Anna Shcherbakova: “It’s probably not even about winning. Both the preparation for the Olympic Games and the performances themselves changed me a lot. A lot had to be rethought.”
Anna Shcherbakova about devastation after the Olympics, new program for shows and fear of pair skating.
Anna, the final number of the show is your program, choreographed to the poetry of Bulat Okudzhava. Tell us how such an unusual idea came about?
Anna Shcherbakova: This is the idea of Ilia Averbukh. He let me listen to the music, told me the concept of the program, and I immediately liked it very much. This is a very deep program, with meaning. I also took part in creating it, saying what I think would be better. He listened to me, so it was a joint work. Our vision of the program coincided in many respects. We tried to put meaning into every movement – just like the meaning is put into every word. How I see it, how Ilia sees it. I hope that no one will remain indifferent after seeing this performance – and will feel what we tried to say, and also will see something of their own in it.
Your second number in the show is your Olympic program. What emotions do you have performing it now?
Anna Shcherbakova: I really like to skate it. It seems to me that at the show it changed, transformed and acquired a new charm. At competitions, after all, this is nerves, concentration, maximum concentration on jumps. Choreography for me, of course, is always very important, but at the show, it seems to me, I opened up in a different way. In each performance, I try to invest in every movement, I think where else to add something, how to play with the audience. It seems to me that with each performance this program changes and becomes more and more theatrical and colorful.
You are now performing at the Iceberg arena, the site of the glorious Olympic victories of the Russian team. You were still very young then (10 years old – ed.), but still, do you remember those Games?
Anna Shcherbakova: I don’t remember everything from that trip, but I definitely remember the brightest moments. And I also remember how I saw this huge ice rink, stands for spectator, competitions … Unforgettable impressions, and, of course, then, both because of the scale of the Olympic Games and because of my childhood perception, it seemed to me that this arena was ten times larger than I see it now. But, of course, now I am proud that I skate in the same arena.
Maybe the Olympic dream come at that moment when you were in Sochi?
Anna Shcherbakova: No, much later. At that moment, I was watching the Olympics and did not even think that I would ever be able to reach such heights. I just watched and admired.
Six months have passed since the Beijing Games. It is clear that it is impossible to give a short answer to this question, but still – what did this victory change in you? How do you feel about it now?
Anna Shcherbakova: It’s probably not even about winning. Both the preparation for the Olympic Games and the performances themselves changed me. A lot had to be rethought. I can say that, probably, I have changed a lot and matured. Over time, I will understand what exactly has changed in me, but for now it is difficult to answer what exactly.
Many Olympic champions speak of devastation after a major career triumph. Have you also gone through it?
Anna Shcherbakova: Of course, I had it. The very first – after the announcement of results. Then it seems that everything is already gone, the emotions have returned, but in fact, for many months there was an internal comprehension. As if an unknown period in life had begun. You have reached the main goal and do not understand – what’s next?
And now?
Anna Shcherbakova: Now I’m trying a lot of different things. But life, of course, has changed a lot – that’s a fact.
We saw you trying yourself in a break dance, are you planning something else similar?
Anna Shcherbakova: I have a very busy training schedule right now, I try to get back in shape, but there are also many other activities, so yes, I will try something new. For now, I won’t say what it is.
source: rsport.ria.ru dd. 10th July 2022, by Andrei Simonenko
Ilia Averbukh is famous for his ice performances. Would you like to try this format?
Anna Shcherbakova: We’ll see, I haven’t thought about it yet. This summer, I was glad that I was working in a format closer to me, performing my programs, and not in the format of a fairy tale. For me, it’s still something new – performances in a row, a big tour, general numbers. For now, I’m just getting into it. And this type of performance suits me the most.
In addition, I have never tried pair programs, lifts either, which often needs to be done in such shows. So the current format is closer to me.
Could you imagine skating in a pair with some star? Ilia has a project “Ice Age”.
Anna Shcherbakova: Honestly, I can’t imagine this at all, because I’m afraid even to watch pair skating. When they do lifts, I always get nervous, even look away. But it’s done by professionals.
So even if I do it with the pro, I will be very nervous. And with a person who is not confident on skates … I can’t even imagine. It seems to me that it is necessary to be absolutely fearless person.
source: sport24.ru
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