Memorable Exhibition Performances

[skatingfan5]

Kwan had a way of making each performance of Fields of Gold memorable.

The October 2001 debut at Madison Square Garden was breathtaking. Considering the events of the previous month, it was the first sense of calm I felt regarding NYC.

The Olympic exhibition was moving and bittersweet.

Worlds was joy and relief.

All in all, it showcased Kwan's best skating. It never got old.

I'm particularly fond of some of Kwan's exhibitions that I saw in person -- especially "Dante's Prayer" and "Fields of Gold" (which I think I saw 3 or 4 times and loved each performance -- it never got old for me, either).

'Sentimental waltz' by Jamie Silverstein& Jusin Pekarek (sp?) at one of the GPs- I don't remember which one and don't remember the year, but it was beautiful.

I don't think that I saw any of their exhibitions from GP events (they were never televised in the US), but I still remember how I was completely captivated by their exhibition at 2000 Nationals.

[gk_891]

I liked this one from Klimova & Ponomarenko.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uop0jFV8tcA

[pollyanna]

Viktor & Oksana- Rock around the Clock 94 Oly

And of course, they got the idea for this from Nancy Kerrigan and Paul Wylie who skated together in the 1992 Olympics gala to The Last Night of the World from Miss Saigon. Unfortunately it's not available on youtube.

Another memorable gala pair - Debi Thomas and Vladimir Kotin at 1987 Worlds gala skating together to Billie Jean. They debuted this program at the inaugural 1986 Goodwill Games, a sort of "up yours" to the whole Cold War thing.

One of my all time favorite exhibitions is Janet Lynn at the 1971 Worlds skating to her signature music, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. Stunning.

Love all of Michelle Kwan's exhibitions, especially those noted above. I always loved her Beautiful World exhibition, although I preferred the pink dress she wore in a couple of cheesefests.

[Vash01]

I don't think that I saw any of their exhibitions from GP events (they were never televised in the US), but I still remember how I was completely captivated by their exhibition at 2000 Nationals.

It may have been the US nationals, in that case. I don't remember which competition it was, but I have the program on a VHS tape.

[skatesindreams]

One of the very best EX, IMO:

Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko 1987 Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9nn6J7GyR0

[alilou]

I adore this one:

Golden Skate Awards 2011 - Jeffrey Buttle - Nimrod from Enigma Variations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mk45t4pJIc

Too bad that his performance of this at "The Ice" 2011 seems not to be available on YT any longer.

I never did get the link you sent me of his performance at "The Ice" to open, but here's a much better version than the GSA one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmYxdaxSQXU

That Ina Bauer into spread eagle near the end

[jdonavan]

Amanda Evora/Mark Ladwig "Pocahontas" : Perfect casting and a beautiful program:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5CFz2M8kjc

[alilou]

Plushenko is perhaps my least favorite champion, but his exhibition from worlds 1998 is my all time favorite exhibition program. Never again was he so hilarious, goofy, sweet, floppy, unguarded, musical, and brilliant. I just laughed with delight to watch it again. It's a hint of the skater he might have been, had he not been so relentlessly styled and packaged (just my opinion, many disagree). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2st17-hWl_k

I'm astonished and delighted by this. How wonderful. A Plush program that left me smiling at the end. And no mullet - bonus!
I've never been a Plush fan, not of St Petersberg 3000, or Afternoon of a Faun or whatever it was he skated to when he was dressed in gold like a candy wrapper from head to foot. His packaging, style, choreo, and on-ice persona has always left me cold. I kept trying to see what others could see but never got it. But this! This free goofy funny unpretentious 15 yr old. What a delight. If only he'd developed along these lines

[SkateBlades17]

Some of my favorites-

- Michelle Kwan- Dante's Prayer, East of Eden, Fields of Gold, On My Own

- Tara Lipinski- Anastasia, Reach

- Belbin & Agosto- Bleeding Love

- Torvil & Dean- Bolero

- Grishuk & Platov- You'll See, I Will Always Love You

- Navka & Kostomarov- In the Closet, Austin Powers

- Phillippe Candeloro- Saturday Night Fever

- Oksana Baiul- The Swan

- Lu Chen- the one she skated at the 98 Olympic EX with the Lavender Dress

[lulu]

Great list! Glad to see a mention of G&P's "I Will Always Love You" such a gorgeous program.

[aftershocks]

Michelle Kwan: Dante's Prayer; Fields of Gold; Winter, Winter Song; East of Eden; You Raise Me Up; Hands; Kissin' You; The World is Not Enough


Johnny Weir: Imagine; My Way; Ave Maria; Fallen Angels Trio; Heartbroken; Poker Face; Nature Boy


Robin Cousins: Satan Takes a Holiday (the old standard)

And, THIS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpGOA3l57TY Robin, perhaps the first skater to do Michael Jackson, before MJ became the famous Michael Jackson of Thriller fame!

Interesting how the young Robin has a facial resemblance to Jeremy Abbott (and Robin is one of the skaters who inspired Jeremy)

Paul Wylie: Schindler's List; Miss Saigon; JFK; Carmina Burana; This is the Moment; On the Waterfront

Kurt Browning: Singin' in the Rain; Brick House

Toller Cranston: Pagliacci http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AGzo1lrl4M;
The Firebird http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cf_zI9Xo9o;
La Rondine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otH4Ed1IjUQ;
Malaguena http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yCZh...eature=related

Gary Beacom: I'm Your Man; Malevolent Landscape

Jeremy Abbott: Rhythm of Love; Hometown Glory

Christopher Bowman: Maria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMRW1HmNiVI The classical side of Christopher! Highlights are his effortless 3axel, gorgeous Ina Bauer, his elegance, and the way he saved the landing on his 3lutz with such relative ease. Love what he's wearing too. RIP, Christopher.

John Misha Petkevich Thanks to floskate for the clip: Renaissance Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwUfx-fLg1s&feature=fvsr

[skatesindreams]

Robin Cousins: Satan Takes a Holiday (the old standard)

aftershocks, here's his best performance of this iconic program, IMO.
Just fabulous. One of the best EX's, ever.

1985 World Pro AP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKilj4ojS8c

[Manaud]

Michelle Kwan: Dante's Prayer; Fields of Gold; Winter, Winter Song; East of Eden; You Raise Me Up; Hands; Kissin' You; The World is Not Enough


Johnny Weir: Imagine; My Way; Ave Maria; Fallen Angels Trio; Heartbroken; Poker Face; Nature Boy


Robin Cousins: Satan Takes a Holiday (the old standard)

And, THIS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpGOA3l57TY Robin, perhaps the first skater to do Michael Jackson, before MJ became the famous Michael Jackson of Thriller fame!

Interesting how the young Robin has a facial resemblance to Jeremy Abbott (and Robin is one of the skaters who inspired Jeremy)

Paul Wylie: Schindler's List; Miss Saigon; JFK; Carmina Burana; This is the Moment; On the Waterfront

Kurt Browning: Singin' in the Rain; Brick House

Toller Cranston: Pagliacci http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AGzo1lrl4M;
The Firebird http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cf_zI9Xo9o;
La Rondine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otH4Ed1IjUQ;
Malaguena http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yCZh...eature=related

Gary Beacom: I'm Your Man; Malevolent Landscape

Jeremy Abbott: Rhythm of Love; Hometown Glory

Christopher Bowman: Maria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMRW1HmNiVI The classical side of Christopher! Highlights are his effortless 3axel, gorgeous Ina Bauer, his elegance, and the way he saved the landing on his 3lutz with such relative ease. Love what he's wearing too. RIP, Christopher.

John Misha Petkevich Thanks to floskate for the clip: Renaissance Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwUfx-fLg1s&feature=fvsr

That Gary beacom program is fabulous!

[briancoogaert]

I've discovered it in the "way they were" thread.
How beautiful : John Curry Raymonda

[PinkFeathers]

In addition to those mentioned, I really really love Belbin and Agosto's "If It Kills Me" as it was such a great story, and they did it very well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrphaJAXIL8

[Allisanna]

One of the very best EX, IMO:

Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko 1987 Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9nn6J7GyR0

I agree.

[Twilight1]

Klimova & Ponomarenko Ex from 1992 World's "E Lucevan Let Stelle",
Bourne & Kraatz 95 World's Ex Pink Floyd, Sadeness
Grishuk & Plato 95 World's Adagio, '97 'Frozen'
Anissina & Peizerat '98 Ex "Time to say Goodbye"
Fusar-Poli & Margaglio '02 ex chair tango
Usova & Zhulin Autumn Leaves, Prelude in E Minor, Rose Tango from '93 World's
Virtue & Moir Hallejuah

[vivika1982]

Denkova/Staviski-Rideau and Cold Song
Pechalat/Bourzat-The Mummy
Brian Joubert-The Matrix
Drobiazko/Vanagas-Adagio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC6lv0MCeAU
Krylova/Ovsyannikov-Malaguena
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVxPj7dR57Y

[satchelpooch318]

I'd like to nominate Caryn Kadavy's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now"
http://youtu.be/zEyFBdTsXkE

[cbd1235]

Basically all of Michelle's exhibitions take the cake for me. Those that are not yet listed which had the most effect on me were:

1997 Worlds "Winter" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8i-KY1nuHY
2000 Japan Open "Hands" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqVXK8xdpV0

I feel that both above are under-appreciated and are really Kwan masterpieces. Apart from that "Dante's Prayer" and "Fields of Gold" were spectacular aswell