Shoma Uno: “Stephane is more than a mentor to me – he’s unique, both as a coach and as a skater. Not many coaches can perform at his level. Even during my competitive days when he choreographed for me, I always thought, ‘This man could skate it better than me.'”
Shoma Uno reflects on the success of “Ice Brave” and shares his ambitions for “Ice Brave 2”
original source: sportiva.shueisha.co.jp dd July 27th by Komiya Yoshiyuki
On July 18, Shoma Uno hosted interviews at the “LEXUS MEETS” lounge in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya to discuss his highly anticipated ice show, “Ice Brave 2.” Uno shared insights into his creative process, growth, and how he plans to balance artistry and entertainment for the upcoming season. Here’s a translation of an article posted on Web Sporttiva.
“Ice Brave” marked Uno’s first professional project post-competition and was met with overwhelming acclaim. The success has paved the way for its sequel, “Ice Brave 2,” set to run from November through January.
Uno described the connection between skaters and fans as the heart of the show:
“What makes the show complete is the audience. Their reactions, their energy – it drives us to deliver our best performances. When we feel their excitement, it’s a powerful answer that makes us want to share even more. The audience’s cheers created such a unity, and it made us feel, ‘Yes, this is a great show.’ That’s why I’m always saying, ‘It’s thanks to all of you.’”
“Unlike competitions, ice shows are entirely for the fans. I want every single person who comes to feel joy and enjoy themselves. This mutual energy creates a sense of fulfillment, where everyone feels, ‘Yes, that was a great show.’ It’s truly a collaborative experience,” Uno explained.
Uno shared his thoughts on figure skating’s ability to inspire:
“I’ve always felt slightly outside the ‘skating world,’ even as a competitor (laughs). Personally, I tend to be more impacted by someone’s efforts or story than just the performance itself. When I turned professional, it became my mission to figure out how to move people – how to create the highest reaction of emotion. I think the more passion you pour into something, the closer it gets to creating a sense of awe.”
Reflecting on skating, Uno added:
“Sports are something ‘created,’ but they are not fake. It’s the effort and passion that people glimpse within the process that produces genuine emotion. That’s the kind of show I want to create, and I’m considering incorporating elements of that passion into ‘Ice Brave 2.'”
Uno acknowledged the absence of his former coach Stephane Lambiel, who performed in “Ice Brave” but will focus on his coaching career during “Ice Brave 2.”
“Replacing Stephane is something I can’t quite imagine. He’s more than a mentor to me – he’s unique, both as a coach and as a skater. Not many coaches can perform at his level (laughs). With Stephane not being part of the show, I need to think carefully as a producer about how to elevate ‘Ice Brave 2’ and ensure it’s even better than the first.”
Reflecting on Stephane’s artistry, Uno praised:
“In ‘Ice Brave,’ Stephane skated pieces like ‘Gravity’ and ‘Timelapse’ with unmatched elegance, drawing audiences into his world. His skating is flawless and inspires everyone with its precision and emotion. Even during my competitive days when Stephane choreographed ‘Gravity’ for me, I always thought, ‘This man could skate it better than me (laughs).’ So it wasn’t surprising when he performed it in the show. At one point, we even considered doing ‘Gravity’ as a duet.”
With new cast members joining “Ice Brave 2” and the responsibility to outdo the original show, Uno is focused on delivering an unparalleled experience.
“The challenge now is figuring out how to ensure ‘Ice Brave 2’ exceeds expectations. It’s a responsibility I take seriously as the producer,” Uno said.
Related topics: Shoma Uno, Stephane Lambiel
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