Natalia

That's wonderful, Kate -- lucky you!!! We would be delighted to receive your 'Up-Close and Personal' view of the games. Have a ball!

Ladies & Gentlemen - I'm opening this thread for any & all discussions relating to the figure skating events at the upcoming Winter Olympiad at Salt Lake City, Utah, USA! (Olympic fanfare blaring in the background) Here in the USofA, the televised festivities commence on Friday at 8 pm (EST) with the Opening Ceremonies on NBC. That's when we get to cheer our respective favorite delegations of athletes as they march into the stadium, usually sporting some dopey fantasy on their country's 'native' costume or winter gear that makes them resemble Nanook of the North. Personally, I'm looking forward the most to Team Rossiya, who will be decked out in Imperial-era Cossack military coats & tall fur hats. (I saw the photos on a Russian website - they will be quite spiffy!) Needless to say, I'll also be cheering for the good old USA and the delegation of my great island of Puerto Rico, which usually consists of a skier or two who happen to be studying at a university in continental North America. And for Estelle/J-L/Francoise, I'll hold the flag of France...and for Anton/Susy/Guido I'll cheer the Italians...and for Alexandra the Danes...and for Eugene/Jane/felursus/Mary, I'll cheer for Team England...and for JosephC, the green-red-white of the Magyars...and for Pamela, those amazing skiers from Sweden...and for Kevin & Xinxin, the delegation from Hong Kong & China (go, Shen & Zhao!)...and for Marc, Team Belgium & the Dutch speedskaters! Mitsuko & Takashi - you'll be hearing my 'Bravo!' for skater Takeshi Honda, all the way to Japan. And how can I forget to cheer for Paquita/Ottawamom, with the all-powerful Team Canada? Ok, ok - I'll be cheering for each and every country participating in Salt Lake, with representatives on BalletAlert; this is simply one of the most exciting int'l events on TV. The skating action kicks-off on Saturday night with the Pairs short programs. [Estelle - sorry to read the news about the French couple, Abitbol/Bernadis. That's a real loss.] On US television, it will be Scott Hamilton (not Dick Button) doing the calling, so we will be spared the comments about women's layback positions or fannies sticking out as they go into a pair death spiral. A bit of good news for the 'old-timers' among us: Jim McKay will be back to do overview analysis - first time since 1988 Calgary! Here is the schedule of skating-related events + Opening/Closing Ceremonies. Most starting times are 8 pm; ending 11:30 om (EST). Of course, you must consult your local TV guide for times in your area. [For folks in Europe, I know that Eurosport will be showing tape-delay broadcasts on the evening of the day following each event.] Friday, Feb. 8 - Opening Ceremonies; there will be groups of dancers. I'm not sure which groups will be in Friday's ceremony but BalletWest & Pilobolus, among others, are participating in the parallel arts festival throughout the two weeks. Sat., Feb 9 - Pairs short programs Mon., Feb 11 - Pairs finals Tues, Feb. 12 - Men's short programs (YIKES - I'll have to set my VCR here...Kirov opening night @ Kenn. Center) Thurs., Feb 14 - Men's Finals...promises to be THE most exciting, unpredictable skating event this year...Yagudin vs Plushenko Duel-on-Ice + other assorted Quad Kings! [Anybody want my Kirov ticket for that night? ] Fri., Feb 15 - Ice Dance - two compultory set-pattern dances Sunday, Feb 17 - Ice Dance - Original Dance (their version of a short program...this year's required beat/style is Latin) Mon., Feb 18 - Ice Dance finals Tues., Feb 19 - Ladies short program Thurs, Feb 21 - Ladies finals (Will Michelle Kwan finally achieve her Olympic Gold Medal?) Fri., Feb 22 - Exhibition of Champions Sun, Feb 24 - Closing Ceremonies So there you have the daily schedule. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!! [ February 05, 2002: Message edited by: Jeannie ]

We know who won the one-year scholarships & prize money for living expenses but do we know what schools have been selected by the winners? The choice is up to each winning dancer & they can select among the schools affiliated with NYCB (SAB), England & Denmark's Royal Ballets, the Vaganova Academy, Vienna, National Ballet of Canada school, etc. I can picture Milena Sidorova of Ukraine at SAB - she's a long-legged colt who is not afraid to take risks. Very powerful in every sense of the word. I thought of Balanchine as I saw her at last year's Moscow IBC. Not your typical Petipa Porcelain Princess! The press releases from Lausanne provide no clues. Then again, perhaps the winners are still deciding where they will go. One other thing - the press releases make no mention of 'Apprentice Scholarships' being awarded this year. Perhaps the jury was not convinced that any of the dancers is ready for professional life just yet? All of the prizes awarded in 2002 are traditional 'Scholarships,' rather than 'Apprentice Scholarships.' [Last year, one dancer won the apprentice variety of scholarship - Ludovic Ondiviela. It doesn't happen too often.] [ February 04, 2002: Message edited by: Jeannie ]

Now that it isover, I'm posting the results in News. For full comments/predictions/etc, please go to the Lausanne thread in 'Ballet Competitions' forum! LIST OF PRIZE WINNERS ****source Prix de Lausanne website Winners (070) Ms Yuhui CHOE, Korea Mayumi Ballet School, Japan Centre d'art chorégraphique franco-japonais, France Prize provided by: The main sponsor of the Prix de Lausanne : Beau-Rivage Palace (111) Mr Matthew GOLDING, Canada Sitter School of Dance, Canada The Kirov Academy of Ballet, Washington, USA Prize provided by: Fondation Antoine Leenaards (093) Ms Maria KOTCHETKOVA, Russia Ecole du Bolshoï, Moscow, Russia Prize provided by : UBS SA (123) Mr Dinu TAMAZLACARU, Moldavia Ecole de Ballet de Chisinou, Moldavia Conservatoire de Vienne, Austria Prize provided by: Capital International (109) Mr Maksat KOUBANYCHBEK, Kirghizistan Ecole chorégraphique de Bichkek, Kirghizistan Prize provided by: The Marina Kleinwort Trust (003) Ms Milena SIDOROVA, Ukraine Ecole chorégraphique de Kiev, Ukraine Prize provided by: Fondation Harafi (019) Ms Soo-Youn CHO, Korea SunHwa Arts High School, Seoul, Korea Prize provided by: Donatrice anonyme (053) Ms Hyo Jung KANG, Korea The Kirov Academy of Ballet, Washington, USA Prize provided by: Cartier PRIX DE LAUSANNE "HOPE" Winner (005) Ms Hitomi TAKEDA, Japan Hakucho Ballet Academy, Nagano, Japan Prize provided by: Fondation Notaire André Rochat "CONTEMPORARY DANCE PRIZE" Winner (070) Ms Yuhui CHOE, Korea Mayumi Ballet School, Japan Centre d'art chorégraphique franco-japonais, France Prize provided by: Fondation Nestlé pour l'Art PRIX DE lAUSANNE "BEST SWISS CANDIDATE" Winner (014) Ms Carrie-Ann VAIL, Switzerland Priska's Ballett und Tanz Atelier Opernhausballettschule, Zurich Prize provided by: Fondation Antoine Leenaards In addition, 1000.- Swiss francs to encourage the candidates have been given by BOBST SA to: Finalists (116) Mr Arman GRIGORYAN, Armenia Ecole de Ballet de Yerevan, Armenia Haïfa Ballet School, Israel (035) Ms Sang Yi HAN, Korea Yewon School, Seoul Art High School, Korea (118) Mr Vitali SAFRONKINE, Russia Ecole de Ballet d'Oufa, Russia Schweizerisches Ballettberufsschule, Zurich, Switzerland (033) Ms Yurie MATSUURA, Japan Kurosawa Tomoko Ballet Studio, Iwate, Japan (038) Ms Seo-yeon Yu, Korea Yewon School Arts School SunHwa Arts High School, Seoul, Korea (077) Ms Ginger SMITH, USA Arizona Ballet School, USA "VIEWERS' PRIZE" Winner (003) Ms Milena SIDOROVA, Ukraine Ecole chorégraphique de Kiev, Ukraine Prize provided by: Télévision Suisse Romande

I'm getting this thread started, as it commences soon (Feb 10-17,2002). I'll be depending on our Japanese friends & members of this forum to post, please! Also, here is the website for that competition, which awards top prizes in both classical & contemporary categories (a la Paris & Helsinki). http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~ibc00ngo/ The 4th Nagoya International Ballet and Modern Dance Competition February 10-17, 2002 Aichi/Nagoya JP

Here's the full list of awards. Note that Milena Sidorova won not only one of the top prizes (scholarship) but also the TV Viewers Choice Award! And special 'congrats' to Matthew Golding of Canada -- top North American at this competition), also a scholarship winner...makethat TWO scholarships for Kirov Academy entries -- both Matthew and Korea's Hyo-Jun Kang!!! Likewise, big 'congrats' to Ginger Smith of the USA, who copped an 'Encouragement Prize.' Whew...I think I'm getting pretty good a picking these winners, eh? On to the next competitions - Nagoya, Japan, in mid-February and Nureyev Prix-Budapest in mid-March. I might be 'live' in Budapest if my next work-related trip to Europe is scheduled correctly. LIST OF PRIZE WINNERS ****source Prix de Lausanne website Winners (070) Ms Yuhui CHOE, Korea Mayumi Ballet School, Japan Centre d'art chorégraphique franco-japonais, France Prize provided by: The main sponsor of the Prix de Lausanne : Beau-Rivage Palace (111) Mr Matthew GOLDING, Canada Sitter School of Dance, Canada The Kirov Academy of Ballet, Washington, USA Prize provided by: Fondation Antoine Leenaards (093) Ms Maria KOTCHETKOVA, Russia Ecole du Bolshoï, Moscow, Russia Prize provided by : UBS SA (123) Mr Dinu TAMAZLACARU, Moldavia Ecole de Ballet de Chisinou, Moldavia Conservatoire de Vienne, Austria Prize provided by: Capital International (109) Mr Maksat KOUBANYCHBEK, Kirghizistan Ecole chorégraphique de Bichkek, Kirghizistan Prize provided by: The Marina Kleinwort Trust (003) Ms Milena SIDOROVA, Ukraine Ecole chorégraphique de Kiev, Ukraine Prize provided by: Fondation Harafi (019) Ms Soo-Youn CHO, Korea SunHwa Arts High School, Seoul, Korea Prize provided by: Donatrice anonyme (053) Ms Hyo Jung KANG, Korea The Kirov Academy of Ballet, Washington, USA Prize provided by: Cartier PRIX DE LAUSANNE "HOPE" Winner (005) Ms Hitomi TAKEDA, Japan Hakucho Ballet Academy, Nagano, Japan Prize provided by: Fondation Notaire André Rochat "CONTEMPORARY DANCE PRIZE" Winner (070) Ms Yuhui CHOE, Korea Mayumi Ballet School, Japan Centre d'art chorégraphique franco-japonais, France Prize provided by: Fondation Nestlé pour l'Art PRIX DE lAUSANNE "BEST SWISS CANDIDATE" Winner (014) Ms Carrie-Ann VAIL, Switzerland Priska's Ballett und Tanz Atelier Opernhausballettschule, Zurich Prize provided by: Fondation Antoine Leenaards In addition, 1000.- Swiss francs to encourage the candidates have been given by BOBST SA to: Finalists (116) Mr Arman GRIGORYAN, Armenia Ecole de Ballet de Yerevan, Armenia Haïfa Ballet School, Israel (035) Ms Sang Yi HAN, Korea Yewon School, Seoul Art High School, Korea (118) Mr Vitali SAFRONKINE, Russia Ecole de Ballet d'Oufa, Russia Schweizerisches Ballettberufsschule, Zurich, Switzerland (033) Ms Yurie MATSUURA, Japan Kurosawa Tomoko Ballet Studio, Iwate, Japan (038) Ms Seo-yeon Yu, Korea Yewon School Arts School SunHwa Arts High School, Seoul, Korea (077) Ms Ginger SMITH, USA Arizona Ballet School, USA "VIEWERS' PRIZE" Winner (003) Ms Milena SIDOROVA, Ukraine Ecole chorégraphique de Kiev, Ukraine Prize provided by: Télévision Suisse Romande

Congratulations to Ukraine's Milena Sidorova, who took to top-top prize!!! Ochien kharasho!!! Matthew Golding and Maria Kochetkova also took high prizes. I couldn't hear all of the proceedings well so I'll wait to post the official list, once it is up on the Prix de L site. One of the Korean girls (San Yu Han, I think...) also won one of the highest prizes. More later. Anyone who heard all of the results...feel free to post it. Gotta run...work...

Hi, Patricia - So there's at least TWO of us out here in cyberspace!! It was a bit choppy for me, too but, hey, it's cheaper than flying to Switzerland!

Well...as it appears that I may be the only nut who got up early to watch this, I'll go out on the limb. Three numbers were performed this final round by each finalist: classical, madatory contemporary (from solos learned this past week) & 'free round' (either a classical or contemporary solo of competitor's own choosing..almost all chose contemporary for this 3rd number). Stand outs for me: Among men, Dinu of Moldova has an awesome technique, nice line & total-charisma. Audience seemed to really be with him. Matt of Canada really did himself well with the 3rd number, a contemporary piece titled 'Odyssey.' Was OK in earlier 'Corsaire'...I love his positions but seems a bit youngish (not so muscular as other 4 guys remaining in competition). All in all, I see Matt just behind the Moldovan, who is the stand-out among men for me. Of course, one can't count out the Russian lad, Vitali, for one of the top spots, due to the passion with which he performed his 3rd number...but I prefer Dinu's & Matt's lines. Among women....well, the two gals who I saw in Moscow IBC last year are neck-to-neck for top honors. I give the zippy spitfire Maria Kochetkova of Moscow (Bolshoi school) the edge after a SPECTACULAR Kitri Act I variation!!!!! As at th Moscow IBC, Milena Sidorova of Ukraine -- all-legs, pliant body - hair down to her knees -- was queen of the contemporary numbers...but didn't impress me so much in her initial classical variation. She is big, tall, powerful, danced her 3rd number with the force of a man (although she is slim). If contemporary talent outweighs the 'overall picture' then Milena could win Grand Priz. Let's see. The other stand-outs were Korea's Seo-Yeun Yu -- tall, slender, gorgeous, dances like liquid gold, esp in 3rd number, contemporary 'Pavane.' I saw the USA's lone finalist, Ginger Smith in the 2nd & 3rd numbers - she was lovely in 2nd (contemporary mandatory) but seemed to lack the Kitri Fire in 3rd number...especially when compared to Russia's Maria Kochetkova. Just a matter of style; Ginger still has a chance to win a prize. I also like Ms. Kang of Korea in her 3rd number, Igor Belsky's 'Carmen,' performed with the right attitude & sexy long lines. Yuhui Choe of Korea was yet another stunner...gee, hard to decide. Good luck, judges...and competitors, of course! So I stuck out my neck. Let's see what happens!! Prizes to be announced at 12 noon, Washington, DC time (18:05 in Lausanne-time). Not sure if I'll be able to tune in 'cause I have other things to do but I will definitely post results. [ February 03, 2002: Message edited by: Jeannie ]

It's on now. I joined it about 15 minutes in progress & saw a wonderful guy dance DON Q, the Moldovan, Dinu Tamazlacaru...and brought down the house! Yuhui Choe - a Korean female - is about to go on in Raymonda dream var. And they show 'em backstage after each variation, too, hugging coaches, etc.The thrill of victory...the agony of defeat. This is so cool. Join me, please! [ February 03, 2002: Message edited by: Jeannie ]

Following are the 15 dancers who advanced to tomorrow's final round. Hey-hey...Ginger Smith + the two Kirov Acad students (Golding & Kang) are still in it!!!! Way to go!!!!! Not just an Asian sweep thus far...six of the 15 finalists are from former-USSR. The two North Americans. But no Western Europe???!!! By the way, I remember both Milena Sidorova (Ukraine) & Maria Kochetkova (Russia) from last summer's Moscow IBCs that I attended - Sidorova was a stand-out in contemporary with a clever pillow dance (I'll have to check my program notes...both Kochetkova & Sidorova won bronze medals in Moscow). Remember - the finals will be WEBCAST LIVE, in their entirety, tomorrow (Sunday, Feb 3), beginning at 2:45 pm Lausanne, Switzerland time...that's six hrs ahead of Eastern USA time (8:45 am Washington DC, for example). You need to have RealPlayer installed in your computer, which you can download for free in its basic version. There is a link to the download of RealPlayer in the Prix de Lausanne website itself, at the bottom of the 'Live Webcasts' page. LIST OF FINALISTS: ****source: Prix de Lausanne website**** 003 Milena Sidorova, Ukraine 005 Hitomi Takeda, Japon 019 Soo-Youn Cho, Corée 033 Yurie Matsuura, Japon 035 Sang Yi Han, Corée 038 Seo-yeon Yu, Corée 053 Hyo Jung Kang, Corée 070 Yuhui Choe, Corée 077 Ginger Smith, USA 093 Maria Kotchetkova, Russie 109 Maksat Koubanychbek, Kirghizistan 111 Matthew Golding, Canada 116 Arman Grigoryan, Arménie 118 Vitali Safronkine, Russie 123 Dinu Tamazlacaru, Moldavie Who will win the top prizes tomorrow. Ooooo...can't wait to find out. [ February 03, 2002: Message edited by: Jeannie ]

Thanks, bhough! You see what happens when I'm out of town & skip a Kirov Acad concert. Is there any end to the pool of talent at that place? I wonder if Hyo Jun Kang is related to Yena Kang (of ABT corps, who graduated Kirov Acad a year or two before Michele Wiles)?

That stupid Edward II ballet (by Birmingham RB) contained a scary scene with a hot poker. Then there are certain portions of Eifman's ballet...yeah, even if I like them very much, generally speaking.

Thank you very much for the feedback thus far. I suspected the explanation about discipline and, indeed, this can result in technical brilliance. But what REALLY has impressed me about top Asian dancers at competitions -- especially the Japanese 'kids' -- is the sparkle in their eyes as they perform. They seem to love every second on the stage. [in competitions, I try to sit in the front row to really hone in on such details...there's usually a huge orchestra pit between me & stage, so it is far enough from me to allow me to also see the big picture.] I especially recall one lad from Japan who made the Varna finals who was so charismatic that, in the final round, he was keenly aware of our little group of 'cheerleaders' and in the midst of his 'Tchaikovsky pdd' variation he did a little nod in our direction (not a hammy gesture, very natural) - it was simply so charming to see that he was at ease and having a blast. It made for a good result. As much as I adore the amazingly beautiful lines & technique of the Chinese dancers, I wish that they would 'loosen up' just a teeny tiny bit. They are amazing, nonetheless. It is a joy to discover the dancers of Shanghai, Beijing & elsewhere in the PRC. What a world of ballet lies beyond 'the West'! [ February 01, 2002: Message edited by: Jeannie ]

Thanks for the info on Ginger Smith, vrsfanatic. Hopefully someone else can answer the questions about the Canadian lad, Golding.

This is an offshot of my recent post on the progress of the 2002 Prix de Lausanne competition, in which the qualifiers into Round Two are overwhelmingly from Japan & Korea. Such has been the case in the last 5-6 years at most of the IBC-type competitions....not only Korea & Japan but also the People's Republic of China (not even counting last year's Shanghai IBC in which most participants were from 'the home team'). Let's not stop at the competitions. Japasese & other Asia-born dancers are making inroads in the top ballet companies of the world. The lone non-Russian member of the Kirov ballet is the Korean-American soloist, Ms. Ti-Young Ryu...a star of the Stanislavski Ballet of Moscow is the Korean-born Svetlana Tsoi...several Japanese are on the soloist roster of the St. Petersburg Maly Ballet, both Royal Ballet troupes, etc, etc. Comments & 'explanations' on the ASIAN BOOM IN BALLET, please!

Round One ended yesterday & Round Two commences today. The following information is from a 'secret agent' who is following the Lausanne happenings for me: ************ Only 1 American( Ginger Smith) Made it to the 2nd round of the Prix de Lausaunne. Don't know anything about her. The list [of Round Two qualifiers) is dominated w/ Japanese and Korean dancers. ************ Too bad for the Americans. Anybody know of/about Ms Smith? That's quite an accomplishment, especially against brilliant dancers from Asia...the continent of multiple-medalists in these competitions. Japan & Korea -- along with China -- are taking the ballet competition world (& plain-ols-ballet-world) by storm; no surprise that it would be the same here!

linsusanr - You are thinking about the 1982 Jackson, Mississippi competition (Jackson IBC). It even had as emcee, of all people, Dick Button (famous ABC-TV skating commentator & Olympic gold medalist...you either love him or leave him...). Kathy Healy won the silver medal, jr division, at 1982 Jackson. The following year, she topped that by winning the gold medal at Varna. She was principal of Vienna State Opera Ballet before retiring in the mid-90s (she was 26 or 27) & married a famous figure skating coach soon after. The Jackson IBC takes place once again this June 2002. The final gala is usually broadcasted over Mississippi Public TV. Almost all of the competitions that I have attended -- or read about -- are broadcasted within the host country, to some degree or another (Varna IBC is shown on Bulgarian TV, Moscow IBC is shown on Kultura, Shanghai IBC's full final round + gala were shown on CCTV, etc.). Not so with America's big IBC competition. Heaven forbid that it would take air-space away from such popular PBS offerings like 'Antiques Road Show,' or 'You Too Can Become a Millionaire with Suzie Orman' (or whatever the heck her name is).

Until quite recently (last 2-3 years) the Bolshoi & Kirov had only 'Solistki' & 'Kordebalet' ranks. So you had, for example, the Kirov's Assylmuratova and Lopatkina (true principals who never danced tiny solos once they began to dance the principal parts) at the same soloist level as, say, Tarassova, Amosova and Zhelonkina (talented & dependable soloists who, on rare occasions, are granted principal roles). Drove me nuts!! I suppose that it was part of the Soviet social-leveling mentality. Finally, the Kirov-Mariinsky & the Bolshoi have gone back to the pre-1918 system of multiple levels that reflect the true rank of the dancer. I think that it is a good change. Some of the solists-who-remained-soloists are a tad upset, though. In the old system, they were at the highest rank (albeait the highest of only two ranks) for many years; now, some have been bumped down to plain-old 'Soloist' (below the new designations of 'Principal' and 'First Soloist')....Amosova is an example of one who went from the highest level to 'Soloist.' At least Tarassova & Zhelonkina are 'First Soloist.' Kirov levels: Principal (Ballerina & Premier Danseur) First Soloist Soloist (sometimes termed 'Second soloist') Character Soloists .... now have their own category Coryphee Corps de Ballet Bolshoi categories are the same. This is one of several modernizing changes that have been instituted by the new Gergiev & Akimov regimes, at the Kirov & Bolshoi theaters, respectively. Jobs-by-contract is another. [ January 29, 2002: Message edited by: Jeannie ]

I'm bumping this one back up, as Prix de Lausanne is happening this week, with finals on Sunday, Feb. 3. I notice that four American girls have entered (no boys); two Canadian boys (no girls); seven Russians (5 girls + 2 boys)...and many, many from other countries, of course. Total of 115 competitors will enter the initial round: 100 girls & only 15 boys!! Seventy semifinalists will be selected from the initial pool of 115 entries, by virtue of their classes (jury watches students-dancers go through typical class). Performances on stage happen in the semifinal & final rounds only. Following is the schedule for the week. Any comments/insights from people-who-know-people attending the competition are welcome! *source: prix de lausanne website***** Sunday 27 and Monday 28 January • Registration and general information • Classical and contemporary lessons Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 January Eliminations: • The classical and contemporary lessons will take place behind closed doors. The final part will be devoted to the study of an enchaînement. Its interpretation will be immediately judged by the jury. • Selection of 70 candidates • Rehearsal of contemporary variations with the choreographers. Thursday 31 January and Friday 1 February • Classical lessons and rehearsal of the variations with étoile dancers. • On Friday morning, the candidates will present their classical variation in rehearsal dress before the jury. • Selection of 30 candidates Saturday 2 February 4 PM: SEMI-FINAL • Classical variation girls-boys • Intermission • Contemporary variations girls-boys. The number of semi-finalists is limited to a maximum of 30 candidates with at least 10 from category P (private school), as opposed to category I (state institutions or subsidised schools) Sunday 3 February 2.45 PM: FINAL From 2.15 PM: • Class on stage • Classical variations girls-boys • Contemporary variations girls-boys • Free variations girls-boys • Intermission The number of finalists is limited to 15 candidates with at least 5 from category P. 6.00 PM: PRIZEGIVING CEREMONY Presentation of the awards to the prize-winners of the 2002 Prix de Lausanne. The final of the 30th Prix de Lausanne is broadcast by the Swiss Radio and Television Corporation. [ January 29, 2002: Message edited by: Jeannie ]

This is such a frustrating part of watching skating (or any Olympic-type sport) in America. Advertising has a lot to do with it. Adverti$er$ can be lured to buy air-space if they know that Ma & Pa Kettle will be glued to the TV set watching Tonya-vs.-Nancy...Ma & Pa Kettle don't give a hoot about watching 12th-place skater Olga SkateHellOva of Vladivostok. Too bad. I'm still missing EuroSport, where I saw every single skater in every discipline, in every portion of the event (short & long programs). Ugh...

With pleasure, Alexandra. [Took me a while to dig the issue from my desk....shhhhh.... ] Letters to the editor, for publication in the "You Tell Us" column go to: You Tell Us Cosmopolitan P.O. Box 1407 Radio City Station New York City, NY 10101-1407 The article in question appears on p. 163 of the February 2002 issue & is titled "Ten Romantic Moves That You Should Spare Your Boyfriend." What made me really mad is that the nine other 'moves' are very long & puffy-fluffy, e.g., dumb stuff like 'Never surprise him with a teddy-bear tee shirt....'never play Barry Manilow CDs....' sort of stuff - I'm making those up but you get the gist. Then, in the middle of this fluff, is the simple and straightforward "#8 - Never take him to the ballet." It's worth some letters of complaint, for sure. [ January 25, 2002: Message edited by: Jeannie ]

The current issue of Cosmopolitan magazine (the one with Britney Spears on the cover) includes a list of 'Ten Romantic Things That you Should NEVER Do for Your Boyfriend' (things that, according to Cosmo, would turn men off). Item #8: Never take him to the ballet. Huh??? What are the Cosmo editors snorting?

Thanks for the link to this article, dirac. Craig Maurizi (Tara Lipinski's former coach, who is quoted here) has it right; despite the mass-exodus of top Russian coaches to the USA, the Russians are actually garnering more medals, overall in all four disciplines of competitive skating, than they did in the days of the Soviet Union! Remember, the old Soviet Sports Machine emphasized couples-skating (Pairs & Ice Dance disciplines) above singles (Mens & Ladies) skating. Now where is the strength of the Russian Federation in skating? Why, in the singles events. Unheard-of pre-1990. Also, it is interesting to see that, slowly, some of the coaches who emigrated to the West in the 1990s are re-establishing themselves back in Mother Russia, e.g., Moskvina is now officially back in St. Petes, although she still spends some time in Hackensack. Oleg Vasiliev (half of the pair that won Olympic Gold in Sarajevo '84) is back in St Pete. ALL of the top singles coaches of the Russian women are in Moscow. By the way, the just-closed 'independent' TV network in Russia (the embattled TV-6 of oligarch Berezovsky) has been turned into 'NTV-Plus' by the Government of the R.F., as of three days ago! It is broadcasting nothing but sports -- including Europeans championships of skating -- and ballet. Honest - that's what I read in Russian newspapers...SWAN LAKE was shown on Tuesday. The Russian Government has just begun a big campaign to de-flab the Russian citizens - try to get them interested in sports, ballet & other healthy pursuits. Less 'Big Brother' reality-TV.

Thanks for another viewpoint, Gallica. Of course, I haven't seen this competition yet but, in defense of Fusar-Poli/Margaglio, I remember their incredible speed at Skate America '99, incomparison with the other couples. That was the competition where they premiered 'Lord of the Dance,' which remains my favorite program by the Italians. The Lithuanians, in particular, have always lagged behind the rest of the pack insofar as speed is concerned but I agree regarding their line and physical beauty. (Margarita -- yet another Moscow expatriate! -- is a stunner & Povilas is extremely handsome. )They work with Christopher Dean as choreographer, I believe. For sheer speed, though, nobody beats the Israelis...so fast that they sometimes appear erratic. The top US ice dancers -- Lang & Tchernichev (yes...yet another Russian expat, now US citizen) -- are quite wonderful but have the misfortune of competing in an era when so many couples are even better. I see, at best, an 8th or 9th place for L&T. Anything above 8th place will be a huge victory for them. Speaking of...did anyone see yesterday's broadcast of the ice-dance portion of US Nationals? It was shown on ABC. I really like the #2 US team (Belbin/Agosto) but, as the girl is Canadian citizen, couple could not be selected for the US Olympic team. Same thing with the #3 finishers...so the US will be represented by the 4th-place ice dance team (in addition to Lang/Tchernichev). Unusual situation. [ January 21, 2002: Message edited by: Jeannie ]