Hello friends,
I hope you are enjoying your weekend. We have had a fantastic time in this small corner.
Yesterday, D, hubby, and I took ourselves off to the BP Pulse Arena (NEC) Birmingham to enjoy watching 'Our Last Dance', the final ice dance tour of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.
I first became aware of this amazing ice dance couple in the early 80's and was spellbound by their routines. D discovered them when they started Dancing on Ice and has enjoyed their routines ever since.
In 1984, the pair represented the UK at the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo and achieved incredible scores of 6.0 from all the judges. The Bolero routine which they performed was controversial because of its length. Rules stated that the ice dance must be no longer than 4 mins +/- 10 seconds, and even with major adjustments, the piece was still 28 seconds too long. However, the rules also stated that the dance routine did not start until the skates touched the ice, so the couple started the dance on their knees. It was timed to perfection, and the gold medal belonged to them.
D has seen the pair dance several years ago, but Hubby and I have not seen them perform live before.
Jayne and Christopher were supported by other professional ice dancers, several from Dancing on Ice, who were amazing and made the show unforgettable. There were great songs, choreography, and a happy audience who enjoyed every moment.
Next week is looking much quieter, but with lots of sunshine forecast, more time could be spent outside.
Have a lovely week, everyone.
B x
What a lovely trip. Those two must be incredibly fit. They have certainly earned their retirement.
ReplyDeleteWe had a fantastic time at the show and our seats were very good giving good views of the ice and all the dancers. Torvill and Dean were amazing and they will be missed but they do deserve to take a proper break now. I'm sure they will still have some involvement in helping the next generation of ice dancers though.
DeleteHow lovely that you got to go and watch Torvill and Dean and the other ice skaters.
ReplyDeleteTheir Bolero performance back in 1984 is unforgettable, it was amazing to watch it.
We've had a wonderful sunny weekend in my part of the UK and the week ahead looks good to.
Whatever your plans are I wish you a good week ahead.
All the best Jan
I remember sitting on the edge of my seat for that Bolero performance in 1984.
DeleteWeather looks good for the next week here as well, so lots of sunshine. Enjoy your week.
What a treat that must have been.
ReplyDeleteIt was certainly an afternoon to remember.
DeleteI love ice skating! A fun sport to watch!
ReplyDeletehugs
Donna
I love watching ice skating too especially the ice dancing. So beautiful. I won't be venturing onto any ice rink myself though. I don't think I could stay in a vertical position without holding on to something or someone very tightly. Have a lovely week x
DeleteWonderful, we have somewhere in a box full of concert and theatre programmes a brochure/ programme from their skating concert at Nottingham which they did not long after they won the gold medal when they returned to their home city. It was a splendid night, one to remember:)
ReplyDeleteThat must have been really good to see them so soon after their success at the Olympic Games. Now we have some special memories of this talented pair of ice dancers to treasure too.
DeleteHow lovely they are spectacular and their winning dance in my view has never been equaled.
ReplyDeleteThere dancing is amazing and they have given pleasure to so many of us with their innovative performances over the years. Bolero, will always be special and in a league of its own I think.
DeleteWhat a wonderful show to see, I bet the atmosphere was amazing. I remember watching them skate their Bolero in 1984, an unforgettable Olympic moment.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fantastic show. The Bolero is one of those iconic moments for me too.I do hope Jayne is Ok as she seems to have had a fall the day after we saw them.
DeleteWow, that looks like an amazing performance. I saw Riverdance with my MIL years ago... I found it very moving with the energy of the performance. Like Jo, I remember their 1984 Skating, absolutely unforgettable.
ReplyDeleteIt will certainly be a performance to treasure, seeing them live. The dancing always seem so effortless and yet I know it has taken many years and months to perfect and reach the standard they reached. They will be missed on the ice rink.
DeleteHow wonderful! I remember getting up at some ridiculous hour to watch them ( along with 24 million others!) when they won the gold medal at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics, in 1984.
ReplyDeleteI actually went to see them perform in Exeter, in 1996. Superb.
Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog. Have a good weekend. 😁
That was an event worth staying up for wasn't it! Glad you were able to enjoy seeing them in 1996. They are so talented but also seem to be lovely people too. Always good to visit you, Sal. x
DeleteA lovely post! Looked like an incredible show! Thanks for sharing :) I am back after my blog break and am enjoying catching up.
ReplyDeleteWe had good views from our seats and enjoyed every minute of the show.
DeleteWill be over to visit you very soon on your blog. Glad you are back x
Oh, how I envy you three... and how happy I am that you're writing about the ice show. Torvell and Dean and their bolero in Sarajevo, it was a milestone. It's a shame that time is passing, a shame that it was their final tour. The two of them are outstanding as athletes, artists, and people.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I'm looking up the bolero on the internet... best wishes and thanks from Viola
I knew you would enjoy hearing about the Torvill and Dean ice show, Viola. Time marches slowly onwards but we have fond memories of Jayne and Christopher's dancing career and it will be interesting to see who the new generation of skaters will be. Enjoy the rest of your weekend x
DeleteLook at all the bright and fun. Last dance. Bittersweet.
ReplyDeleteIt was a really fantastic show and I'm really glad to have got the chance to see them perform/dance together one last time.
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