November 9, 2002
DIVAS ON ICE
by JulesG
Hey all,
I just got back from Divas. Great show --- though I think almost everyone fell at least once! Katia skated very well, actually - she fell once during Paradise (I think it was on a lutz, but I'm REALLY bad at recognizing jumps so I wouldn't swear by it), but other than that, as far as I could tell, she was perfect.
She skated Paradise, and then did a group number with Kristi and Yuka that was all spirals, edging and spins and .. well .... there is a reason that those three are my top three favorite female singles skaters! Then she skated a new number, which is the reason for my choice of subject lines. It was a classical number, and I don't know if Marina choreographed it or not, but she could have - it was beautiful ... so, for those who have been missing (vocally or quietly), the "old" Katia - she's BaAAACk. Personally, I like her both ways, but it really was a beautiful new program - I hope we see more of it.
For Paradise, she wore the orange dress, for the group number it was a pale blue dress that I didn't recognize (I think) And the new program was a blue catsuit with cut outs --- which wasn't my favorite of her costumes -- not horrible, but not really fabulous, either. The skating was amazing, though.
Then there was the finale - which started with "We are Family", then Gloria Gaynor sang "I Will Survive". The skaters wore really cute 60s dresses and seemed to be having a blast. Katia was goofing around a little bit while waiting for final bows/pictures ... very subtly ... in fact I'm not sure you could have seen it from everywhere in the arena. My seats were on-ice just a little way from the tunnel.
Then it was on to the re-takes - and Katia, trouper that she is, tried her missed jump about 5 times before she got it --- you could tell she was getting frustrated and a little annoyed that she kept missing it, but she still fired off a radient smile for the audience cheers. Before her reskate, someone yelled "Good to have you back Katia", and she looked up and grinned and waved. She also signed autographs for someone -- and about 5 other people converged at the boards --- so she signed those too --- she was sort of warming up/staying loose for the retakes. I thought that was nice of her to stop and do that.
Now, for the thrill of MY night ... I got to MEET Katia! They were selling the figurines, and I'd been eyeing them for awhile, so I was thinking about getting one, but what put me over was that 20 people who bought the figurine got to meet Katia --- I think it was the first 20 ... anyway, however they did it, I got to be one of the 20. So, after the show, we went up to a special room, and after awhile Katia came in and signed everyone's figurines or whatever, and greeted everyone. And, none of you will believe this, I know, but I had NO idea what to say to her. It wasn't exactly a sit down and chat environment - it was a pretty quick meet and greet. She took my figurine and asked me very quietly how I was doing ... and I actually don't think I answered her, come to think of it ... oops! - she said it so quietly that I realized what she'd said after I had started talking, I told her "welcome back and congratulations" and she smiled and said thank you as she handed me back the figurine. I thanked her and she said "your welcome" and that was my witty conversation with Katia! I'm so proud ... NOT. She has a beautiful voice - pretty accent, too ... though it's getting less noticible than it used to be. She was very gracious. Very quiet and understated, but nice to everyone. She's definitely not a chatterbox but she was very sweet and flashed plenty of smiles and took pictures with anyone who asked (my camera batter was already dead, so I didn't even try) ... oh and she had a coughing fit at one point - dry throat, I think. She opened up a little more with the kids that were there ... for example, there was a little girl with a picture of skates on her dress and Katia told her she liked her dress and asked her where she got it.
Anyway, that's about it ... except that she is REALLY tiny! But, she doesn't look fragile to me for some reason ... she looks strong as steel --- steel wire, but steel. And she's every bit as pretty in person. Oh, and I met someone who is with the skating press who has seen Liza and she said she is just adorable and looks just like Ilia. She also said that Katia told her she wants another one ... and that she's hoping the next one looks at least a little bit like her! (That part of the story was relayed because after she said Liza looks like Ilia, I made the comment that Daria looks just like Sergei).
Okay --- I think that's it ... I'll add more if I think of it. If someone else who was there can help me with the song names that'd be great --- I didn't get a program... I'm not sure how I did that.
I did take some pictures -- though I partially exposed one roll while trying to rewind it. It'll be awhile before I'm back at my scanner (like December), and I had to use a smaller lens this time, so I could only really get shots of stuff going on at my end of the arena, but I'll post them again if they come out.
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