Gleb Smolkin: “I’m not a huge fan of this year’s rhythm dance theme. I’m a bit old-school in my thinking; I believe we should skate to tango, waltz, and other classic styles too.”
“Preparing for Long-Term Performance”: Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin on Their Marathon Competition Schedule
original source: Sport24 dd. October 9th by Anastasiia Loginova
Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin shared their experiences juggling a packed competition schedule, their thoughts on this season’s rhythm dance theme, and insights into their training process. They revealed a dedication to fine-tuning their routines and preparing for future Olympic demands while also reflecting on personal preferences in ice dance styles. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“Q: You’re currently going through a tough marathon – competing last week in Kazakhstan, now in Georgia, and next weekend at the Grand Prix. How did you prepare for such a demanding schedule?
Gleb Smolkin: The early progress of our free dance really helped us. Over the summer, we began running full programs, so it started taking shape quickly. The rhythm dance took more time, especially since I was seriously ill in September. I was practicing through a terrible cough. We trained hard, knowing this stretch would require stamina.
When we got here, we ran full-length programs in training right away to maintain readiness. After this competition, we’ll stay in Georgia for a few more days to continue practicing and fine-tuning our programs. It’s all part of staying prepared for the Grand Prix event in France.
This schedule is a completely new experience for us – we’ve never competed for three weeks in a row. But we’re thinking ahead to the Olympics, where the team event and individual event for ice dancers happen back-to-back. We need to be ready to skate four programs in a short period of time.
Q: Have fellow skaters asked for advice about Tbilisi?
Gleb Smolkin: A little, yes. Our advice is simple: within the context of competition, there isn’t time to go far, so visiting the city center is a good option – you can see plenty without needing specific recommendations.
Q: Make-up is part of this season’s rhythm dance look. Do you do it yourself, Gleb?
Gleb Smolkin: No, of course not. I barely do anything – Diana handles it all.
Q: Diana, what’s it like putting make-up on your partner? Does he sit quietly?
Diana Davis: It’s fine. I’m quick with my own make-up, and I’m quick with his too.
Q: Do you use your own make-up for Gleb? Or does he have his own set?
Diana Dvis: I use mine.
Q: Gleb, do you choose the colors or the style?
Diana Davis: He doesn’t pick anything. He has absolutely no involvement in that.
Q: At two consecutive tournaments, you’ve made a mistake in the same part of the rhythm dance. What’s the cause?
Diana Davis: Our skates were sharpened the day before we flew out, and we’re still adjusting to the feel of them.
Gleb Smolkin: We don’t entirely know yet. Diana technically completed two rotations, but the concern is whether GOE might be reduced. That hasn’t happened once during practice. The next section with twizzles, which is more complicated and needs strong synchronization, went perfectly.
Q: You’ve been skating your twizzles very close together. Do you experience collisions?
Diana Davis: Only once – on the exit from the twizzles.
Gleb Smolkin: Yes, on transitions, our blades can brush against one another. It’s scary sometimes. We used to do a lean spin where the blade was right next to Diana’s cheek, but we decided to take it out.
Q: Did you listen to The Offspring before choreographing your dance?
Gleb Smolkin: Yes, I love this track. I played it on the ice, and everyone immediately got excited.
Q: What do you think of this year’s rhythm dance theme overall?
Gleb Smolkin: I’m not a huge fan of it. Ice dance has so many styles and genres – you can create incredible and interesting things. I’m a bit old-school in my thinking; I believe we should skate to tango, waltz, and other classic styles too. While I understand that watching twenty tangos might be boring for audiences, twenty attempts to simply “have fun” can also feel repetitive.
Q: Your ideal rhythm dance?
Gleb Smolkin: Tango. But I love waltz and other styles as well.
Diana Davis: Tango.
Q: Would you want to bring back the compulsory dance? Are you ready for it?
Gleb Smolkin: I’d bring it back. What we did in 2022 – the blues section combined with a partnered step sequence – was the best approach. The first part allowed you to showcase your strengths, while the second part emphasized partnership interaction within the same style. It was a good balance.
Q: Are there specific scores that you aim for in rhythm dance? Is 80 points good?
Gleb Smolkin: At the moment, 80 points is good for us, and we’re working toward that. We’d like to score something close to that at the Grand Prix, but we aren’t sure it will happen just yet.
Q: How do you plan to achieve that?
Gleb Smolkin: By fully embracing the rhythm dance theme. Last season, we didn’t execute that well enough, but this time we’re focused on improvement.”
Related topics: Diana Davis Gleb Smolkin
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