New Michigan Ice Dance Academy

[Carolla5501]

I think Tanith and Charlie could still commentate because they happen to be professional. (Unlike the sideshow act).

their criticisms are constructive and kind. I can see him criticizing his teams the same way he criticizes anyone else who didn’t deliver.

 

[VGThuy]

I think Tanith and Charlie could still commentate because they happen to be professional. (Unlike the sideshow act).

their criticisms are constructive and kind. I can see him criticizing his teams the same way he criticizes anyone else who didn’t deliver.

I definitely believe he and Tanith are both professional and able to do exactly what you said. At the same time, I still think it’s a conflict-of-interest and it’s better to just rid of it. I know the skating community is small and everybody is connected to someone who is competing somehow, but being a head coach or head whatever of a center that will be churning out competitors is a line. That said, maybe they will be working on development for now and it won’t be an issue for another decade or so…if it’s realistic to expect that no senior/junior teams will start asking to join that group.

 

[wickedwitch]

Tanith commentated on Charlie and Meryl, so....

But I wouldn't be opposed to more commentary from Ben Agosto.

 

[4rkidz]

Their tag line - "An elite training center where overall well-being is considered to the same degree as mastery of the sport." - seems aimed more at younger skaters than the level that makes national broadcasts.

I've heard Charlie speak very thoughtfully about the implications of skating and competition aside from winning vs losing. I think they could be exceedingly good coaches.

Agreed, anything I have heard from Charlie is always supportive and he‘s not afraid to be honest with his opinions (which I always agree with). I think they will bring an holistic approach to coaching.

 

[RoseRed]

I definitely believe he and Tanith are both professional and able to do exactly what you said. At the same time, I still think it’s a conflict-of-interest and it’s better to just rid of it. I know the skating community is small and everybody is connected to someone who is competing somehow, but being a head coach or head whatever of a center that will be churning out competitors is a line. That said, maybe they will be working on development for now and it won’t be an issue for another decade or so…if it’s realistic to expect that no senior/junior teams will start asking to join that group.

Well, they already have Bratti/Somerville

 

[sk9tingfan]

I saw this today on Charlie's twitter. Very exciting news! Glad he is taking this direction, he will be a great coach. Don't know about Greg's coaching but I did enjoy him back in the day with M. Chock.

Don't forget Charlie's choreography. I loved the LP he did for James and Cipres. And he also really knows how to do music cuts.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

Nice article on MIDA -

They have consulted with experts such as mental health professionals, nutritionists and sports medicine doctors to learn more about what an ideal training environment looks like from each vantage point. The trio has committed to establishing a trusted referral network that their students can tap in to when they need to find support for an issue outside of their area of expertise.

“We feel like if we are really to embody this philosophy, we couldn't even open the door to prospective students until we have this framework in place,” Belbin stated. “It will be a safe environment that elite athletes can train within and reach their potential, and we feel strongly that when we do welcome new students that we will have things in place to help them from the beginning and not just to respond to needs when they arise, and they're already set in.”

Having this network in place, Charlie White believes, will help MIDA’s students find ways to avoid the pitfalls of antiquated thinking that can lead to negative behaviors if left untouched.

So they know there are huge problems in coaching and they think they can do it better. Good.

As far as commentating, seems like it's take it as it comes for now.

Charlie White will continue to provide support to Bratti and Somerville in his role as choreographer for the team while Tanith White will be part of the crew that will travel to Beijing to provide commentary for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games on NBC.

“Our priority is first and foremost is to the school,” she said. “We wouldn’t begin this endeavor if we weren’t fully committed. As we develop and see what students we have, what their needs are, and what the timing is in terms of their schedule, then we can consider what if anything can be worked in around that. The priority will always be to the school.”

 

[OrioleBeagle]

Isn't Greg's husband in the Washington DC area?

 

[PRlady]

I’m probably the only one here disappointed that Charlie isn’t going into Michigan politics.

 

[Aceon6]

I’m probably the only one here disappointed that Charlie isn’t going into Michigan politics.

Too much hate in that occupation. I get the impression that Charlie doesn’t want to be a bitter old guy.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I’m probably the only one here disappointed that Charlie isn’t going into Michigan politics.

I have a feeling that Charlie is someone who is very direct and would not be able to pander.

 

[PRlady]

I have a feeling that Charlie is someone who is very direct and would not be able to pander.

Maybe so. But he majored in government and his political Twitter posts were astute.

 

[Debbie S]

Isn't Greg's husband in the Washington DC area?

They lived in the DC area when Greg was coaching with the WISA group but both moved back to Michigan after a year.

Maybe so. But he majored in government and his political Twitter posts were astute.

Per his bio on the MIDA website, he majored in philosophy. Guess he decided gov't wasn't for him.

 

[PRlady]

They lived in the DC area when Greg was coaching with the WISA group but both moved back to Michigan after a year.


Per his bio on the MIDA website, he majored in philosophy. Guess he decided gov't wasn't for him.

I majored in philosophy too. So did DH. Spent most of our careers on social activism.

 

[BlueRidge]

I majored in philosophy too. So did DH. Spent most of our careers on social activism.

I think of philosophy as a great escape from politics!

 

[PRlady]

I think of philosophy as a great escape from politics!

Not if your field is political philosophy!

 

[BlueRidge]

Not if your field is political philosophy!

I stay away from that!

 

[VGThuy]

Charlie is probably like many poli-sci majors or government or whatever. Really interested in it and has strong opinions, but doesn’t actually want to be part of government. They understand how things work but would rather be on the outside to be free to work on activism in their own time and with issues they personally care about without needing to hold back due to the constraints of being part of politics provides you. Once you go into politics officially…you lose a lot of the freedom you had and maybe what interested a person in government/politics.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Maybe so. But he majored in government and his political Twitter posts were astute.

Given today's political environment, even though his major lends itself to politics, maybe he doesn't want to contend with that career. And the environment nationally, let alone Michigan is particularly hostile. One of my graduate degrees is in public administration and I had been encouraged to run for office. However, I had done grant work with the Feds and was exposed to both the inside and outside dynamics and realized it was not for me. And, I realized that my personality would not permit me to pander at the expense of my values.

 

[clairecloutier]

The real question now is whether Charlie will be able to "politick" on behalf of his future students!!

 

[AnnM]

Maybe so. But he majored in government and his political Twitter posts were astute.

He's still young and there's still time. ??

 

[PRlady]

Believe me, I understand. I’m one of the few senior advocacy communications people in DC without Hill or campaign experience. I lack the ability to talk adoringly about the person I work for. It’s all about the ideas.

 

[skatfan]

I’m probably the only one here disappointed that Charlie isn’t going into Michigan politics.

I’m with you.

 

[Dobre]

Well, they already have Bratti/Somerville

I think Caleb will age up to seniors next season also, right?

I'm not giving up Tanith/Ben/Charlie's commentary for anyone we've had do it previously, much less someone who knows nothing about dance. Political conflict or not.

 

[Lanie]

Charlie is probably like many poli-sci majors or government or whatever. Really interested in it and has strong opinions, but doesn’t actually want to be part of government. They understand how things work but would rather be on the outside to be free to work on activism in their own time and with issues they personally care about without needing to hold back due to the constraints of being part of politics provides you. Once you go into politics officially…you lose a lot of the freedom you had and maybe what interested a person in government/politics.

This is why I ran away from working in government/politics. It was awful and 99% of the people were awful too! Better to use one's time in activism for things they care about rather then get any compassion sucked out of you.

 

[Frau Muller]

This is why I ran away from working in government/politics. It was awful and 99% of the people were awful too! Better to use one's time in activism for things they care about rather then get any compassion sucked out of you.

Unfortunately, I didn’t know that 40 years ago. I thought that foreign aid was about helping people. Duh.

 

[Lanie]

Unfortunately, I didn’t know that 40 years ago. I thought that foreign aid was about helping people. Duh.

Maybe I'm just a cynic

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Charlie discusses the new school on Polina’s podcast this week:

The Iron Butterfly: Growing a Champion (ft. Charlie White)

I chat with Olympic Ice Dance Champion Charlie White about his lifelong career with partner Meryl Davis, his love story with fellow competitor and now wife Tanith White, how he handled the pressure of 2010-2014 seasons to win Olympic gold, life lessons he learned along the way, the importance of...

bleav.com

 

[Sylvia]

From IDC's Getting to Know: Emily Bratti & Ian Somerville Q&A by Anne Calder (Dec. 10, 2021): https://www.ice-dance.com/site/getting-to-know-bratti-somerville/
"Emily and Ian shared their excitement about the opening of MIDA" [will open March 1, 2022]:

Training with Greg and Charlie this season has been such an amazing experience. Greg has been our main coach and has spent so much time working with us on our programs while also improving our skating skills and ability to embody the characters of our programs. We’re so lucky to have a coach as dedicated as Greg who clearly wants us to succeed in all ways just as much as we do. Greg and Charlie have both worked on our choreography this season, and the two of them work together very well. They’re able to put their ideas together and find the best versions of each of their visions. Charlie has been taking us for lessons throughout the season and Tanith has been coming in to help us as well. We always look forward to our lessons with Charlie, Tanith, and Greg because their passion for skating matches ours so well. Even more than that, we feel safe and supported as people just as much as we do as skaters while we’re with them. We’re so thankful for how much they have believed in us and devoted themselves to us this season.
We anticipate our training to look the same in some ways when MIDA begins, but we are looking forward to the addition of other dance teams and resources that will be included, for example the partnership with the University of Michigan Dance school. While we feel like training alone during our first season together has given us a unique opportunity to focus on ourselves and figure out who we are, we are excited to take the next step forward and enter a training environment where we will be surrounded by other teams. We’re proud of how we’ve motivated ourselves to work hard thus far, but the competitive and uplifting atmosphere we’re expecting MIDA to have will be even more inspiring. Charlie has always emphasized how beneficial it is to train alongside your competitors so that you can push each other to be better, and we are excited for this to help us improve once the school is formed. We’re mostly looking forward to continuing to spend our lives with such positive people who have already helped us grow so much. We’re so happy that we will get to be a part of welcoming new skaters to the school once it opens up!

ETA another excerpt:

Emily: Working with Greg and Charlie has been incredible. Greg was one of our coaches back in Maryland a few years ago, so we already knew him really well. He amazed me with his ability to make his visions for our rhythm dance come to reality through his choreography. He’s really logical in terms of the pattern of our programs. He created the right movements on the music that highlight accents and take advantage of our strengths. Greg is so much fun to work with. He really helped me gain more confidence in my skating, and that I belong where I am.
Ian: Greg is a [choreographic] mastermind and a musical genius.
Emily: Charlie is one of the coolest people I’ve ever met. For some reason when I first met Charlie, I wasn’t expecting him to act like such an approachable person. Meryl and Charlie have been my idols my whole life, and I guess I didn’t consider them as real people too. I was surprised how fast we felt like we were pretty much friends.
I laughed more the first three weeks doing free dance choreography with Ian and Charlie than I had in the past two years. While creating a program that we love, Charlie was also able to give me a new understanding and respect for the sport of ice dance. He took breaks and spent hours talking to us about various philosophical topics, like how important it is to put what we are doing on the ice into perspective while recognizing how special skating is. I’ve never felt so connected to skating before; it’s awesome.

 

[Sylvia]

Reviving this thread 8 months later...

This article originally was published in the July/August 2022 issue of IFS (Aug. 15 online version) ICE DANCE TRIO FIND THEIR GROOVE: https://ifsmagazine.com/ice-dance-trio-find-their-groove/

They currently have four senior teams under their wing: Bratti and Sommerville, Molly Cesanek and Yehor Yehorov, Katarina Wolfkostin and Jeffrey Chen, and Deanna Arnold and Seiji Urano. All agree they are a wonderful group of individuals who are “not only good students, but really good people. “We are really happy that this is our groove and the groove we got to start in,” said Tanith.
“It was serendipitous timing that just seemed like an alignment of the stars. It was a dream for all three of us, and the fact that we all came to it at the same time in our old stomping ground of all places is great. We could not be happier.”