Mao Asada | Page 173 | Golden Skate

Mao Asada

Thanks to rosewood for this summary of Mao's shows in Kumamoto.

http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...nagoya-kitakyushu-july-30-aug-11.98169/page-3 post number 70

The final show is over. Kids skaters from Kumamoto (which is the area the horrible earth quakes occurred) were invited to see today's show in the best seats. Mao skated Jupiter with the kids skaters from Sendai (which is one of the affected areas by 3.11 earthquakes and tsunami). Here is a link to the glimpses from Kitakyushu show. https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/763314078236282882/pu/vid/1280x720/9YhomQQqoVbmmebp.mp4

In the interview in the end of the clip Mao said it's nice if skating could support the affected people to go forward despite the disaster. (article) http://www.sankei.com/photo/story/news/160810/sty1608100027-n1.html

In Kitakyushu Mao skated six numbers in each show and she skated them very well every day - Jupiter, Cello Suit or SP, Bolero with Jeffery, three short numbers with Mai (From New World, Shiroi iro wa koibito no iro, and Lady Marmarade). Reportedly Mao was in a new costume for Cello Suit in Kitakyushu.

At the final show of the tour Midori appeared as a guest in the intermission talk show. She also appeared a bit after the finale to skate around in the rink with Mao to say good-bye and thank-you to the crowd.

Mirai and Jason were guests for the intermission talk show on the first day in Kitakyushu. They together with Mai as a MC all talked in Japanese. Mirai helped Jason with translating questions from Mai into English but he almost spoke in Japanese when he answered the questions.
 
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gotoschool said:
Thanks to rosewood for this summary of Mao's shows in Kumamoto.

http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...nagoya-kitakyushu-july-30-aug-11.98169/page-3 post number 70

Reportedly Mao was in a new costume for Cello Suit in Kitakyushu.

At the final show of the tour Midori appeared as a guest in the intermission talk show. She also appeared a bit after the finale to skate around in the rink with Mao to say good-bye and thank-you to the crowd.

Mirai and Jason were guests for the intermission talk show on the first day in Kitakyushu. They together with Mai as a MC all talked in Japanese. Mirai helped Jason with translating questions from Mai into English but he almost spoke in Japanese when he answered the questions.
Click to expand...

Thank you for posting all this info! ...These ICE shows seemed very special! I can understand why they have continued for 10 years. And what a treat to have Midori there...Can you tell me, is her name pronounced Ito or Itso?

I wondered how Jason is doing with his Japanese! :love:
 
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Come on guys... I have nothing against Shoma, and I hate to be a wet blanket - but he has his own fan thread for this stuff.

I keep seeing there are new posts in here, I get excited that there might be some news about Mao... only to find it's posts about Shoma instead! :-/
 
YesWay said:
Come on guys... I have nothing against Shoma, and I hate to be a wet blanket - but he has his own fan thread for this stuff.

I keep seeing there are new posts in here, I get excited that there might be some news about Mao... only to find it's posts about Shoma instead! :-/
Click to expand...

I'll try to control myself :palmf:, although really I was asking how to pronounce Midori's last name. I can delete Shoma from my question. I thought I had been pronouncing her name wrong all these years.
 
Arriba627 said:
I'll try to control myself :palmf:, although really I was asking how to pronounce Midori's last name. I can delete Shoma from my question. I thought I had been pronouncing her name wrong all these years.
Click to expand...

Don't worry, it's not "Itso" :). Although, westerners usually place the accent incorrectly when pronouncing her name in English...

Here's what it sounds like in Japanese: https://youtu.be/H-J8fBbJUDk

Sorry YesWay, another non-Mao post (I know your frustration, I'm always psyched when I see there's new post in this thread too)
 
Mao's 16-17 SP 'Ritual dance' (piano version)
Although the broadcast of the Nagoya shows will be tomorrow and we'll get to see Mao's new SP soon. I'd like to share what I got from watching the program last weekend.

I was at the 2nd and finale of Nagoya shows last weekend. Having watching Mao's new SP for 2 consecutive days, I was able to put down Mao's layout from what I got at the Nagoya finale show in the following: (Caution: it's not 100% correct and could be wrong, and of course she may change any of the elements later on...)
2A/3F2L/FCSp (this spin end with the one-foot hops in circles as she did in the Bach EX)/3L/LSp (into biellmann)/CCoSp/Stsq

The main theme of the 'Ritual dance' does not start from the very beginning of the whole program, but only starts after she finishes the 2A jump pass. Instead, the whole program begins with this section of ‘at midnight’ as in the following link (without the female enchantment and only in piano, playing of the monotone) So the whole program does start out with this mysterious atmosphere.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4EN-sPHIG8&index=7&list=PLAITpnFcIH6vEgI8Xzw11RbR-Xw2y5vJk

During the 2nd show at Nagoya, Mao performed the program perfectly, nailed all the jump passes and with very impressive, nice-centered spins. So I got the sense that it’s a program of complete package, with all the jumps, spins worked out quite well. The only thing was that she seemed to slow down a bit towards the middle of the program, esp. at the start of the Stsq. And afterwards I thought it might be due to that she was skating cautiously since the number is new to her.

When I watched the performance again during the finale at Nagoya, I was sitting closer to the rink so I could get a better view. During the last performance, Mao had some mistakes with the combination jump, as she was skating too close to the board. But the other elements were fine as the previous day. And it was only after watching that for the 2nd time that I came to realise this: she might be intentionally slowing down at the beginning of the Stsq. But from there she speeds up gradually, and the whole steps works very well alone with the speeding-up tempo of the music till the very end, with some grandeur movements that are very ‘queen like’. (The ending pose is a lunge position with one hand holding upwards towards the sky.)

My afterthought from the 2-time viewing: I’m very pleased with Mao’s performance with the SP. Obviously she’s in quite good condition at this moment of the early season. I think it will turn out to be a great program and I’m looking forward to how she’ll build it up throughout the season. Just like what Mao said before, it's not the usual type of programs she's been done with Lori: it's not soft lyrical, nor is it with light music of some 'cute' movements. If Mao could 'attack' the movements properly and with some more sharpness, it will turn out to be great and stand out. Finally, some minor (really minor) drawbacks of the SP: since Mao is also portraying a bird, and it’s a Lori program, it was also obvious that Lori did take a couple of movements from Gracie’s ‘Firebird’ program last season into Mao’s new SP. I think fans can definitely tell, but of course Mao incorporated everything far more gracefully!
 
cohkaix said:
Mao's 16-17 SP 'Ritual dance' (piano version)
Although the broadcast of the Nagoya shows will be tomorrow and we'll get to see Mao's new SP soon. I'd like to share what I got from watching the program last weekend.

I was at the 2nd and finale of Nagoya shows last weekend. Having watching Mao's new SP for 2 consecutive days, I was able to put down Mao's layout from what I got at the Nagoya finale show in the following: (Caution: it's not 100% correct and could be wrong, and of course she may change any of the elements later on...)
2A/3F2L/FCSp (this spin end with the one-foot hops in circles as she did in the Bach EX)/3L/LSp (into biellmann)/CCoSp/Stsq

The main theme of the 'Ritual dance' does not start from the very beginning of the whole program, but only starts after she finishes the 2A jump pass. Instead, the whole program begins with this section of ‘at midnight’ as in the following link (without the female enchantment and only in piano, playing of the monotone) So the whole program does start out with this mysterious atmosphere.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4EN-sPHIG8&index=7&list=PLAITpnFcIH6vEgI8Xzw11RbR-Xw2y5vJk

During the 2nd show at Nagoya, Mao performed the program perfectly, nailed all the jump passes and with very impressive, nice-centered spins. So I got the sense that it’s a program of complete package, with all the jumps, spins worked out quite well. The only thing was that she seemed to slow down a bit towards the middle of the program, esp. at the start of the Stsq. And afterwards I thought it might be due to that she was skating cautiously since the number is new to her.

When I watched the performance again during the finale at Nagoya, I was sitting closer to the rink so I could get a better view. During the last performance, Mao had some mistakes with the combination jump, as she was skating too close to the board. But the other elements were fine as the previous day. And it was only after watching that for the 2nd time that I came to realise this: she might be intentionally slowing down at the beginning of the Stsq. But from there she speeds up gradually, and the whole steps works very well alone with the speeding-up tempo of the music till the very end, with some grandeur movements that are very ‘queen like’. (The ending pose is a lunge position with one hand holding upwards towards the sky.)

My afterthought from the 2-time viewing: I’m very pleased with Mao’s performance with the SP. Obviously she’s in quite good condition at this moment of the early season. I think it will turn out to be a great program and I’m looking forward to how she’ll build it up throughout the season. Just like what Mao said before, it's not the usual type of programs she's been done with Lori: it's not soft lyrical, nor is it with light music of some 'cute' movements. If Mao could 'attack' the movements properly and with some more sharpness, it will turn out to be great and stand out. Finally, some minor (really minor) drawbacks of the SP: since Mao is also portraying a bird, and it’s a Lori program, it was also obvious that Lori did take a couple of movements from Gracie’s ‘Firebird’ program last season into Mao’s new SP. I think fans can definitely tell, but of course Mao incorporated everything far more gracefully!
Click to expand...

thanks for your review :agree:
 
Just saw the recording of Ritual Dance (sorry I do not know how to put it up on the net)! I get chills watching it, and Mao doesn't seem to be out of breath at the end of the performance, and no weird sweating like she was last season! :hap85: I hope she stays healthy.
 
I'm liking what I'm seeing and would love to see this in a full sized rink skated with more confidence which should come with familiarity. Like what cohkaix mentioned, some movements do make me think of Gracie's but I think it's not much. And that beginning of the step sequence, yes, it seems to be part intentional... I think it goes well with the rhythm.
 
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roma said:
Ritual Dance SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyDyfLi_PQ4

I'm liking what I'm seeing and would love to see this in a full sized rink skated with more confidence which should come with familiarity. Like what cohkaix mentioned, some movements do make me think of Gracie's but I think it's not much. And that beginning of the step sequence, yes, it seems to be part intentional... I think it goes well with the rhythm.
Click to expand...

It's more obvious with the slowing down in the middle part when watching live, but not so from the video clip, I think. Yes, it may be also due to the rink size. And I agree everything goes very well with the rhythm. Mao has very fine musicality to dance alone with the tempo of the music (proof: her new Bach EX!)
 
cohkaix said:
It's more obvious with the slowing down in the middle part when watching live, but not so from the video clip, I think. Yes, it may be also due to the rink size. And I agree everything goes very well with the rhythm. Mao has very fine musicality to dance alone with the tempo of the music (proof: her new Bach EX!)
Click to expand...

Yes! Isn't this Lori's goal for her with her new pros? Something along the lines of being able to adjust to the music well that's why she had that pianist play for Mao... if someone can post that quote again thanks in advance! I think it's working pretty well for Mao.
 
Adding: re. the new SP just broadcasted -
I think the recording was from the 2nd show, in which she nailed all the jumps. And I watched both the 2nd and the finale shows. Just chatting with a friend who also watched the finale at Nagoya, and we both agree that Mao actually performed the SP better in the finale shows (in terms of attacking the program) despite some errors with jumps. I can't forget that, after watching the SP for 2nd time, I did came up with the smile and thinking that she'll definitely be able to make the program better and better throughout the season.
 
cohkaix said:
since Mao is also portraying a bird, and it’s a Lori program, it was also obvious that Lori did take a couple of movements from Gracie’s ‘Firebird’ program last season into Mao’s new SP. I think fans can definitely tell, but of course Mao incorporated everything far more gracefully![/B
Click to expand...

cohkaix said:
Just chatting with a friend who also watched the finale at Nagoya, and we both agree that Mao actually performed the SP better in the finale shows (in terms of attacking the program) despite some errors with jumps. I can't forget that, after watching the SP for 2nd time, I did came up with the smile and thinking that she'll definitely be able to make the program better and better throughout the season.
Click to expand...

I think the program has tremendous potential too and really look forward to the sharpening of movements and heightening of emotional intensity as the season progresses (a majestic 3A can't hurt).

I am also very curious what Lori and Mao have in store for the long program. Presumably they would minimize repeating the same choreographic choices already used in the short, and come up with some fresh moves and transitions and steps and poses to convey "red" and "passion." Hope to see some new spin variations too. With the same music, it's such a challenge to make the two programs distinctive from each other - there are only so many logical spots to place a jump or suitable passages to do a spin or step sequence... extra efforts and thoughts have to go into fitting the elements into the music so each program has its identity.
 
I love that ritual dance piece. Feels more Mao than the programs she had last season. I'm so excited for her this season. I'm so happy she's still competing. :D
 
largeman said:
Here it is on YouTube:

Mao Asada SP - Ritual Fire Dance (no commentary)
https://youtu.be/486CiZo_Ko8
Click to expand...

I see the black bird, so intriguing black bird that strong presence was mesmerizing on the ice also the rink seems too small to perform for her, really needs full size one.
So happy I will be able to love the SP more as the season progresses, looks amazing already. now I need to see her FS even more. :dance:
 
I love Mao's costume and the picturesque positions she hits through out the performance. The illusion fabric and light flowing and feathery design remind me a lot of her Rach II costume, though it is more revealing and gives Mao more freedom of motion. I also love the multi- directional steps and quick rapid turns she does throughout the performance, some of which remind me a bit of the exhibition. I am also impressed with the mix of refined elegance, wild abandon and precision in both the music and Mao's choreography and interpretation. Mao is just so beautiful in her skating, expression, costume, look and overall aura in this performance. It is so classy and sophisticated. I think Mao may be limited by the reduced size of the rink because it seems she has to slow down a bit so as not to hit the boards especially in the jumps. I think this is kind of a compliment because it reveals how much of the rink Mao covers so easily with smooth, unobtrusive speed and how expansive her rink coverage is. So, I can't wait to see Mao perform it in a full sized rink with a triple axel. I just wish there were a higher quality version of this performance.

I really like the spread eagle into the fluid 3F / 2L and quick running steps out of the beautiful 3L.

It strikes me as being quite different from Gracie's performance of Firebird.
 
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gotoschool said:
I love Mao's costume and the picturesque positions she hits through out the performance. The illusion fabric and light flowing and feathery design remind me a lot of her Rach II costume though there it is more revealing and gives Mao more freedom of motion, as I mentioned earlier. I also like the multi- directional steps and quick rapid turns she does throughout the performance, some of which remind me a bit of the exhibition. I am also impressed with the mix of refined elegance and abandon in both the music and Mao's choreography and interpretation. I think Mao may be limited by the reduced size of the rink because it seems she has to slow down a bit so as not to hit the boards especially in the jumps. I think this is kind of a compliment because it reveals how much of the rink Mao covers so easily and how expansive her rink coverage is. So, I can't wait to see Mao perform it in a full sized rink with a triple axel. I just wish there were a higher quality version of this performance.

It strikes me as being quite different from Gracie's performance of Firebird.
Click to expand...

It seems that most of these new programs performed for the ice shows are just teasers for us fans. Without a large enough rink, the skaters really can't do their programs justice. Seems to me that they have to expend a lot of energy on keeping themselves from getting too close to the boards. But the good thing is to at least hear the music, see the costumes, and get a feel for the program.

I actually loved Gracie's Firebird, although I don't know how much "fire" there was to it. Mao will definitely have fire to her program. :)
 
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