Satoko Miyahara: “There was a time when Stephane Lambiel and Papadakis/Cizeron performed one after another. During those moments, my world view completely changed, and I truly felt “this is art.”
Satoko Miyahara about “Fantasy on Ice 2024” tour.
original source: sportiva.shueisha.co.jp dd. 19th June 2024 by Yamamoto Yumek / sportiva.shueisha.co.jp dd. 20th June 2024 by Yamamoto Yumek
Before the final performance of “Fantasy on Ice 2024”, Satoko Miyahara and Kaori Sakamoto give a joint interview about the show, shared some fun memories and behind-the-scenes stories and talked about the programs they show there. Here’s a translation of Satoko Miyahara’s comments.
Q: From the perspective of a skater who has appeared in many ice shows, what kind of ice show is “Fantasy on Ice (FaOI)”?
Satoko Miyahara: I think the characteristic of FaOI is the live feeling it provides. Since we’re able to collaborate with such luxurious artists, I think it’s not just the audience, but also us skaters who feel “wow!”
For me, the possibility to skate to live music, and considering that many of the members I like are appearing, just skating together is already delightful. Also, let me share a backstage story: every year, the opening song is the same and over half of the skaters already know the music, so just before the opening backstage when the music starts, everyone impromptu starts doing some weird dance. I really like that moment when everyone is dancing together (laughs).
Q: During the A tour, you performed “Not the End” in collaboration with the singer Rei Yasuda. How was it?
Satoko Miyahara: It was embracing a slightly different rock vibe that I had never skated to before. Skating while naturally feeling all the sounds in the song and being able to really feel the fusion of the music, was exciting and super energising. (laughs)
In the B tour’s collaboration with Ryuji Ishii, “Hana Hitohira”, there is a happy aura, it’s glamorous and feels relaxed. I feel calm while skating to it, and I hope to convey that to the audience too. That’s the main thing I want to share – the aura of happiness.
Q: Is skating to a live song different?
Satoko Miyahara: Since there is a connection with the song, I do skate feeling the live aspect where even if it’s the same song, it is different day by day.
Q: How are your solo programs?
Satoko Miyahara: I have two programs ready. One is to “Minor Blue,” which I created with a dance teacher when I visited Stephane (Lambiel) this February. Stephane helped me transfer and finalize it on the ice. The theme is quite complicated; it’s about ‘finding my true self’ and ‘what am I,’ touching and feeling the mask I put on, taking it off, and exposing my true self, that is the theme. Around 30 seconds after the music starts, there’s a part where I move in the middle of the rink, and that is an impromptu part. The way I skate changes every time because of that part. But sometimes, even I don’t understand what I’m doing. For now, I’m just trying to keep up with the music (laughs).
The other one is a fun Argentine Flamenco-style Latin program (“Solo Pa` Bailarla,” “Vientos De Alma”) that I created with coach Miho Higuchi for the first time. When I skated it during the A tour, I had only black costumes, which weren’t the original ones. I got the actual costumes delivered on the final day (laughs).
Q: Is there anything memorable or any episodes from your FaOI experience so far?
Satoko Miyahara: There was a time when Stephane (Lambiel) and Gabby & Guillaume (Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron) performed one after another. During those moments, my world view completely changed, and I truly felt “this is art.” It remains a strong memory.
Furthermore, all the foreign skaters have great ears, so they’re really good at singing in Japanese. They might not be singing the actual lyrics, but they manage to sing in a way that sounds just about right.
Related topics: Satoko Miyahara
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