#i think it's my favourite adios nonino program ever and you know i have strong opinions on those

[beautifulstorms]

Yuna Aoki, SP Adios Nonino • Skate America 2024

[tutuandscoot]

Favourite program openings

Ok so I’m gonna pick 3. Also I’m gonna count ‘opening’ as the opening pose and first 8ish counts:

(In no particular order)

1. Valse Triste

This opening hardly even includes the first 8 counts. It’s really just them getting into position- which is just as exquisite as the program it’s self. From the way Scott kneels down to how Tessa just patiently waits for him to get into position. He is so tall and elongated. The way he kneels down it’s almost like he is bowing to Tessa (which is crazy sweet). Then the way he reaches his arm out for her- not just waiting for her to come to him. The way their arms intertwine is really stunning (again, this is just getting into position- not being judged). Then the way, as she leans back he rotates his hand to hold her head is seriously just so fucking beautiful. Like they are really dancing this whole process of getting into position. There’s a moment where they just get to look at each other before they start, and he tells her ‘together’. She looks so relaxed as he holds her there- obviously staying very strong in her core but he is holding her so securely she can really relax into his hand, then as he begins to rock her is just so so beautiful. Even thought this was before they implemented their synchronised breathing you can almost see them breathing together as they start. I could keep going on my love for this opening but tbh I just wouldn’t know when to stop and next thing you know it’s 2 minutes into the program.

2. Dark Eyes

I mean….

I just love how from so early on they never seemed afraid or embarrassed about this kind of intimacy in their performances, really dating back to their first year seniors nationally (adios nonino,), at just 15 and 17 they were ready and eager to go for these fierce, passionate programs, that’s why it still puzzles me to this day that people questioned their repeated desire to do intense, dark programs- people tend to think that their classical/lyrical programs are “their style” but really they didn’t have “a style” it was their style but it couldn’t be categorised by a dance genre. And even while their classical base programs seemed to be comfort zone, really these fierce, dark numbers is where I feel they excelled, especially Scott but it’s not ever as tho Tessa couldn’t keep up- she was right there with him and when breaking it down to a moment like this: she has no fear or apprehension about him getting that close to her. She continues death staring the judges as he coils around her like a snake ready to devour her. It’s one thing to be comfortable with someone just as a person and be comfortable with them physically close to you- as dancers (I’m not even referring to relationships) but it’s another thing to be comfortable with that in the safety of rehearsal, it’s another to pull that off with an audience and not be apprehensive about people watching you.

Anyway.. yeh for all the obvious reasons I really love this opening.

3. Funny Face

Ok here’s one where I loveee the whole opening, from the set up, to the pose to the first, idk probably 16 counts is gifed here.

I’m generally not a big fan of these character- centric openings, most of the time they go way too far and it just seems kinda arrogant to be taking so much time. When and if VM did do it they didn’t fuck around with it for ages, they got to their places and did their set up without being overly dramatic about it. The other thing that is different about them with their set ups is they dance them. As I said with VT, it’s not just getting into positions, they inhabit the spirit of their dance as they prepare. They do it as if their music is playing. This opening is just so damn cute. Even if you don’t know the story you can immediately make sense of it. Their facial expressions are perfect, the timing is great coz it’s both musical and comical (setting the tone). Literally everything is perfect- their posture and hand positions is exquisite. You legitimately feel like you are watching the movie.

Then once they start, again this is is another I could just keep talking about and suddenly the program is over. The little two- footed spins they both do are so quick and so perfect with the music. Their faces aren’t doing so stupid, pantomime- sort of over the top, fake expression- they are just reacting to each other, not some rehearsed facial expression. My very fave part of this which really kind goes past the 8 counts but I had to include it, is Scott’s little fouetté temp levé jump. If that sounds like gibberish.. its the little hop he does to get back in front of Tessa where he kinda ends in a bit of a curtesy and takes her hand. He hops off his left foot with his right leg to the front of him and when he lands it’s behind/to the side of him. It’s just so perfect. I always cringe at figure skaters trying to do dance steps.. coz 99.9% of the time it never looks good. Except with VM. I won’t say this is technically ‘perfect’ in terms of ballet technique, but since this is a jazz/Broadway style routine, it doesn’t really matter - in that context on Broadway you wouldn’t really see it be done perfectly turned out anyway. But its that they can put these ‘dance’ steps in and you can tell that they actually understand what the step is, how to do it, and adapt it as best as possible to be done on ice- it’s their attention and understanding I appreciate so much.