November & December 2006
PRESS ARTICLES:
Lithuanian ice burned under feet of champions
The show, which was organized for the fifth time in Kaunas, was sizzled by not only tittled skaters, but also by the audience. When they danced, the ice was burning. This time it wasn't in a figurative sense but a literal. Yesterday in Kaunas attention of the audience was riveted by performances of skaters. Dancers created a real show, where precision movement was matched by pyrotechnics, light shows and sound effects.
"We wanted that audience would get a lot of emotions and beauty of dance, passion, tragedy and that it would inspire for dreams and a little bit to grow away from the earth", - said Margarita Drobiazko.
Did they manage to do this? "Yes", - the audience answered without a hesitation, although people were a little bit disappointed that champions of Turin Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov didn't come to Kaunas.
There were no seats before the show
"I feel that I see the same faces in the audience. Is it true that you have arrived in this hall for the fifth time?" - asked announcer of the show Dainius Martinaitis and got support from the audience. Yesterday and on Monday the audience had opportunity to see performances of the most talented skaters, but also to tolerate all slaps in their faces from concert organizers from "Makroconcert" agency.
Some people who came to the show heard that their seats didn't exist, because stretch of ice was bigger than it should have been and one parterre was deleted. "We hear the same song about that", - resent one couple. - We bought expensive tickets and now we can't sit anywhere". Eventually organizers attended for extra chairs. Bad mood was improved by the beginning of the show. White color of clothing fitted to ice, skaters were dressed in white costumes. They created mini performance and played as if they were in a palace of Phantom and promised to obey him during the whole show.
Guest from France Mary-Piere Leray fascinated audience not only by skating on the ice, but also by her acrobatic tricks on the rope. Audience was amused by acrobats from USA Akop Manoukian, Armen Sakian and Champion of France Laurent Tobel. USA Open ice champion Rory Burghard who arrived in Lithuania not for the first time was welcomed very warmly.
Favorites became pirates
Who became the favorites of the audience? They weren't introduced by announcer, it was enough to say the name of their dance. Audience knew that they would see the show of Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas. In the first part of the show they danced their "Hey You" composition.
Their second performance was "Pirates of Caribbean" and it was performed with swords. Dancers were induced to repeat some elements of dance for a few times and eventually fireworks diffused from swords.
After performance of M.Drobiazko and P.Vanagas the crowd of fan gave them a lot of flowers. They roared applause and the most titled lithuanian couple incited to pay attention for young new lithuanian couples. They will represent Lithuania in international tournaments.
And it will be the recent lithuanian champion 21 year-old Deividas Stagniunas with his partner from USA 19 years-old Katherina Copely and lithuanian vice champion 24 years-old Aidas Reklys, who dances with his 17 years-old partner Nicolette House.
"I performed on such high level show for the first time, - said D. Stagniunas who lives in USA. - It is great that the audience welcomed us so warmly, so we were thrilled".
Audience from Kaunas didn't see champions who were promised
One of the well-known Russian skater Alexei Yagudin performed 2 dances for the audience in Kaunas. In the second part of the show he performed his famous composition "Winter", which brought him Olympic gold in 2002.
Yagudin promises to end his career of sportsman. People say that lithuanian audience is one of the last, which saw his performances.
Audience in Vilnius got unexpected surprise - European, Worlds and Olympic champions of Turin - Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov made their debut in "Flaming ice of Champions" show. They repeated their famous "Carmen"- this program received highest marks in Turino.
Althouh it was announced in promotional repots that Russians would dance in Kaunas, audience in Kaunas didn't see them. Organizers said that audience in Kaunas Sprot Hall could enjoy wonderful programs of Worlds professional champions Radka Novarikova and Rene Novoty, but some of people were disappointed.
They said that in promotional reports was announced that Olympic Champions of Turin would participate only in Vilnius.
"It was announced in TV report ,who will perform in this ice project. We didn't separate, who will be in Vilnius and who - in Kaunas", - justified member of "Makroconcert" Inesa Builyte.
Became famous all over the world
"Lithuanian audience became famous all over the world with own fiery temperament and warm welcome. Believe me, it is not just words, - said Povilas Vanagas. - And before every show we are thinking that audience will blaze from such programs, we are always welcomed as if it were the first time".
Stars of the world said that Lithuania attracts them not with audience, but also with high level of event. Organizers take care of everything.
The dancers won't have more time to rest - today they will perform in Tallinn, on Friday - in Klaipeda. Show was organized in Gdansk, Liublin, Torun, Vroclaw and Warshaw, also in Germany.
The show will be organized in Austria, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine.
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Magic of champions
Thousands of people from Vilnius came to Utenos pramogu arena to enjoy artistry of champions, Arena was cracking from the audience. Organizers invited many the most famous ice stars from all over the world, among them was Olympic champion, 4 times world champion, 3 times European champion Alexei Yagudin, also Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov and many others.
Most applause got performance of Lithuanian crowd-pleasers Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas, this dance was introduced for the first time in Lithuania. It was created by 'Pink Floyd' music.
Show was separated into two parts. In the first part skaters showed a mini play, which consisted from some performances. Dancers exhibited perfect skating skills, plastic art and endurance.
Performance of Akop Manoukian and Armen Saakian was very playful, they used pyrotechnics.
The audience welcomed warmly young dancers from USA who will represent Lithuania in international tournaments. Katherine Copely and Deividas Stagniunas performed very happily their dance 'Kalinka' and audience didn't stop clapping all through the dance. In the second part of show skaters performed their individual shows.
Ice project "Flaming ice of champions" will be organized not only in Lithuania this year.
They have already visited Poland, Germany and will visit Austria, Estonia, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. Today and tomorrow champions will skate in Kaunas.
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Skating stars at Torwar. Yagudin - show.
No matter, if you know figure skating well or not, you will definitely value the level of the show. Champions on ice" is a great opportunity to find out, why this sport gets so much attantion from the people all over the world.
We have the show in Warsaw on 7th December, 18.30, ahead. Just for this occasion, many tons of ice will be brought, which will help to prepare a huge ice-rink at Torwar. During the show, apart from the regular cast, which consists of such champions as Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas or Stanick Jeannette, guest performances will be given by Alexei Yagudin as well as Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov.
The performances, which have already been shown during the Polish tour, gathered audience of several thousand people and got great reviews. Our audience appreciated a rare opportunity of seeing live the legends of this sport and appeared on the rinks in great numbers. All of them admit with one accord that the show makes an unforgettable impression, not only because of the commanding cast, but also because of the high technical level of presented programs and variety of repertory.
The main star of the evening, Alexei Yagudin, Olympic Champion from Salt Lake City, delights numbers of fans with his famous program, Winter", gives autographs and willingly poses to photos with hundreds of his sympathizers. Whole families, who gathered on ice rinks, are spell-bound by discovering the magic of ice dancing and leave the show feeling the passion of figure skating. Beautiful music, airy and sparkling costumes and thrilling acrobatic evolutions bring admiration and encourage trying to do this sport yourself. You will soon be able to feel all this in Warsaw.
