The part of report, members of our forum Pia ... she more like Lambiel than Plushy, but we will "forgive" her - because we love Lambiel also
-----------------------------------
http://www.absoluteskating.com/articles/20...karianshow.htmlBy Pia
Photos © Pia, Dusan R.Sharing energy and beauty: "Plushenko and Friends" in Slovakia
Two separate worlds exist in figure skating: competitive skating and the magical world of galas. The latter – the world of galas and exhibitions is almost necessary for skaters as it allows them to be more artistic and inventive than in competitions. In addition, it allows skaters to go on with their passion even after they have finished their competitive careers, which in the case of figure skaters, are often quite short.
Currently there are not a lot of show possibilities and show promoters in the world of figure skating. For example, when lately there were two large companies situated in America – “Stars on Ice” and “Champions on Ice”, nowadays only “Stars on Ice” has remained. The “Art on Ice” is very a successful show from Switzerland and there are also many shows in Japan, where figure skating is very popular. Meanwhile, in Russia, in another “skating kingdom” former ice-dancer Ilya Averbukh has the well-known “Ice Age” show with the cast based on the participants of a popular TV program with the same name where celebrities tried to skate in pairs with famous Russian – also Lithuanian and Bulgarian – figure skaters. One of the shows in Europe and Russia in recent years has been “Golden Ice of Stradivari” and “Kings on Ice”, promoted by Ari Zakarian, well known among the skating world also as the agent of Evgeni Plushenko. In April these shows have been touring around Central Europe, in Czech Republic, Slovakia, then in Lithuania and finally in Germany.
I talked about the current state of figure skating business with Mr Zakarian.
Ari Zakarian: "Figure skating show business is going through hard times"How do you rate the current situation of figure skating show business? Is it going well or is the situation rather complicated?
- Figure skating show business is going through hard times. This is especially so in big countries like USA and Canada.
Lately the Figure Skating World Championships finished in Los Angeles. Many great skaters who received medals there will unfortunately not be able to attend galas and earn some money as there are quite a few skating shows. Many skaters turned to me after the World Championships and asked to participate in my tour, but unfortunately I was able to add only a limited number of skaters to the cast. It is a pity, but I had to refuse to the others.
What, in your opinion, is the reason of that situation?
- We lost a majority of our audience that we had during the 1980s and 1990s. One of the main reasons for this is that skating fans don’t understand the current judging system. It is too complicated. Maybe it will prove itself one day, but for that we will need a new skating generation.
But what about some of the skaters such as Evgeni Plushenko or Stéphane Lambiel, who have profited from this new system?
- They are great skaters, who would rate very high in any judging system. But sport should be not so hard to understand. I believe it is not good for the sport to drive away the skating fans with such complicated systems.
How do you choose the cast for your tour?
- I have a recurring cast and then I also sometimes add new people to it.
Like it was with Stéphane Lambiel for your latest tour?
- I have to say that he is not new for me. I have known him for quite a long time. We are glad that he joined our cast. He is a great skater and a great artist who adorns our show. We should be thankful that such a skater exists in the world.
In addition to skaters, you also have interesting ice-acrobats in your cast.
- I always value people who discover in themselves a special talent. I always try to give them a chance to perform. Not everybody can become a champion and so they find something different, something interesting and useful to show skating. For instance I have in my cast Sergei Yakimenko, who makes a “mortal jump” over the car. I supported him in his attempts and now his number works very well in show. There are also Ekaterina and Alexander Chesna – flying acrobats who are always met with success at their performances.
They were also in “Art on Ice”.
- Yes, they came there from my cast.
When do you plan to start with the next tour?
- This year we will unfortunately finish quite early as Zenya Plushenko will soon start his full intensity training for the Olympic Games. I had a chance to have a big tour after the current one, but I cancelled it because of Zenya’s training. However, after the Olympic Games we plan to make a grand tour all over the world.
Also in Russia?
- At the moment, hard to say. Nowadays the Russian audience prefers to watch a singing star or movie star learn to skate with a skating celebrity. I tried to bring back to the audience a high-quality show, but it seems to me, that right now people there don’t appreciate real quality and artistry with high-level technique and complicated jumps. Right now, we just wait.
Shows in Žilina and BratislavaI was able to attend few of the shows produced by Ari Zakarian in Slovakia - shows called “Plushenko and Friends”. Mr Zakarian said in his interview that his goal is to make high-quality shows. In my opinion he has been successful at this as his whole show was well composed with both lyrical and energetic performances and the whole cast was very nice and well-balanced. The first show took place in the small Slovak town of Žilina. The ice rink was not very big but it was cosy, where during the evening there was a very special atmosphere. The audience was warm and cheered every skater. Many skaters were asked to an encore after their second performance. A similarly warm and enthusiastic audience was also in the Slovak capital of Bratislava...
... The greatest star of the show, Evgeni Plushenko appeared with his co-artist, Hungarian violinist Edvin Marton and opened the show with an energetic program. Having seen his performance on both evenings I can say that the rumours of his come-back may be true. He is in a very good shape and his jumps are amazing. In both of his performances he had eight triple jumps, many of them were triple Axels. The whole presentation was, in general, very powerful and intense....
.... It was interesting to compare the artistry of the two main stars of this show – Evgeni Plushenko and Stéphane Lambiel. They are both highly intense and both great at “working the crowd”. While Plushenko’s artistry is based on power and is more resolute and plain, Lambiel is sometimes fierce, sometimes soft, very passionate and his expression has lots of nuances and layers. It was also possible to compare the different tangos in this show. The show’s final number, Evgeni Plushenko’s massive tango was almost infernal. In his shining black costume he seems very powerful and almost threatening. Lambiel’s tango however is a very complete program, with complicated authentic movements, which he studied together with his choreographer, Spanish flamenco dancer Antonio Najarro. I believe that he comes very close to the roots of this magic dance.
I asked Stéphane Lambiel, who was touring in this country for the first time, about his impressions.
Stéphane Lambiel: "If I see, someone is happy – it has already made my day"Did you like to perform in Prague and Slovakia? Is it your first time to doing shows in these countries.
- It was a great opportunity to do these shows. I think what is incredible is the energy and the power that every skater generates, mixing energies. That’s what I am feeling in these shows. There’s a lot of impulse in the air.
I think the audience feels it. Did you like audience in Slovakia?
- I have to say, that the crowd in Žilina was one of the best I’ve ever had. Not big, but very, very warm. I was impressed by the crowd.
Do you plan to continue working with Ari Zakarian?
- I have worked with him for many years, so I know him very well, not only from shows, but also from summer camps. And I know Edvin Marton, we have done many shows together. So I know many people here and I like to be with them, it’s like a family....
... Is it possible to obtain effective treatment for your injury?
- It is very difficult. My hips are not straight because of lots of skating. My hips twist, and now every time I skate too much, it pulls my muscle. It is not possible to get my hips back.
Is it something that happens to all the skaters?
- Many skaters have this problem, because in skating there is always rotation to the same direction. You have one strong part in your body and one weak part. So you have a disbalance and then it goes and causes changes in your body, sometimes with your back or with your hips or with your knees.....
-------------------------------
Full text can be found here
:
http://www.absoluteskating.com/articles/20...karianshow.html
I went to Zhenya with my poster and asked him for autograph. He gave me and then I said him "Tkank you for show, you're the best, I hope you manage with returning and it will be good" 
*so lovely* I belive in him and he belives in himself. It's the most important thing, that he belives, he can do it.
And next was Edvin, he heard when Plushy said "mniam mniam" and when I was doing photo with Edvin, he said the same 
