New Interview with Marina Zoueva

http://winter.sport-express.ru/figureskating/reviews/17818/

Zueva: " Hepburn and Strauss"

On the April world championship in Moscow the students of Zueva and Igor [Shpilband] engaged entire podium of honor in ice dance, while at the start of present season, they won three stages of four on the Grand Prix. The famous trainer described about how her athletes approached the season and what tasks stand before them .

CHARLIE WHITE WAS BORN IN A TAIL COAT

- The start of season for your students came out more than confident - first the Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White won Skate Of america, then the Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won Skate Of canada. But now one more is American brother and the sister pair Of Maia and Alex Shibutani - they became first on NHK trophy.

- Thanks. We are very glad to this beginning. For me it was happiness see success by Meryl and Charlie at Skate Of america, since literally in the month prior to the competitions we changed their free dance. And that as they [otkatali], greatly encourage from the point of view of views of season. (She smiles.) The same can be said both about Tessa with Scott and about Maia with Alex. All the children have good material. In our dances indeed as it is obtained: the free dance program actually determines the season. The first starts showed that all settings were made in the precise correspondence with the rules ISU, their specialists accepted. It is now necessary only to work at quality.

- Initially Davis and White's free dance was set to the music from the film of " [Doroga]" Federico by Fellini, and, judging by an interview in the offseason,the figure skaters themselves weregreatly pleased by this theme. Why as a result they did decide to replace it?

- You know, in me was from the very beginning the specific doubts. To take music from La Strada was Charlie's idea. But I always greatly respect similar proposals of athletes. When executor feels music, the program always sounds especially vital. Charlie had precisely so, and we made a program. Came out our version of history, lyric poetry- romantic. But were after finished programs for Shibutanis, and also for Virtue and Moir, in me the question arose: and it is sufficient whether this program dancing? Is it sufficient whether in Nino [Rota]'s music, strictly, dance? Indeed ISU for that and money-changers was guided in order to direct our form into the necessary river bed - so that precisely they would dance on ice, but simply they did not roll themselves under the music. I posed my question to the American judges before beginning season. They spoke: yes, in principle everything is good. That first program was actually very interesting, likable, with its findings. But personally for me this was not to a sufficient degree by dance.

- As arose the idea of replacement - " Fledermaus" Strauss? - It in me has long ago been. I four years did ask by Charlie, was ready he? (She smiles.) And only in this year we were decided. This music is beautiful, is airy, very by them it approaches. Furthermore, I always speak: our Charlie was born in the tail coat! He in it is simply not resisted. Some athletes put on tail coat and become similar to the waiters, the drivers of limousines, on whom it is convenient. But by Charlie - other entirely case. So that program was placed easily, and it is fulfilled also. You do know that me it does justify? Indeed at the program, which we with Igor will place, I will then look entire year. You do understand? But indeed me it is also desirable to have happy smile on face. (She laughs.) Specifically, so it occurs, when I see, as Meryl & Charlie they move under Strauss's music. As the saying goes, if you will not gladden yourself- no one will gladden.

- Why for the free dance for Virtue and Moir they selected George Gershwin's music from Hollywood classics - the film of " Funny Face" with Audrey Hepburn and Fred[Astaire?

- I am the admirer of Audrey Hepburn's talent. And Tessa also. Thus it coincided, what both it - the favorite actress. And once, year four back, Tessa brought to me this film, after saying: " Zueva, look! " Me intrigued subject and that the actress can move as professional ballerina. And Tessa said that she would want to have this program. But if you listen to music, then you will see: jazz part, recreation area itself, with difficulty are combined with the remaining music. It clearly goes by insertable number, also, in the film, and, it is obtained, in the program. Four years ago children simply were finished neither technically nor actor's harmoniously connect these parts in one setting. Indeed precisely due to this contrast program appears interestingly and extravagantly. The executor- master was required for this, and then their time was not right, now it is. However, - in this program Scott creates something improbable from an actor's point of view - from first second on ice, when is taken Tessa for the chin. By such, in my view, yet they did not see. - Scott has simply performer talent. He lives by dance, action, music. So that this not by chance. Therefore in me it was always and obtained to place such memory programs to them, beginning from the very first settings at the adult level.

- In the interview for Virtue and Moir frequently poses the question about the plans in Sochi, in which they answer coquettish and evasively: allegedly, we do not know also, we will there come out or not. In your view, these doubts do actually occur to be? - You know, they now quietly are trained, it is interesting to work by it. They indeed are also young, and still many reserves - this pair is legendary talented in them. With each new program Of Tessa and Scott are opened some new qualities. I think, they will be rolled, until they feel, that by them there is where grow. This is my opinion. Before the Olympiad remain- that only two years. But by it to still be improved and to be improved.

FIRST PAIR ON CD -

After bright appearance Davis and White to Skate Of america the amateurs of figure skating began to widely discuss possible castling in your with Igor Shpilband group and output of Americans to the first positions. You or figure skaters themselves do turn on this attention?

- (She laughs.) I can say, on what they accurately focus attention. If you win world championship - that, of course, you are the first number. If you obtain silver - that of the second. But music for trainings of all our duets is recorded on one CD. And tracks go there in the following order: the first short and free dance of the champions of world, then, under the third and fourth numbers respectively - music of silver prize-winners. And so on. And in all the task - is higher of proving to be on this CD. Everything can a little be changed after sequential competitions. But the question arose prior to the start of season with Igor: what to make with this system? Nevertheless world championship they won Meryl and Charlie, but Tessa and Scott - Olympic champions. And I found the way out: we made two CD. But when Scott saw, as I change these disks, he asked: " What this here such? " I explained to him. And he then said: " Zueva, you know that! I will entire year work in order to honor to be the first to CD".

- So this is how works in you motivation system!

- (She laughs.) This formulation of the problem discharges situation - fight for that in order in our village, in Canton, by the first to stand on CD. Let us here and look at the end season, whose tracks will first be for next year. To me and the very it is interesting, because now in the dances actually there is the present competition. My principle - of affording to all the equal opportunity to conquer. But champion already wins.

- Concerning Maia and Alex Shibutani, past season was formed for them very successfully…

- Well this, it ended successfully, and beginning- that is normal. They went to the tournament into Obersdorf, where they were the fourth, then they went to " Grand Prix " , they became the third, they did not break into the Final. Everything was logically: they progressed, they progressed and the third place on the world championship was occupied. Here to what they [doprogressirovalis] (she smiles). So that this was not some unexpected surprise. Children work, they improve their rolling. Here and in the stage of " Grand Prix" in China there were the errors. Now we know, at how to work and where to move. - The task Of Shibutani to the present season - to solidy their positions? - A which means " to fasten [pozitsii]"? They also very young. They must grow technically, work at their actor's craftsmanship. They must develop themselves. And the matter, probably even not in the place, which they must engage. Task of each person - to be developed. And Maia and Alex must be improved in the field of figure skating, once already they it selected. I think that their basic task - is progress.

- In the present season three your leading teams could use new rule and go to three stages of " Grand Prix" , but they did not make this. Why?

- I from the very beginning understood, that this will be excessively large stress, since the past season ended for a month later than the usual. And new programs, correspondingly, began to be made late. So that to me, it was immediately obvious that not the version with three stages in this year is suitable for any team from our group. This indeed even and responsibility. If you signed to something, you must this make. Why to be declared somewhere, and then to be removed? I consider that this unsportsmanlike? [nesportivno]. Indeed three leaders, and to be removed - mean, to bring ISU. Spectators indeed go first of all to the champions. But let us look, there can be for the following year will be another plan.

FOR KHOKHLOVA EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

- I cannot but ask you about the team Jana Khokhlova and Fedor Andreev, who, alas, are no longer.

- Yes, this is very offensive. Such beautiful was the pair: both outwardly and internally. And we made such class program, which could be Olympic it. Present season was for them key - indeed this pair was created in order to take medals on the games. However, injury interfered. It is pitiful, but you will here nothing make. It means, so it was must. We consulted not with one doctor, did entire possible. Nevertheless Fedor - my son (she smiles). But doctors did not give the guarantee of the complete restoration of elbow after operation.

- Jana she said, that you with Igor were ready to take it to yourselves in the group and with the new partner. You do believe in the fact that in the prevailing situation is possible to find the suitable person?

- Certainly! I generally believe in the possibility. Any. If you feel, that you can, then everything will come out. Much depends on Jana, from her health. If she believes that she will be able, everything will come out. If she doubts - that no. You know, on the past world championship me they asked in the interview: can Shibutanis be the third? I said: certainly, they can. At me then they looked everything with the bewilderment: as so, all trainers fear to overlook, and here this statement. But they indeed became the third, which means, I was right, and everything is possible. Everything depends on desire and its persistent realization.

- But indeed here the discussion deals not only with Jana and her desire…

- Well yes. Also from that, there will be partner. But we with Igor are ready further to collaborate with her and Russian Federation.

- In you it did not appear in this time of some versions?

- For Jana ? However, from where by them to appear, if it in Russia, and we in America do see only those figure skaters, who do arrive to the competitions? But these are the already existing teams.

Ekaterina KULINICHEVA

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