“Spinning in a pair feels insanely fast from the inside, even if it doesn’t look that way from the outside (laughs). At first, I was confused – it was hard.
Shoma Uno on ice dance collaboration with Marin Honda and being an ice show producer
original source: sportiva.shueisha.co.jp dd November 7th by Komiya Yoshiyuki
Shoma Uno and Marin Honda’s ice dance collaboration in “Ice Brave2” showcases their growth, artistry, and the evolving appeal of ice dance in Japan, with Uno reflecting on the challenges and joys of performing as both a skater and producer. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Web Sporttiva.
After announcing his retirement last May, Uno transitioned to professional skating and became the producer of the ice show “Ice Brave.” Each performance increased his popularity, and now the sequel, “Ice Brave2,” has opened in Kyoto. One of the show’s highlights is Uno’s ice dance with Marin Honda.
“I wasn’t satisfied with just the present – I wanted to keep challenging myself,” Uno said, reflecting on the dance. “I wanted to show the audience something a level higher than last time. The lift may have been a bit awkward, but hearing the audience’s surprised reactions up close made me feel satisfied!”
Uno’s approach to ice dance is as serious as any competitor’s. He noted, “Dance is a completely different discipline from singles. Even the skate blades are different – shorter and less stable. You can’t do it half-heartedly.”
“I was a complete beginner, so we started by just holding hands and skating together,” Uno recalled in a July interview.
“I watched great skaters like (Daisuke) Takahashi and the world’s best ice dancers. Singles and dance are so different. In singles, your axis is at your body’s center, but in dance, it’s between the two partners, and you need incredible speed for spins on the outside. It feels insanely fast from the inside, even if it doesn’t look that way from the outside (laughs). At first, I was confused – it was hard. But I realized I love the moment when I can do something I couldn’t before; that’s when I feel growth.”
Uno and Honda’s harmony brought out the best in each other. Of course, ice dance is not easy. For example, at the “Ice Brave” finale, they felt confident in their skating, but Uno shared a story:
“At the final show, we fixed our twizzles in morning practice and they were great. Marin and I were skating close together and said, ‘Let’s do this!’ But in the actual performance, we spun too much and made a mistake (wry smile).”
“That’s the difficulty of ice dance. Skating together is really hard. When you try not to get in each other’s way, you have to think about where you want your partner to be, and it gets confusing (laughs). But when you synchronize closely, it looks amazing. It’s incredible how impressive it is when two people spin perfectly together.”
Overcoming these challenges, Uno and Honda showcased an evolved dance in “Ice Brave2.”
“It’s only going to get better from here!” Uno said cheerfully, looking ahead.
Related topics: Marin Honda, Shoma Uno
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