Hannah Lim and Ye Quan: “Last year, everything felt new, and it was more about gaining experience. This year, we’ve started to understand the senior stage, where we stand, and how we can grow further.”
Hannah Lim and Ye Quan about their performances at the 2025 World Championships.
original source: mfocus.kr dd. March 30th 2025 by Park Jimin
Hannah Lim and Ye Quan finshed 18th at the 2025 World Championships. Here’s a translation of their comments posted on MFocus.
In a mixed-zone interview after the rhythm dance, Ye Quanshared, “I felt quite good during today’s performance. The reaction from the audience was amazing, and that energy really translated to us.” Hannah Lim added, “I was able to fully immerse myself on stage, and knowing that this was the last time performing this program, I truly enjoyed every moment of it.”
In December, they changed their rhythm dance, set to “I Will Survive,” with a new selection to “I Got You,” “Something’s Got a Hold On,” and “Dance to the Music.”
Lim explained, “Switching to the new music took time to adjust, but I feel it was a really good decision. The previous music had such a fast tempo that it made it hard to showcase the rhythm and hip movements in our bodies. This new program allows us to have fun and connect more with the audience.”
When asked about how they interpret their music, Hannah Lim shared her process: “I research what period of their life the composer was going through when creating the piece. Understanding the emotions and circumstances from that time helps me immerse myself more in the performance. It’s a method I learned from a ballet teacher. I also listen to our program music all the time — on the bus to the rink and even on the way home — and practice in front of a mirror to observe my movements.”
Ye Quan added, “I learned piano when I was younger, and these days, I watch performance videos of the music we skate to so I can study the artists’ expressions and emotions.”
In the mixed-zone interview after their free dance performance, Hannah Lim also shared, “I was fully immersed in the character from start to finish, and the energy from the audience was incredible. It was so heartwarming to receive such unreserved cheers from the crowd.” Ye Quan added, “Throughout the performance, I really felt like I was connecting with the audience. When I made eye contact with someone in the crowd and saw them wave back, I found myself even more carried away with the moment.”
“I played Cruella, and Ye Quan portrayed a character that gradually falls into corruption,” explained Hannah Lim. “He starts as a pure-hearted figure but gets drawn into Cruella’s influence and changes over time.” Quan elaborated, “At first, the audience interpreted me as a dog or as Cruella’s subconscious, but ultimately, we decided to create something like a Joker-and-Harley Quinn dynamic.”
This character-driven approach holds significant meaning for the duo’s expression. Lim highlighted, “When you know exactly why you’re performing each movement, it allows you to fully commit to the role. I enjoy exchanging eye contact with Quan within the scope of our characters, as it enriches the performance.” They also worked with an acting coach who has experience in musical theater to deepen their character interpretations and emotional arcs.
Now in their second season at the senior level, Lim and Quan view this year as a time of great learning. Quan said, “Last year, everything felt new, and it was more about gaining experience. This year, we’ve started to understand the senior stage, where we stand, and how we can grow further.” Lim echoed this sentiment, saying, “Last year, we had no particular expectations, which allowed us to have a great season. But this year, I realized that only through consistent effort every year can we continue to grow.”
This World Championships was crucial as it determined qualification spots for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Quan shared, “We’ve worked hard to raise our levels as much as possible from a technical standpoint.” Lim confessed, “Knowing that this competition determined Olympic spots gave me a different kind of pressure. I felt more nervous than usual.”
For next season, although the rhythm dance theme has yet to be announced (the interview was given before it became known that 90th would be the theme for next season – ed.), Lim and Quan expressed their hope for a “21st-century music” theme. Lim shared, “As Korean skaters, I’d love to do a K-pop-inspired program. I’d especially love to create a piece using music from BLACKPINK.” Quan added, “It would be amazing if it’s K-pop, but if not, we’ll work hard to find exciting music.”
The pair has not yet begun planning their programs for next season. Quan explained, “We’ve been focused on finishing this season, so we haven’t decided on anything yet.” Lim expressed her attachment to their current program: “I delayed choosing next season’s music because I didn’t want to disrupt my immersion in this character before the competition. Honestly, I’m still not tired of Cruella.”
Related topics: Hannah Lim Ye Quan, world championship
Leave a Reply