Key Highlights
- Competitive ice dancers perform to ’90s music for the rhythm dance portion of the Olympic team event.
- The theme choice has brought diverse and nostalgic programs from various teams.
- Some teams face challenges in securing clearance for their chosen music.
- Fans enjoy seeing familiar hits, but judges can be critical of unique themes.
The ’90s Theme: A Nostalgic Hit or Miss?
The rhythm dance at the Winter Olympics is no longer just about twirls and jumps. This year, it’s all about the music that dominated the ’90s.
Teams like Sofiia Dovhal and Wiktor Kulesza from Poland started their routine to Madonna’s “Vogue,” while Paul Poirier and Piper Gilles of Canada chose RuPaul’s “Supermodel (You Better Work).” The latter was a bold move, given that both are known for their fearless quirkiness.
Music Choices: A Blend of Nostalgia and Creativity
The International Skating Union (ISU) announced the theme, and many teams wasted no time in getting to work. “We’re starting music research months and months before we’re doing choreography,” Paul Poirier told ESPN.
For Poirier and Gilles, the choice was simple: “It’s music that we grew up with.” But not all teams were as lucky. Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron from France originally wanted to use Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus,” but had to switch at the last minute due to a technicality regarding the single release date.
Challenges of Clearances
The process isn’t always smooth. Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate, a Spanish singles skater, is currently going through a “Minions-gate” saga where he’s facing issues with clearance for his chosen music.
“It speaks to the narrow point of reference that figure skating has in terms of a creative sensibility,” Alex Shibutani said after their rhythm dance program was abandoned. They had to pivot quickly, putting together an entirely new program set to “Canned Heat” by Jamiroquai.
Feedback and Adaptation
The feedback from judges has been mixed. While the Spice Girls’ official Instagram account posted a video of Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson’s performance, Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani had to completely abandon their original program due to low scores.
“When it comes down to it, we’re competing because we want to score well,” said Alex. They ended up in ninth place at nationals and did not make the Olympic team with their new program.
Final Thoughts
No matter which program ends on the podium, the ’90s theme has certainly drawn more attention to ice dancing. It’s a mix of nostalgia and creativity that fans can’t get enough of.
