2023 Spring/Summer Ice Shows in Japan (GIFT, Beyond, Notte Stellata, SOI, PIW, BOI, FaOI,The Ice)

[YukiNieve]

Mai Mihara, Stephane Lambiel, Shae-Lynn Bourne, Junhwan Cha have been added to the cast!

Friends on Ice

Rika Hongo and Jeremy Abbott have been added to the cast.

 

[YukiNieve]

Dreams on Ice (6/30-7/2) rehearsal began!

https://twitter.com/ntv_sports_jp/status/1674322549180874752

https://twitter.com/ntv_sports_jp/status/1674370105617293314

 

[Sylvia]

Ilia's photo with the 3 other guest stars (Junhwan, Haien & Loena) plus a group rehearsal clip from Dreams on Ice: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuHoYcArOWh/

ETA photos from the June 30th Dreams on Ice show: https://mainichi.jp/graphs/20230630/mpj/00m/050/097000f/20230630mpj00m050084000p

Also:

【フィギュア】ドリームオンアイス　島田麻央、島田高志郎らが華麗に演技を披露／写真特集 - フィギュア写真ニュース : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケートのアイスショー「ドリームオンアイス」が30日、KOSE新横浜スケートセンターで開催された。【フィギュア】世界ジュニア女王の島田麻央がパンツル… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

 

[YukiNieve]

Dreams on Ice - Online article and photos on skaters' performance on the first day, 6/30/23, from World Figure Skating magazine:

友野一希、三原舞依ら日本代表が新横浜に集結！ | WFS-Web ワールド・フィギュアスケートWeb

6月30日、KOSÉ新横浜スケートセンターでドリーム・オン・アイス2023が開幕しました。 昨シーズンの全日本ノービス、全日本ジュニアメダリスト、日本代表として世界で戦ったシニアの選手たちが一堂に会し、来るシーズンへ向けて新プログラムをお披

worldfigureskating-web.jp

(I summarized a part of the skaters' comments)

- Kazuki Tomono skated his new SP Underground (choreographed by Jeffrey Buttle)
Kazuki says both his SP and FS include aspects that need more improvements (such as the precision of each movement and the use of free leg); he intentionally chose the music to make the programs aiming at such improvements.

- Mai Mihara skated her new SP To Love You More (choreographed by Jeffrey Buttle)
Mai says the highlight of the program is ballet jump; Jeff told her he loves Mai's ballet jump.

- Kao Miura skated his new FS Attack on Titan (choreographed by Shae-Lynn Boune)
Kao thinks himself as Reiner Braun; he showed the clips of the music to Shae-Lynn and they made the program together.

- Mao Shimada skated her new SP Americano (choreographed by Katelyn Weaver)
Mao says she portrays a strong woman for this SP. Her goals this year are to land 3A and 4T.

Sota Yamamoto skated his new FS Exogenesis.

Shun Sato skated his new SP Linertango.

Koshiro Shimada skated his new SP La Danse Macabre.

Rinka Watanabe skated her new SP Avatar: The Way of Water.

While the articles does not have her picture, I heard from many that Mone Chiba's performance was very good, too.

Guest skaters, Jun-hwan skated his Micheal Jackson medley and Ilia skated his exhibition program, Tout L'universe.

 

[Frau Muller]

So is Ilia now living half of the year in Japan?

 

[Karen-W]

So is Ilia now living half of the year in Japan?

Please. He spent about 4 weeks there from Worlds through WTT because he did the SOI Japan tour and then he came back and spent the next 2.5 months in the US. It does look like he'll be in Japan for the next 5-6 weeks, but those two stints add up to less than 3 months total.

 

[Frau Muller]

Please. He spent about 4 weeks there from Worlds through WTT because he did the SOI Japan tour and then he came back and spent the next 2.5 months in the US. It does look like he'll be in Japan for the next 5-6 weeks, but those two stints add up to less than 3 months total.

My friends in Reston, VA, haven’t seen him since that Leesburg, VA, early-June gala. Ilia is A MAN OF THE GLOBE (good for 2023 income taxes)!

 

[Karen-W]

My friends in Reston, VA, haven’t seen him since that Leesburg, VA, early-June gala. Ilia is A MAN OF THE GLOBE (good for 2023 income taxes)!

So???? He would have had his HS graduation around then and probably took a well-deserved break after spending 3 weeks on the US leg of the SOI tour in May-early June.

 

[Debbie S]

Or maybe he's been skating at another rink or is elsewhere getting choreo. Ilia doesn't need to keep fans updated on his schedule.

 

[Frau Muller]

So???? He would have had his HS graduation around then and probably took a well-deserved break after spending 3 weeks on the US leg of the SOI tour in May-early June.

Making the most of his quad axel!

 

[ostile17]

This instagram account @Japan Skate News has all the videos of DOI 2023.

It's a private account so you must ask to follow and you will be accepted

 

[YukiNieve]

Yuka Sato will be a choreographer for the 2023 The Ice.

佐藤有香さんが振付師として参加決定！ | THE ICE（ザ・アイス） | 公式サイト

1994年 世界選手権 女子シングル 金メダリスト の佐藤有香さんが、振付師としてご参加いただくことが決定しました！ ご本人からコメントを頂戴しております。 「この度、THE ICE 2023の振り付けを担当させていただくことになりました。 皆さんお馴染みの豪華メンバーと一緒に『熱〜く& Sexy』 なショーをお届けしたいと思います！」 よりパワーアップした THE ICE 2023 にご期待ください！

fs-theice.com

 

[skatfan]

Please. He spent about 4 weeks there from Worlds through WTT because he did the SOI Japan tour and then he came back and spent the next 2.5 months in the US. It does look like he'll be in Japan for the next 5-6 weeks, but those two stints add up to less than 3 months total.

Good for Ilia, smart to skate with a lot of his competition in Japan and earning training $. It will be interesting to see if he spends time at Great Park with Shae and Raf.

 

[Karen-W]

Good for Ilia, smart to skate with a lot of his competition in Japan and earning training $. It will be interesting to see if he spends time at Great Park with Shae and Raf.

He's already there, this week, after DOI was done.

 

[ostile17]

The Ice just added
Kana & Daisuke
Loena Hendrickx

THE ICE 2023 Nikko, Osaka and Morioka performances will be Live Streamed and it seems like viewing tickets can be purchased from overseas too!

日光・大阪・盛岡公演＜ライブ配信＞オンライン視聴券発売のお知らせ！ | THE ICE（ザ・アイス） | 公式サイト

愛知公演に続き、日光、大阪、盛岡のライブ配信、オンライン視聴券が本日発売になりました。 会場までお越しになれない方も、別の会場の公演もご覧になりたいという方も、ぜひライブ配信で「THE ICE 2023」をお楽しみください！ 詳細は、各公演ページをご覧ください。 ・日光公演 ・大阪公演 ・盛岡公演

fs-theice.com

PIA accepts payment via PayPal.
You must register and account with PIA, and when you do, you MUST insert JAPAN in your country of residence

 

[YukiNieve]

Rehearsals for The Ice, which are open to the public (tickets are needed), began today (Wednesday).

Themes for the creative floor dance are given to the teams：

Daisuke & Kevin: Friendships, a fun number to perform at a party

Jun-hwan & Ilia: Gifted talent, Overcoming the obstacle

 

[YukiNieve]

Notes from those who were at the The Ice rehearsals:

1st day (Wednesday)

• There was a surprise for those who attended the rehearsal - a few skaters (on the 1st day they were Mai Mihara and Evan Bates) came near the stand to greet the fans and took a group photo with them.
• Adam Siao Him Fa skated to Memories by Gary Moore.
• Jason Brown skated to Adios.
• Shouma Uno skated to Come Together and his new SP Clair de Lune + another music with a vocal repeating "I love you."
• Kana & Daisuke skated to Mask.
• Madison & Evan skated to Let's Dance.
• Papadakis & Cizeron skated to Roses.
• Jun-hwan skated to Golden Hour & Michael Jackson Medley.
• Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara skated new SP, Moonlight Sonata (female vocal), whose style looked quite different from previous programs.

2nd day (Thursday) - which is still ongoing.

• Nathan Chen and Shouma seem to have a collaboration number as they were practicing it. ETA: This seems to be the music? (not confirmed)
• Kevin Aymoz skated to Bolero with some balletic movements.

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks for the updates @YukiNieve - please keep them coming!

Riku Miura & Ryuichi Kihara skated new SP, Moonlight Sonata (female vocal), whose style looked quite different from previous programs.

I wonder if it's the version "Moonlight" by Jennifer Thomas (piano) with vocalist Viktoria Tocca?

Jason's photos from The ice rehearsals: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu60EjrhqvK/

Loena's pics: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu6yJpUpDN9/

ETA link to The Ice's official IG account: https://www.instagram.com/fstheice/

Themes for the creative floor dance are given to the teams：
...
Jun-hwan & Ilia: Gifted talent, Overcoming the obstacle

Clip of Junhwan & Ilia rehearsing their dance number: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu6VlYtO8ik/

 

[Wyliefan]

Moonlight Sonata (female vocal)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[YukiNieve]

The Ice published the tournament table for the dance battles on the ice.

https://fs-theice.com/notification/dancebattle2023/ (scroll down)

The battles will be live-streamed on Tik-Tok (Only the dance battles. The shows will be live-streamed for fee separately).

ETA: Nathan will be the judge for the on-ice dance battles this year.

 

[YukiNieve]

There was a surprise for those who attended the rehearsal - a few skaters (on the 1st day they were Mai Mihara and Evan Bates) came near the stand to greet the fans and took a group photo with them.

On the 2nd day, Riku & Ryuichi and Jason came to greet the fans.

The rehearsals are open to the public from 10AM to 4PM (6 hours!) on Wed, Thurs and Friday!

According to the rehearsal attendees, Riku & Ryuichi's new SP is not like smiley cute programs that they did in the past, but is somewhat more moody and sensual.

Nathan will skate to Mr. Blue Sky and a new program.

 

[Karen-W]

Rehearsals for The Ice, which are open to the public (tickets are needed), began today (Wednesday).

Themes for the creative floor dance are given to the teams：

Daisuke & Kevin: Friendships, a fun number to perform at a party

Jun-hwan & Ilia: Gifted talent, Overcoming the obstacle

Practice footage of Ilia & Junhwan -

THE ICE (ザ・アイス) 【公式】 on Instagram: "JunHwan and Ilia rehearse for their dance number!! 超速報でジュンファンとイリアの陸ダンスの練習風景をお届けします！どんどん様になっていきます😍本番が楽しみすぎます！！ #THEICE2023 #figureskating #ザアイス #Quadg0d #iliamalinin #イリアマリニン #junhwancha #ジュンファンチャ"

1,835 likes, 36 comments - THE ICE (ザ・アイス) 【公式】 (@fstheice) on Instagram on July 20, 2023: "JunHwan and Ilia rehearse for their dance number!! 超速報でジュンファンとイリアの�..."

www.instagram.com

 

[YukiNieve]

Shouma's brother Itsuki runs a YouTube channel mainly featuring their cute dogs, and apparently they brought their dogs to The Ice skaters (at 2:25 mark).

ãTHEICEã¢ãã¢ãä¼ã#uno1ã¯ã³ãã£ã³ãã« #å®éæ磨 #å®é樹 #ãã¬ã¨ã®æ®ãã #ãã¤ãã¼ãã«çæ´» #theice

暑い中、皆さま気をつけて楽しんでください

www.youtube.com

 

[YukiNieve]

The Ice Live Stream

1st half
Opening: Summer Renaissance (Beyonce)
Silver sparkling costume

Haruki Matsumoto：　Smile / All of Me (Charlie Green)

Adam Siao Him Fa: The Prophet (Gary Moore) Powerful performance, black leotard + pants

Kazuki Tomono: Underground (SP) （Cody Fry）Black top & bottom

Mai Mihara: To Love You More (SP) (Celine Dion) Light blue costume, the music fits well her style

Jason Brown: Everybody (Backstreet Boys)

Kana & Daisuke：Music from The Mask
Daisuke now has golden hair.

- Kana & Daisuke gave a small talk.

Keegan Messing: Grace Kelly (Mika)

- Keegan gave a small talk
They were so out of breath as they had to talk right after the performance.

Kevin Aymoz: Bird Girl (Antony & The Johnsons)　Blue costume, beautiful performance

Papadakis & Cizeron: Roses (Jean-Michel Blais) Organic and it is a program that is uniquely theirs.

Collaboration by Nathan & Shouma: On the Nature of Daylight
Most of the time they skated separately but created a unique atmosphere.
ETA: After the show was over, the live stream showed how Nathan and Shouma practiced this piece over and over...Yuka Sato (choreographer) explained that this is a program where two skaters at the different stage of their careers met and still found empathy and similarities between them.

 

[YukiNieve]

The Ice Live Stream
2nd half
Dance Battle (on the ice) - Leona vs Evan: Nathan is judge.　The prize for the winner is Play Station (PS) 5.
Evan's white costume is an angel with a wing on the back and a halo on the head.
Leona is a nurse? (I am not sure)　Evan won and will face Jason.

Dance on the Floor
Daisuke & Kevin (team name: Diamonds) Junhwan & Ilia (team name: Illusions)
I personally felt that this would be a great experience for Ilia to further improve the expressions. Well, he was actually dancing really well.

Nathan answered the questions from fans.
- Most memorable experience during the past The Ice shows: visiting Kyoto in 2018

Riku & Ryuichi: Moonlight Sonata - I put a spell on you (Kandace Springs with David Sanborn) Yes this is a departure from their past programs.

Loena Hendricks: Living for Love (Madonna)

Ilia Malinin: Tout l'univers (Gjon's Tears) No sound due to the music copy rights

Junhwan Cha: Micheal Jackson Medley
As an exhibition program, it is very entertaining with full of fun movements.

Madison & Evan: Nightcall (London Grammer)

Nathan Chen: Mr. Blue Sky Sparkling silver costume.

Kaori Sakamoto: Elastic Heart (instrumental version) Red costume.

Uno Shoma: This Town (Niall Horan) His 2019-2020 exhibition program. No sound due to the music copy rights

Finale：
Ice Queen (Sue Foley) - three dance teams Man! Feel like a woman! (Shania Twain) - female single skaters and dancers
Music for Sushi Restaurant (Harry Styles) - male single skaters. Jason did a long ina bauer and they ended with a kind of Zazen positions (seated cross-legged Zen positions).

Can't take my eyes off you - Riku & Ryuichi　joined by dancers - men - women. Danced with the fans.

 

[On My Own]

Ilia Malinin: No sound due to the music rights

Uno Shoma: No sound due to the music rights

What do we expect will happen during competition, then?

 

[Karen-W]

What do we expect will happen during competition, then?

There shouldn't be an issue since competitions are different from shows when it comes to copyright law.

 

[On My Own]

There shouldn't be an issue since competitions are different from shows when it comes to copyright law.

Well fingers crossed, but didn't this happen to an American Pair before?

 

[Sylvia]

^^^ That situation involved musicians who filed a lawsuit for the second time against a pair team for the same song they covered (Knierim/Frazier during the 2022 Olympics and Hase/Seegert a few years before that).

Did anyone watch the dance battle on TikTok? This is the link to watch live: https://www.tiktok.com/@fstheice

Nathan's fan thread has links to his clips. Thank you for your detailed reports, @YukiNieve!

 

[Karen-W]

^^^ That situation involved musicians who filed a lawsuit for the second time against a pair team for the same song they covered (Knierim/Frazier during the 2022 Olympics and Hase/Seegert a few years before that).

Did anyone watch the dance battle on TikTok? This is the link to watch live: https://www.tiktok.com/@fstheice

Nathan's fan thread has links to clips, etc. Thank you for your detailed reports, @YukiNieve!

Yes, and, as was discovered by the skaters after they chose the music and the lawsuit was filed, that artist had elected out of the general copyright agreements that cover the playing of their music in entertainment venues and as part of sporting competitions. One would think that if Ilia and Shoma had their music muted for the show, they are aware that they need to obtain the correct permissions from the artists directly and that their teams are working through the legalities right now before they start competing this season.