This past weekend in Saint Petersburg, the Russian national figure skating team held open test skates at the Yubileyny Sports Complex. The skaters showcased their programs as they prepare for the new competitive season.
Silver medalists from the Russian Grand Prix Final, Elizaveta Pasechnik and Dario Cirisano, selected music from the opera “Thaïs” by French composer Jules Massenet for their free dance. After their performance, Elizaveta and Dario shared their thoughts in the mixed zone.
Elizaveta:
Not everything went perfectly, but we were ready for it (smiles). We really tried our hardest to give it our all.
Dario:
We’re still far from our peak form; after all, it’s just the beginning of the season.
Elizaveta:
But it’s a solid start.
Can you tell us about your free dance?
Elizaveta:
In short, we’re using music from the opera “Thaïs.”
Dario (with a serious tone):
Lisa, what are you saving me from?
Elizaveta:
I save Dario from loneliness, and Dario (glancing at her partner, then completing her thought) … saves my soul.
Dario:
Exactly! We lift each other up.
Elizaveta:
You took a moment to think; I was expecting you to say something too (smiles).
Dario:
I just got off the ice; I’m still processing it all (laughs).
Who came up with this idea? Who choreographed your program?
Elizaveta:
Angelika Alexeyevna suggested it.
Dario (with emphasis):
Krylova.
What was your reaction when you first heard this theme?
Dario:
I can share a little story. We played this music on the rink, and we fell in love with it right away. I remember the moment we listened to a snippet while working on the choreodrome, and both Lisa and I were like, “Wow, this is fantastic!” But then we went to the locker room, and the other skaters were like, “What a bore—how can anyone skate to this?” And we were like, “Hey, this is ours!” (laughs).
Elizaveta:
We really do love this music. Yes, it’s quite unusual for us, but that’s what makes the program special. I enjoy skating to it, and that’s important—it’s a very demanding program, and you can run out of steam by the end. If the music motivates you, it really makes a difference.
Dario:
The choreodrome is absolutely thrilling. I really come alive there.
Elizaveta:
When we reach the choreodrome, we often have no energy left, but we have to give it our all. The music is so powerful, and we need to match that intensity.
Dario:
I think if the music during the choreodrome were any calmer, we would hardly be able to keep going.
Your program is amazing, and we hope you can deliver it exactly as planned in competitions this season, with the same energy. And that you leave feeling satisfied with your performance.
Elizaveta:
Thank you so much (looks at Dario). We’re pleased with our performance today, right?
Dario:
Absolutely! But to be honest… when I step into the mixed zone and you ask, “Dario, how did you feel about your performance?” I honestly can’t quite remember how we skated (laughs). I’ll need to check the video.
Elizaveta:
I agree (smiles). But emotionally, we really put ourselves into it. We tried to stay calm while doing so.
Dario:
We skated in one breath. Or was it two?
Elizaveta:
One.
Dario:
One (pretends to be out of breath).
Elizaveta:
We might have dragged out that answer a bit longer than intended. We wanted to keep it quick (laughs).
If you’re feeling this emotionally charged about your performance, it must have gone well—that’s what really matters.
Elizaveta:
Yes. And it seemed our coaches were happy too—at least that’s what we felt. The most important thing is that they are satisfied with us.
Dario:
Because if we’re the only ones pleased with ourselves, something’s amiss (smiles).
Elizaveta:
You know, it often happens that we think we’ve done everything perfectly…
Dario:
And we’re like, “Okay, we’re about to get praised!”
Elizaveta:
…then we go up to our coach, and they say, “Well, guys, it wasn’t great—this part was off, and that part didn’t work.” And we look at each other, like (they glance at one another and dramatically cover their heads with their hands). Sometimes we think it was terrible, and then they tell us, “Well, it was decent! This was improved, and that was added.”
Dario:
Yeah, that happens too (smiles).
Liudmila ORLOVA, Saint Petersburg