them with music, and assisted them with the choreography
of their PASO DOBLE original dance.
During the tour with Torvill and Dean they were amazed that some members
of the audience would hold up banners and Lithuanians flags for them
when they did their solo numbers!
A recent, most noticeable, member of their coaching committee in Mrs
Betty Callaway, who has advised and coached them solidly - particularly
in the compulsory dances - during their 1995 stay in England.
Making time to have lessons with Torvill and Dean's former coach, Betty
Callaway kept a watchful eye on them during the summer. Although the
are modest about their array of skating talent, Betty Callaway feels
sure that Rita and Povilas will feature prominently in their up and
coming season, claiming that Povilas is a young version of a Christopher
Dean she knew and that it was only a matter or time when they both would
be realising their goals.
"Rita and Povilas are not just good skaters but are very nice people",
said Callaway. "That's very important. They are veery hard workers
and have a determined quest to one day be the best. I'm sure that they
will. They have great presence and seem quite versatile in their skating.
I'm actually quite excited".
Christopher Dean himself has also generously agreed to help them on
their road to the 1998 Olympics so maybe we could be in for another
Dushesnay treat!
The duo train five hours a day on the ice with a few hours spent off
the ice either in the gym or taking ballet classes. During their stay
in England, they were able to take in a few of London's West End shows
which they both found fascinating and full of ideas for the ice.
Rita and Povilas visited various dance studios, taking lessons with
top professionals from the dance stage, including the acclaimed Argentinian
Tango experts, Mina and Roberto Reius, from the Broadway hit "Forever
Tango".
"For the 1997 season the original dance is to be "TANGO",
expained Povilas, "so we thought we would see the show and then
by chance we met the top couple from it and they helped us choreograph
two tango numbers. We can only do it so far on stage - it will be hard
to put to the ice but we will try".
Performing well means total commitment. That's why when you see them
skate they are skating because of their total passion for the sport
and for the thousands who pay to attend the competitions.
Their biggest problem at the moment is money. They have no sponsor and
backing is scarce. Explains Rita, "We go each day at a time. We
have no idea what the next day brings. If no money then we cannot skate
and we will have to finish. We don't want this but it's expensive now
in Moscow to train".
One of the Lithuanians fans are none other than Susanna Rahkamo and
Petri Kokko. They recently said they understood everything that Rita
and Povilas were going through. "It's always hard when a country
you represent has no traditions in ice dancing", said Susanna.
"We had to wait 10 years before winning the Europeans in 1995 so
all I can say is for them to keep pushing and pushing and one day it
will all come
together". "They have a fire inside them which really appeals
to me - particularly in Rita - and I feel that they are possibly one
of the best dancers around at the moment".
This coming season Rita and Povilas will skate to an unusual Blues free
dance from the soundtrack to "Wild at Heart" with a fun ending
to "Swing Swing Swing".
In December, at the Skate Israel International in Metulla, Rita and
Povilas triumphantly won the gold medals with a highly acclaimed performance.
They hope that their dedication to the sport will continue to push them
up the ranks to finally attain them their longed for ambition - to be
the best. |
