October 25, 2005
Kristi Yamaguchi Friends and Families
by JulesG
Hey all,
Well, I was there too, so here's my two (or twenty-two) cents! LOL! I was there with Kulik's Krew & we had fifth row seats almost at center ice (can't beat that! LOL!)
It was a really phenomenal show. It was sweet and touching without being gag-worthy or saccharine (though true cynics might disagree with that! LOL!). I was pleasantly surprised by some of the skaters, floored by others and disappointed by no one. The kids were cute too. First, on the girls I know you all are most interested in hearing about! Katia looks GORGEOUS. I saw her with no makeup and that should just be illegal - no one has the right to look that good without a stitch of makeup on (either that or she does a heck of a job perfecting the "natural look"! The ponytail, as you all know, is back and looking bouncy as ever. Daria has one to match, too!. Liza, as you've seen is precious beyond precious. And she and Dasha are almost ridiculously cute together ... she's obviously the apple of the whole family's eye ... she seems equally content in Daria's arms as she is in Mama's arms as she is in Papa's arms! LOL! They are all too pretty and sweet-looking for words (but not in an over the top kind of way).
The opening was sung live to Islands In the Stream and was very sweet. The real-life couples came out first ... starting with Liz & Jarod then Meno & Sand then Katia & Ilia. The pairs did highlight moves, Katia & Ilia skated together but no lifts or anything. Katia had the most radiant smile on her face and looked gorgeous. She was wearing a pale yellow dress that matched the shirt under Ilia's sweater (the same one he's wearing in the photos with Liza) ... not normally my favorite color on her, but it looked lovely ... it was pale enough that it didn't wash her out as yellow can sometimes do.
I should add that I haven't been around to read the board in awhile, so I had no updates on Katia and how she was looking or skating.
Katia's first number was "Mother's Prayer" and it was GORGEOUS. She bobbled one jump, but nailed everything else and it is a really beautiful number. I'm not a big Celine Dion fan, but the song was so appropriate for Katia and the skating was just absolutely beautiful.
The closing number of the first act was HYSTERICAL. It was a clown number and after I got over the shock of seeing Ilia in a clown costume, I just got the biggest kick out of it. What we do for our kids! It was much funnier (to me) than SOI's clown number a few years back and played directly to the kids (who were seated in one corner in on-ice seats. I hope it translates well on television, because it was great in real life. Katia's gag involved opening up a shredded umbrella in front of Liza ... who sort of looked a little dumbfounded (it was very cute)! LOL!
The second act brought the real treat - Katia & Daria took the ice together and both of them skated the heck out of the number. For those who care about these things, Daria is still being introduced as "Daria Grinkova". This time it was "Ekaterina Gordeeva & her daughter, Daria Grinkova" rather than "Daria Grinkova & her mom Katia" like it was at the Mother's day show ... but same general idea. Every jump (doubles all around) was nailed cold and the skating was beautiful. Katia came out first and skated alone for a few minutes, then Daria joined her and they skated together and alternated (Katia stood aside while Dasha skated at one point). Dasha moves very much like her mother and has the exact same body (they are even the same height (within an inch) at this point. At quick glance they could pass for sisters (yes, Katia's back to looking 10 years younger than she actually is). They did SBS jumps which the timing was a bit off on, but who cares ... they both stayed on their feet! They did SBS spins which were neat to see ... katia's were, of course, more polished and finished, but Dasha held her own. I have no idea where she will go with her skating, but her basic skating skills are definitely in good shape and she seemed to thrive off of the crowd reaction. She did her Biellman which was great ... not as rounded as a perfect one would be, but pretty darned impressive to me! As the number went on you could feel the energy building between them and with the audience and they just pulled out all the stops. Both of them did a fabulous job and, of course, they looked beautiful together. Katia was positively glowing with pride and it was really touching and very well skated.
The finale was next (good thing, I'd have hated to be the skater that had to follow that number!) . The basic format was that each grouping did their step-out and then went and picked up their respective kids and carried them back to the ice. Katia & Dasha were already on the ice and stayed together for the finale (Ilia picked up Liza when the men did their step out. The teams went first (P&S and M&D) then the ladies, minus Katia (Nancy & Tanya). Then the men (which is where the Ilia & Liza shots came from), after everyone was back at the other end of the ice, Daria & Katia did their own little step out segment then motioned to Ilia who carried Liza over to them followed by the rest of the skaters. Liza went to mom as everyone took a bow.
During re-takes, Katia tried to fix her jump mistake, but after two tries, she must have decided she just didn't have it in her legs and gave up ... she didn't fall, just badly two footed it. But, the cute bit was as she came out. Scott said "the first skater coming out to fix some 'unfortunate choreography'" (which got a chuckle from Katia) ... "is the beautiful, talented, exquisite (I don't remember the exact adjectives, but you get the idea) ..." at which point Katia started crossing her forearms at him making x's as if to say "cut it out" I couldn't see her face so I don't know if she actually said anything or not, but Scott says "Shut up Scott?! Okay!" and let her do her re-take. It was funny ... but it may be one of those things where you had to be there.
Now, for the non-Katia portion of the evening ...
Ilia skated Rockit - which is always great, but was not his best performance of it. His second number was to Lady - and was unbelievablly gorgeous. I generally always love his skating and generally expect great things, and even I was blown away. So was the audience - it was the first standing ovation of the night (not everyone, but quite a few) and the only one besides Katia & Dasha's (which had absolutely everyone on their feet screaming and clapping). He pulled out all the stops and outdid himself. Unfortunately, it was skated to live music, which means it will get chopped up terribly when it airs ... hopefully some of the magic comes through because it was incredible.
As for the other skaters ... hopefully I don't forget anything"
Meno & Sand skated to a song called "Jack" which was very funny and silly and cute in the second act and in the first act they skated to "Let them Be Young" ... which was very sweet and obviously very meaningful. Jack (the baby, not the song) is SO cute and looks SO much like Todd!!
Punsalan & Swallow skated to "I Can't Unlove You" and a Kenny Rogers song the name of which is temporarily escaping me .... they did it beautifuly and I think I have a new dance team I can claim to enjoy! LOL!
Josef Sabovcik (no, I can't spell his name, I know that) did a really great job ... his jumps were a little off in his first number, but their usual gorgeousness for the secong. He skated to "Forever Young" and another rock ballad I can't think of the name on. Blade is sure growing up fast and his youngest is adorable!
Kurt .... HE'S BACK!!!!! YAYYY!!!! Last year was disappointing for me in my love affair with Kurt's skating, so I can happily report, having seen him in Toronto last week and then at Kristi's show that He's BACK!!! He skated to Rag-Gideon which is always funny and always a crowd pleaser. Raggy also made several appearances at various interludes between numbers to entertain the audience and the kids. Then he skated to a medly of nursery rhymes/the ABCs which sounds corny but was actually really clever. Apparantly Gary Beacom helped him with the choreography, which totally shows. I think kids and grown ups will be able to appreciate it. My only other comment is that someone in the audience needs to figure out the difference between Kurt & Scotty! LOL! (Someone yelled "Go SCOTTY" to KURT!)
Nancy - surprised me - I really enjoyed her numbers (I normally don't). I can't, at the moment come up with the music for either ... one was "zippidydubidydo" or some silly nonesense word like that. The other was more of a ballad. Both were interesting and well done. Her oldest son looks just like her and her baby is very cute.
Tonya - she flies under the radar too much. THis girl is really talented and puts on a nice (and consistent) showing. She skated to "In My Daughter's Eyes" and did it beautifully and her second number I don't know the song, but it was very well skated. And her baby is just adorable.
Kristi - all I can say is that NO ONE should look that friggin' good 8 months pregnant! She's gorgeous. That and --- what the heck was she thinking tottering on spiked heels on the ICE!!!!! I saw her in the bar after the show and she really is a knockout.
Scott ... he was scott. A bit of shameless pandering in the form of "isn't my kid cute" ... but I can't really blame him because his kid IS really cute!!
Another funny moment as right after the show, Gabe (Kurt's son) ran out from behind the curtain on the ice while Scott was addressing the audience and Scott called "Hey Gabe, where ya going" which didn't even slow the little guy down ... somone came runnign after him as he started to make his way around the rink and Scott said "You have no idea how much like his father he really is." LOL! Yes, yes, I think we do, actually! LOL!
I did get to go to the reception, and Katia & the girls were there, but they did not stay very long so I didn't get to talk to her. Ilia stayed a bit longer and was very gracious with his time to all of the fans who came up to him (as well as the Krew, of course).
I did not take pictures, because I knew that both Sharon Modjeska & Laurie Asseo were going to be there ... both of whom FAR out-do my abilities with the camera. The photos that have already gone up are some of Laurie's, and I know she's got more.
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