Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani | Page 49 | Golden Skate

Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani

If someone in here is using Snapchat, but not following ShibSibs, I highly recommend doing so, they are hilarious. :p

They are the funniest on snapchat for me! I really enjoy watching them :) Sometimes I open their videos only :D I think everyone should follow them :)
 
Lynn Rutherford nominated the Shibs for Ice Network's Person(s) of the Year!

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2016/05/04/176162032

Also more about how the program came to be:

The spark that fueled Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani's spectacular 2015-16 season was ignited one day in December 2014, on an otherwise mundane car ride between their home and training rink in Canton, Michigan.

They had just returned from the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona, where they finished a disheartening fourth. Adding to the team's frustration, they had sat in third place after the short dance before falling to sixth in the free.

"That had been a kind of difficult competition, where we felt like we skated well and the results still weren't coming yet," Alex said. "Right around December, your eye kind of looks to the next season. You're always looking for inspiration. And then the iPhone shuffle came on, and it kind of struck us."

"It" was Coldplay's "Fix You," an acclaimed 2005 track with moving lyrics and a distinct guitar solo perfectly fitted for a memorable free dance. The decision for the following season was made that day in the car.

"That was definitely a moment," Maia said. "We've changed so much over the course of our career, it really just felt like we were ready to take that step."
 
Interesting article! I had no idea that no other dance team had made it back on the World podium after five years. It makes their accomplishment even more impressive. This part gave me a lot of hope:

"It's not a question of whether or not we will have a program next year, or some future year, that will be better than 'Fix You,'" Alex said. "This was a great program for the moment that we were in. We are not the same people we were when this program was worked on. We're ready for more."

I'm so excited for their programs next year! ...but also nervous :laugh:
 
Alex and Maia visited and colored with patients at Children's Hospital L.A.:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFRkwSEwmwO/?taken-by=alexshibutani

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFRob2qS7rn/?taken-by=maiashibutani

And attended Evening to Foster Dreams hosted by CASA of Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization that trains and supports community volunteers to advocate on behalf of Los Angeles County's foster youth.

This is what Alex had to say about the organization:

So many incredible stories at last night's @casa.la Evening to Foster Dreams.
There are 30,000 children in the LA Foster care system. CASA serves 7,000 annually.
Learn more about the important work they do and how you can help: casala.org

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFSkSSOwm_O/?taken-by=alexshibutani

I'm really proud of their endeavors and commitment in helping and bringing attention to causes.
 
Reposted from the Shibs thread:

Alex Shibutani just posted an Instagram photo showing he and Maia at a dance studio in California with hip hop dancer Aye Hasegawa. Hmmm...:think:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFUIdYKwm4c/?taken-by=alexshibutani

Here's a video of Hasegawa dancing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bETxYqi5hUk

If they are doing Hip Hop with Frank Sinatra, all I can think of is screaming "REMIX!!!!"

Hmmm...or maybe they're going to have some deliciously bad music cuts and switch to a hip-hop song halfway through? :popcorn: I mean, if G/P can mix Bestles and Mozart, it's possible. Is it a good idea? Maybe not, but we shall see!
 
Alex Shibutani just posted an Instagram photo showing he and Maia at a dance studio in California with hip hop dancer Aye Hasegawa. Hmmm...:think:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFUIdYKwm4c/?taken-by=alexshibutani

Here's a video of Hasegawa dancing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bETxYqi5hUk

If they are doing Hip Hop with Frank Sinatra, all I can think of is screaming "REMIX!!!!"

Omg, I saw this earlier too. I don't know what to think of the hip-hop possibility. Makes me kind of nervous? Just hoping for the best and for their succes to continue.
 
Alex just posted a picture of he and Maia with Hokutu Konishi, a dancer in the hip hop dance crew, Quest Crew (winner of the third season of America's Next Best Dance Crew). Konishi also choreographed LMFAO's Party Rock and their "Champagne Showers" video.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFWmfdSwm-d/?taken-by=alexshibutani

Here's the Emmy-winning SYTYCD performance he danced in, to the Memoirs of a Geisha soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZJpA9e7cCY

Another pic with Aye Hasegawa: https://www.instagram.com/p/BFWkajcS7hh/?taken-by=maiashibutani

Say what you will about the Shibs, but they've consistently sought out professional dancers outside the ice dance realm. The issue was that the translation didn't always work well, or the choreography wasn't always compelling or they weren't compelling in it. Now, I hope with their new found maturity and confidence and improved skills in dancing and with more attention from Team Canton, they can really execute something amazing on the ice.

I had a feeling Alex and Maia were knowledgeable about Asian/Asian-American dancers in hip hop crews.
 
A week after working with some top hip hop artists in LA, they are in Switzerland working with Stephane Lambiel. Must be inspiring. Lambiel is truly a "skater's skater"

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFhmmxUh1mw/?taken-by=shibsibs&hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFhn81Ky7ib/?taken-by=maiashibutani&hl=en

The Shibs' work ethic is pretty amazing. When they were on tour, the reviews made it sound like they performed each program all out, not holding back.

Now, done with touring, they are being very aggressive preparing for the coming season. Love how they collaborate with "the best" from different realms, and not just the "usual suspects" in the ice dance world.
 
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I don´t know, but I am nervous :(

Why? I'm not that familiar with his choreography for other skaters but I loved him as a competitor. I know he doesn't have much experience in ice dance but I thought his work with Zhiganshina/Gazsi's last eligible programs had some moments. I'm sure like "Fix You", Marina and the Canton team will work out the kinks.
 
Why? I'm not that familiar with his choreography for other skaters but I loved him as a competitor. I know he doesn't have much experience in ice dance but I thought his work with Zhiganshina/Gazsi's last eligible programs had some moments. I'm sure like "Fix You", Marina and the Canton team will work out the kinks.

Absolutely. There were reasons to be nervous at the beginning of the last season and look at last season's results. Their results speak for the risks taken. Also, they are Marina's top team by a lot, so I doubt she will be as careless as she was after the 2011 World medal. I assume the Shib's coaching team will be much more methodical.
 
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