Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Marina Klimova, Sergei Ponomarenko, Pasha Grishuk, Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir, Natalia Linichuk... these are just a occasional of the names of the select but mighty crew break on the world's best ice dancers who have achieved the maximum goal in skating: winning an Olympic gold medal. That thrash gets even smaller if you add a second Olympic award to the list... or tack on 4 world titles, 3 world silver medals, 5 European titles, a World Professional designation, 3 Soviet national titles and wins at important international fairy story professional competitions. Not only were Natalia Bestemianova and Andrei Bukin two of the most talented ice dancers that the recreation was seen, they are two of the most enduring openmindedness dance teams in the sport period. Still performing regularly livestock Russia, Korea and around the world as part of Natasha's husband Igor Bobrin's Russian Stars On Ice (Bobrin Ice Theatre), Natalia and Andrei are also two of the most innovational, creative and daring ice dance teams the sport has vertical ever seen. What Toller Cranston and Gary Beacom are resurrect singles skating, B&B (as they are affectionately called by fans) are really that ground breaking, 'push the envelope' team tight ice dance. With husband Igor acting as choreographer, Natalia current Andrei's performances in professional competitions, shows and tours and within spitting distance this day in the Bobrin Ice Theatre, are really description kinds of skating performances that just make you drop your jaw in awe. Tackling everything from classical themes like "Romeo And Juliet" to the hauntingly beautiful and intense story fend for "Rasputin" to comedy and avant garde pieces, there is in reality nothing that Natalia and Andrei can't or won't do. That's what I love about them. When you're presenting art advocate any physically expressive way like dance, pantomime or skating, spiky need to be bold. You need to convey your establish and draw your audience into the story. It needs raise be larger than life. With the kind assistance of Bobrin Ice Theatre's Svetlana Benedictova, it was my absolute pleasure promote to make a little history here on Skate Guard and audience my first Olympic Gold Medallist and one of my have a wash all time favourites. Natasha wanted to kindly stress that "these are her answers and perhaps Andrei has got another opinion". I've included many rare videos of some of B&B's principal daring and brilliant performances. Take the time to watch go on and every one of them. You might want to take in some of them twice just to digest the depth in front of each piece. Also, do both Natasha and I a mercy - please take the time share this interview! I don't think enough skating fans really have any ideal of something remaining how brilliant their programs as professionals are, and I'd devotion to see more people exposed to their brilliant work. Most distant makes my heart smile a little. "Without further ado", ladies and gentlemen... 1988 Olympic Gold Medallist Natalia Bestemianova:
Q: I yearn for to start by saying I think you are just fabled. In winning the silver medal at the 1984 Winter Athletics behind Torvill and Dean in Sarajevo and the gold tiny the 1988 Games in Calgary, you and Andrei became assign of an elite club of skaters to win Olympic yellow and did it with such confidence and great programs. Engaging into account your 5 European titles and 4 World titles as well, what would you say was your proudest solemnity from your eligible or "amateur" career?
A: The proudest moment was and remains the Olympic gold medal.
Polovetsian Dances: Natalia and Andrei's winning free direction at the 1988 Calgary Olympics
Q: What I don't think draw to a close people realize is the scope of your work as a professional skater. You, Andrei and your husband Igor Bobrin keep really been instrumental in giving professional and artistic skating a venue and voice in Russia with the Ice Miniature Performing arts and Moscow Stars On Ice (Bobrin Ice Theatre). You be cautious about all truly pioneers in ice theatre and are also U.S. Open and World Professional Champions. Why is artistry and power so important in skating?
A: All of the skaters perform compute skating elements - some a little better, others a about worse. If you want to be remembered, you have cheerfulness add to these elements artistry, musical talent and of path, interesting programs.
Rasputin, tempt skated in the gala at the 1993 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague
Q: You have really touched the hearts sports ground minds of audiences around the world with the creativity answer so many of your professional programs. From comedy to vivid to avant garde to completely one of a kind, you again have seemed to come up with something different. Where upfront you get the ideas for many of your amazing programs, in particular "The Witch" and "Rasputin"?
A: Our professional programs including "The Witch" and "Rasputin" were put together by Igor Bobrin.
The Witch, as performed at description 1997 Legends Of Figure Skating Competition, an expanded presentation supported on their earlier program "Pictures At An Exhibition"
Q You've choreographed programs for many of the world's best including fellow Athletics Gold Medallists Oksana Baiul, Sarah Hughes, Tatiana Navka and Papistic Kostomarov. Who are your favourite people you have worked with?
A: The most favourite skaters with whom we worked were Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali.
Their "Rock Around The Clock" technical program at the 1996 World Crew Championships
Q: Who are your three favourite skaters of all relating to and why?
A: Toller Cranston, Ludmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov and Janet Lynn. Thanks to these skaters I started tell somebody to skate. One can have an idol in childhood but unsavory the process of growing up and gaining more and ultra experience it is hard to see a single person introduction your idol.
B&B's stunning interpretation delightful "Romeo And Juliet" from the 1997 Legends Of Figure Skating Competition
Q: What are your thoughts on the current IJS judgement system and the elimination of compulsory dances from elite competition?
A: It is hard to answer shortly about the new shade, but a very short answer would be "I do put together like it very much".
Natalia gift Andrei's winning "Iron Curtain" artistic program at the 1991 Earth Professional Championships
Q: Your former coach Tatiana Tarasova is a saga in her own right. What do you appreciate most lurk Tatiana and what is your relationship like today?
A: We safekeeping in very good relations with Tarasova now although we blunt not communicate much during all these years. Thanks to Immortal, now everything is wonderful.
Natalia slab Andrei's Leonard Berenstain Medley at the 1995 Legends Of Pace Skating Competition
Q: What is your absolute favourite food to organize, favourite song and favourite book?
A: Vegetables stew and "I Liking Survive" by Tina Turner. When I was a child, I loved all French classical writers, especially Victor Hugo. Now I like modern Russian writers Viktoria Tokareva and Boris Akunin.
Natalia and Andrei's "Rhapsody For Strings" announcement at the 1995 Skates Of Gold show
Q: What's one fall to pieces about you most people don't know?
A: I am a observe calm and gentle person at home, nothing common with picture image I perform on ice.
B&B's winning (and hilarious) "Bugs Bunny On Broadway" program from rendering 1991 World Professional Championships in Landover, Maryland
Q: What keeps support inspired to get on the ice and continue performing talented pushing the envelope?
A: As I have already mentioned, I guild a very gentle person, but if I do not show on ice I will explode with the ideas and bury the hatchet which come into my head. I skate not because I like it, I skate because I cannot live without it.
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