- Joined
- Jun 27, 2012
p.124
For me this is art, the history of my life, triumphant or tragic. They are in my flat – a whole wardrobe.
My very first costume was made by mom : a shirt from blue silk and trousers from black jersey.
The second costume was more cheerful – a white one with red lapels, stand-up collar and a white bow tie.
We were short of money, so mom bought the material from the pawnshop. She tore worn clothes, turned them inside out and made shirts and trousers. The costumes seemed like new.
Mom sew very quickly – for one or two nights.
The patterns she made in a very original way – she packed me with newspapers and cut them out.
Sometimes she woke me up in the middle of the night:
- Son, let’s try it!
I put the new thing on without opening my eyes and stood in front of her like a tin soldier and she checked if everything was all right.
In Petersburg’s Palace of Sport “Yubileyny” they let me costumes out. When they became small for me I returned them.
Only later, when I reached a more professional level, I had costumes of my own.
Every costume was made for a very long time. It is a very tiring process. At first they make sketches. Then begin the fittings, long and weary. This was hard for all of us : me, Mishin, stylists, tailors, mom. I know that some figure skaters faint at this. I did not faint, but I was very nervous. Tired from jumps, steps and rotations I soon started demanding that the fitting should end soon.
p.125
Perhaps that is why all of my costumes are dear to me. I have been through hell to have them. The same is valid for my programs. They are my children : you carry them inside your heart for a very long time, you crave to convey the idea and the sense to the audience and the judges. You live with your programs. You go home and continue thinking: now, here something is not right, here I have to do “three” and there “brackets”. There - more expressive look at the judges. It is important that everything is in harmony – the music, the plastics, the costume. Your outfit on the ice should not be only a glittering, sparkling cover, it should emphasize the silhouette of the figure skater. If it happens, the costume is made well.
p.126
XVII – Stars on Ice
Even before the Olympics they offered me to try and be a host of entertaining and sport programs. But then it was impossible – I had a goal in front of me, and nothing should distract me from it. I concentrated on winning the Olympics.
But after Turin I decided to take a time-out, to rest from sport. Offers followed one after another. I wanted to try myself at the part of a host – for me it was something completely new and unknown, and this is always interesting. And when the project “Stars on ice” started and I was offered to host it, I accepted immediately.
It was clear, that such a program would be a great success. Moreover it was after the Olympics, where the Russian figure skaters took three golden medals and one bronze. And it was really a success.
On the tv screen it was very beautiful. Backstage another life was going on, cheerful, bright,
p.127
but not so convivial. When I saw with my own eyes what the work of the tv people was like, I started to respect them more. I have always admired professionals and their devotion to the profession. The tv people should have these qualities and also good nerves.
It was hard for me at the beginning. But the beginning is always hard.
In figure skating when you start preparing a new program you are also heavy. The movements are still unsure, you don’t know what the result will be. The main thing is – not to be depressed and not to be afraid.
I will not hide that there was stress. I – the absolute beginner – go to shootings, there is only half an hour till the beginning, but the screenplay is not approved yet – neither mine nor Irina Slutskaya’s. I am shocked, because I need time for preparation. I had no experience and I needed more time than the professionals.
Every program was shot for a very long time, eight or ten hours. Very often we could not begin on time for some trifle reason. The light was not ready, or the sportsmen had not prepared themselves yet, the audience had not arrived, someone was not where he should be. Later, people with more experience told me it was normal. At first, with all the wish I had, it was very hard to coordinate so many people so that they do exactly what you want.
We with Ira were told that we would have an autocue. When the hosts could read the text from the screen they keep to the point and do not make mistakes.
p.128
If they have read it before, they could also keep the necessary intonation. You could imagine how I felt, when during one of the rehearsals they announced that there would be no autocue!
- You will learn the text, - they present us with a fait accompli.
To learn a text by heart you must have a specially trained memory. You cannot do this within an hour. And I do not have in mind the names. The participants in the show were continuously changing, sometimes among the judges there appeared people, whom we did not know and saw for the first time. Moreover, when you shoot the program for some hours, your head starts whirling and you start making mistakes even with the names you know well.
After having had a hard time with us, the producers decided that we needed earpieces, in which they would prompt us our words. And the earpieces soon appeared. Now the tv people are provided with unique technique, but we with Ira had some, which could have been taken from the museum. They got out of order all the time, or there was an echo. Most often we heard the echo of our voices instead of the prompt.
It was interesting to work together at this project for all of us – the participants, the hosts, the tv people. We were an unique team. We got acquainted and became friends. The actors made jokes all the time, told stories. When in the changing room there were Butman, Nosik and Basharov, all the others roared with laugher.
The professional sportsmen helped the actors make some elements, prompted how to reach a good result, sometimes laughed at them. Once the Olympic champion at synchronized swimming Mariya Kiselyova, hearing the laughing of the figure skaters could not hold her nerves and went to the barrier :
p.129
- Ok, you can laugh now. But when they shoot “Stars in water”, then it will be very interesting for me.
We celebrated the birthdays of Alexei Tikhonov, Elena Berezhnaya, Anton Sikharulidze. There was a cake, presents.
Of course, this was not the Olympic games, not World or European Championships, where every sportsman participates for himself. Here all tried to help each other. Alexander Zhulin and Tatyana Navka helped each other although they were competitors in the show. In life they are a married couple and in sport a coach and a sportsmen.
The amazing sport pair Alexei Tikhonov and Maria Petrova were also competitors. But at the rehearsal every one saw that Alexei took care for Masha and her partner - the saxophonist Igor Butman . Alexey showed them some movements.
On the stage though every one fought for the first place with sporting punch and a desire to win.
The actors were very excited and trained all the time. They worked responsibly and seriously. Sometimes they asked me too to watch their turn. Roman Kostomarov with Katya Guseva showed something, also Bashsrov with Navka.
As a rule the funniest things passed on the ice without me. I ran to the stage, sat in the corner and started learning the screenplay. I rehearsed even when they made my make up and washed my hair.
One of the main disappointments for me in the show “Stars on Ice” were the costumes. Even before the beginning I suggested to the organizers and producers:
- I am ready to go around the shops myself to search for costumes. I have a stylist, who can help me with this.
For me this is art, the history of my life, triumphant or tragic. They are in my flat – a whole wardrobe.
My very first costume was made by mom : a shirt from blue silk and trousers from black jersey.
The second costume was more cheerful – a white one with red lapels, stand-up collar and a white bow tie.
We were short of money, so mom bought the material from the pawnshop. She tore worn clothes, turned them inside out and made shirts and trousers. The costumes seemed like new.
Mom sew very quickly – for one or two nights.
The patterns she made in a very original way – she packed me with newspapers and cut them out.
Sometimes she woke me up in the middle of the night:
- Son, let’s try it!
I put the new thing on without opening my eyes and stood in front of her like a tin soldier and she checked if everything was all right.
In Petersburg’s Palace of Sport “Yubileyny” they let me costumes out. When they became small for me I returned them.
Only later, when I reached a more professional level, I had costumes of my own.
Every costume was made for a very long time. It is a very tiring process. At first they make sketches. Then begin the fittings, long and weary. This was hard for all of us : me, Mishin, stylists, tailors, mom. I know that some figure skaters faint at this. I did not faint, but I was very nervous. Tired from jumps, steps and rotations I soon started demanding that the fitting should end soon.
p.125
Perhaps that is why all of my costumes are dear to me. I have been through hell to have them. The same is valid for my programs. They are my children : you carry them inside your heart for a very long time, you crave to convey the idea and the sense to the audience and the judges. You live with your programs. You go home and continue thinking: now, here something is not right, here I have to do “three” and there “brackets”. There - more expressive look at the judges. It is important that everything is in harmony – the music, the plastics, the costume. Your outfit on the ice should not be only a glittering, sparkling cover, it should emphasize the silhouette of the figure skater. If it happens, the costume is made well.
p.126
XVII – Stars on Ice
Even before the Olympics they offered me to try and be a host of entertaining and sport programs. But then it was impossible – I had a goal in front of me, and nothing should distract me from it. I concentrated on winning the Olympics.
But after Turin I decided to take a time-out, to rest from sport. Offers followed one after another. I wanted to try myself at the part of a host – for me it was something completely new and unknown, and this is always interesting. And when the project “Stars on ice” started and I was offered to host it, I accepted immediately.
It was clear, that such a program would be a great success. Moreover it was after the Olympics, where the Russian figure skaters took three golden medals and one bronze. And it was really a success.
On the tv screen it was very beautiful. Backstage another life was going on, cheerful, bright,
p.127
but not so convivial. When I saw with my own eyes what the work of the tv people was like, I started to respect them more. I have always admired professionals and their devotion to the profession. The tv people should have these qualities and also good nerves.
It was hard for me at the beginning. But the beginning is always hard.
In figure skating when you start preparing a new program you are also heavy. The movements are still unsure, you don’t know what the result will be. The main thing is – not to be depressed and not to be afraid.
I will not hide that there was stress. I – the absolute beginner – go to shootings, there is only half an hour till the beginning, but the screenplay is not approved yet – neither mine nor Irina Slutskaya’s. I am shocked, because I need time for preparation. I had no experience and I needed more time than the professionals.
Every program was shot for a very long time, eight or ten hours. Very often we could not begin on time for some trifle reason. The light was not ready, or the sportsmen had not prepared themselves yet, the audience had not arrived, someone was not where he should be. Later, people with more experience told me it was normal. At first, with all the wish I had, it was very hard to coordinate so many people so that they do exactly what you want.
We with Ira were told that we would have an autocue. When the hosts could read the text from the screen they keep to the point and do not make mistakes.
p.128
If they have read it before, they could also keep the necessary intonation. You could imagine how I felt, when during one of the rehearsals they announced that there would be no autocue!
- You will learn the text, - they present us with a fait accompli.
To learn a text by heart you must have a specially trained memory. You cannot do this within an hour. And I do not have in mind the names. The participants in the show were continuously changing, sometimes among the judges there appeared people, whom we did not know and saw for the first time. Moreover, when you shoot the program for some hours, your head starts whirling and you start making mistakes even with the names you know well.
After having had a hard time with us, the producers decided that we needed earpieces, in which they would prompt us our words. And the earpieces soon appeared. Now the tv people are provided with unique technique, but we with Ira had some, which could have been taken from the museum. They got out of order all the time, or there was an echo. Most often we heard the echo of our voices instead of the prompt.
It was interesting to work together at this project for all of us – the participants, the hosts, the tv people. We were an unique team. We got acquainted and became friends. The actors made jokes all the time, told stories. When in the changing room there were Butman, Nosik and Basharov, all the others roared with laugher.
The professional sportsmen helped the actors make some elements, prompted how to reach a good result, sometimes laughed at them. Once the Olympic champion at synchronized swimming Mariya Kiselyova, hearing the laughing of the figure skaters could not hold her nerves and went to the barrier :
p.129
- Ok, you can laugh now. But when they shoot “Stars in water”, then it will be very interesting for me.
We celebrated the birthdays of Alexei Tikhonov, Elena Berezhnaya, Anton Sikharulidze. There was a cake, presents.
Of course, this was not the Olympic games, not World or European Championships, where every sportsman participates for himself. Here all tried to help each other. Alexander Zhulin and Tatyana Navka helped each other although they were competitors in the show. In life they are a married couple and in sport a coach and a sportsmen.
The amazing sport pair Alexei Tikhonov and Maria Petrova were also competitors. But at the rehearsal every one saw that Alexei took care for Masha and her partner - the saxophonist Igor Butman . Alexey showed them some movements.
On the stage though every one fought for the first place with sporting punch and a desire to win.
The actors were very excited and trained all the time. They worked responsibly and seriously. Sometimes they asked me too to watch their turn. Roman Kostomarov with Katya Guseva showed something, also Bashsrov with Navka.
As a rule the funniest things passed on the ice without me. I ran to the stage, sat in the corner and started learning the screenplay. I rehearsed even when they made my make up and washed my hair.
One of the main disappointments for me in the show “Stars on Ice” were the costumes. Even before the beginning I suggested to the organizers and producers:
- I am ready to go around the shops myself to search for costumes. I have a stylist, who can help me with this.
️ HBD Utapri! @koinokotae Jun 21
Hey guys, guess what is written?) 
- worth to read
This is a beautiful thing.
(At least show up in the audience, Plush!)
