LAVAL, Que., Size matters, they say. Some pairs and ice dancers competing at Skate Canada International this week found the width of the Bell Place Arena rather tight. The size gave French ice dancers Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres some grief in the short program. And Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier suffered a stumble […]
Blog
“Pretty danged cool”
LAVAL, Que. Keegan Messing is chalking up the good times. They keep rolling in, like a wave. Last Saturday, he got engaged on a windy mountain ridge. He forgot the matches to light up the stove for soup. Everything went wrong. But Lane Hodson said yes. “If she says yes when everything goes wrong, you […]
The Empress has arrived
Laval, Que. Yeah, she’s bad-ass, that Elizaveta Tuktamysheva. In a most endearing way. Only 21 still, the Russian former world champion has come from nowhere, has risen to the top, has fallen to nowhere, has risen again to be unbeatable. And after a lull in her career while rushes of young teen Russian girls annihilated […]
A Proposal, Alaska Style
LAVAL, Que., Keegan Messing, man of adventure, keeper of the north, tried to be so prepared to make this day special. He was in love. And he wanted to propose to his girlfriend of 2 ½ years, Lane Hodson. It was supposed to be a surprise early this week. The venue was to be exotically […]
Gilles and Poirier’s Starry Night
Okay, paint your palette blue and grey, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. Watch the swirling clouds in a violet haze. Nothing could be more painful and splendid than to touch the art of Vincent Van Gogh. Yes, this new free dance of Gilles and Poirier hits a nerve. Van Gogh is my favourite artist. No […]
Magic in a Dog Sled
The way Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje planned it, they would have been happy to remain low-key, and chill out in their hotel in the off-hours during a spring visit to the very northerly Happy Valley-Goose Bay town in Labrador. They had come to Labrador’s largest community in the spring to do three shows and […]
Vincent Zhou: Tough Summer, Bright Future
In the spring, after sessions with a new choreographer – Lori Nichol – a light flickered inside Vincent Zhou. The incredible young quadmeister, who attempted a total of seven quads at last year’s U.S. championships, finally had an epiphany about music and movement and rhythm and the imagery possible in skating. “Working with Lori really […]
Nazareth, McCafferty: New Albums, New Life
A couple of days before Nazareth embarked on its Canadian tour in August, Pete Agnew’s phone jangled in his pocket. It was Dan McCafferty, lead singer for the band for 43 years. It was 11 a.m. and McCafferty had a special request. “Listen,” he told Agnew, bass player for Nazareth and founder of the group. […]
Jason Brown: His Light Falls on Toronto
Everyone needs a little dose of Jason Brown now and again. Feeling the blues? Brown will wrap you up in the little tornado of his personality and make you forget it all. Feeling lonely and alone? Brown will bounce off to the airport and pick you up, just because that’s what he does. Loving […]
Weaver and Poje Masterpieces
With an Olympics in their rear view mirror, Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje have apparently created little masterpieces of programs this season. Their secret is the joy out of which they made them. Their short dance is understated, elegant and beautiful. Their free dance, emotional and important. Once perfected, both will linger in the […]