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wherespacepooh · 7 years

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Shae-lynn Bourne Interview at Y.H. 2017-18 Media Day

(Shae-lynn and Yuzuru’s ema at Seimei Shrine. Photo cr. misayuzulove@twi)

...I get goosebumps. He has a connection with the music and moves freely. He does everything, believing in what I say. He makes the process of choreography a really beautiful thing for me. ––– S.L.B.

Told from Shae-lynn Bourne’s perspective, a glimpse into Yuzuru the skater and Yuzuru the person. She also talks about choreographing for him and with him, and the bond they’ve forged. With her instinct to connect with both music and people, it’s clear how she and Yuzuru make a killer team. Alternatively––SLB is such a romantic (in the best way possible). She made the jump landings in SEIMEI 2 really hard. She confirms he grew taller. - Gladi :P

SLB spoke with the press on Day 1 of the 2017-18 Season Media Day. The 15-minute interview in its almost-entirety was edited by Figure Skate Magazine (B.B.Mook 1383). Repeated QA’s were omitted.

Translated by gladi. Please do not repost without permission. Photos below were taken by Ryosuke Menjyu and belong to B.B.Mook.

A new SEIMEI with increased charm The year of reaching new heights

Although SEIMEI isn’t a completely new program, we’ve made modifications and added new appeal. It’s an improved, new SEIMEI. Of course the order of the elements has changed, so have the entries and difficulty of the elements, as well as the level of the content. It is Version 2, so to speak. I think this will become the final version.

I believe it was about a month after the World Championships. I wrote a message suggesting, “How about skating to SEIMEI?” I thought it was such a perfect fit for the Olympics. Afterwards, I was very glad when I learned of his choice. I think it is the right plan.

I have always been deeply impressed by his performance. It is not a simple thing. Winning the Olympics and still continuing to grow even now, four years later. Winning a medal––while it’s normal to think that is enough, [Yuzu] has lifted limits and pushed boundaries. I think he has raised the entire sport. The level of competition has gone up considerably since he spurred the other men into action. At the 2015-16 season's NHK Trophy, he lit a fire in the people who saw his performance. After that, it was the Grand Prix Final. Everyone was thinking, “Surely, such a feat can no longer be accomplished.” But, with even better performances, he rewrote the record once again. He brought power to his skate and obliterated his limits. I believe that was what lit the fires in his rivals. Compared to the past, everyone, myself included, has become more excited when we watch skating. I am deeply moved by his unrelenting efforts to keep growing, even in mental strength.

I wasn’t able to see his performance live at Helsinki. I wanted to see it though. Since it’s completely different from watching it on the television or on video sites. But, I was so proud, and very happy. Last year, we created a program that was technically very difficult. I think he felt a need to push himself on. And then he carried it through. So this year, he knows he can do it. He jumps perfect quads, right? Artistically too, he is advancing. He continues to mature. It’s like he is riding on an upward current, I think this will be the year [when he is really ready to reach new heights].

First off, mentally he has become very mature, and he has broadened his own boundaries. He can probably jump many quads alone, but can he succeed in times of pressure, those moments when this is it? It is very difficult. I can’t even imagine the level he’s trying to accomplish and reach.

He has grown as a person as well. All the different situations [he faced] in life have helped his growth. I remember when he went through that difficult season two years ago. That collision on ice, and afterwards, undergoing surgery too. Going through so many difficulties, challenges and obstacles brought about his growth as a person, as a man, as a performer.

Although I am older than he is, I’m still growing each day. What I’ve noticed from practicing together is that I’m opening up to him. In part, I feel comfortable and that we understanding each other. It is that feeling of relating with someone. I feel the growth in the way he stands and moves. He’s gotten taller and he has opened up his heart as well. His self-confidence has increased, and he knows himself well. Such growth is bringing forth an entirely different performance.

Through efforts over the past year Yuzu’s raised level of performance

Since he's already skated to SEIMEI for a season, it has accumulated inside of him. Additionally, I think he himself loves performing this program. When the skater himself is excited [about the program], it communicates. When you like the music and the story, the movements become a thing of your own. The program’s character––he feels so real to him, and he relates to him. In the past year, he skated to something new and different, improving technically. In fact, the level of his performance has gone up. That’s why, it’s great that he returns to a program he dearly loves and integrates the familiar with difficult elements. If he were to choose a completely different program, there would be a lot of new things he’d have to do. Choosing a program he likes is a strategically sound plan. In doing so, there is a fire in him and he can skate with passion. And that affords him some ease with the elements; he could add difficult elements to the program later. He can probably do better if he feels good and relaxed, as opposed to when he is nervous. I’ve repeated show programs a year after, and because I knew the music well, I did very well. Making use of his own experience, I’m sure he can skate this program even better.

When I first choreographed SEIMEI, he entrusted it entirely to me. Before beginning choreography, before entering the rink, we had an openhearted discussion about the music, about the story of the movie. He told me why he liked this music. I always ask about that sort of thing. There must be a reason for choosing [a particular piece], because that is important. Without a reason, there is no way to put in any emotions either. After we listened to the music and watched the film, I found a unique way of understanding him. Through discussion, the two of us decided on the right direction of the story. That was what we did before choreography. When we get on the ice, he’s open to trying out anything I suggest.

Because he will say so if he thinks something is wrong, we communicate well. Although he trusted me right away, I think he chooses me because he feels that what we’re doing is right. I think this is a great relationship. As I’ve said earlier, I feel that the heart and soul of this piece really resemble him. And that’s why, it wasn’t so difficult to put together this piece. Yuzu always has his opinions ready, and I think that is a really fantastic aspect of him. He has his own view of what he wants to do, and I think it's great if my suggestions can help him towards the right choices. During our practice, I suggested to him––"Will you meet with the actor [of Abe no Seimei]? It would be great if you could try acting together." It would be a wonderful collaboration, and he would learn more about his own internal preferences and what the piece means to him. It’s helpful to do things with remarkable people.

I think last season’s Hope & Legacy wasn’t an easy piece to skate to. Musically, it didn't have the power that SEIMEI has. It also wasn't something romantic, but there was a soft lyrical quality to it. I think he thought intensively about the movements of his own body, the musicality of the piece, and the flow when he goes from one movement to another and so forth.

So, I think it became good training that showed off a different side of him. What matters was that he’d brought and integrated everything into the second half of the program, that he added to the quads, and that he had continued to express the music even as he was executing such difficult elements. At World’s, he had carried all of this, everything, through.

It was a really wonderful moment when he first told me that he wanted to work together. He is a rare, spectacular skater. It's a very fortunate thing when a choreographer gets the chance to work with a high-level skater. And when I first met him, I was instantly, strongly captivated. Choreographing the program, he would just jump a few triples and quads. This wasn’t ever the case with anyone. He was serious in looking at how it would be [with the elements inserted. I felt his deep respect for the ice, me, the coaches, his family. It was a true sense of respect. I feel his recognition and gratitude, so it’s amazing to be part of the team, and I think he was definitely evaluating [how the program looked] in earnest. He showed that he was grateful, but it was such a wonderful thing, so much that I wanted other skaters who were training together to see it as well. He always evaluates [the choreography] properly and expresses his thankfulness.

At times, when someone becomes a champion, you lose sight of such a side, but he is a real champion even as a person. Speaking of why SEIMEI is a good fit for him, it’s because the character has an extraordinarily strong mind. Someone who surmounts chaos and confusion through his frame of mind. On the one hand, Yuzu is so sweet, funny, and charming。Yet on the other hand, he is really strong. Working together with him, I see it––his true nature. The more I got to know him, the more he opened up to me as a person. I think that’s maturity, and also trust.

Not only that we were able to work together, that I was able to see the way he mastered and skated so skillfully to this program and fought––it was a marvelous experience beyond all description. There are skaters in this who stiffen, tense up, and feel stressed when the time comes for competition. Although there were good days and bad days, he just keeps making progress. That is why it was so great to become part of his team, and I can’t wait to see how he performs his next program.

What I want to emphasize in particular with this program are the landings of his jumps. Because they are very difficult… although that is my fault (laughs). Thanks to him––that is to say, because he has raised the technical level––the competition on the whole has become very tough. Everyone is going all out to defeat him, or to catch up with him. So he works hard to get to a place out of anyone’s reach. That is why I think he is successful.

The fact that he really feels the music, his ability to execute everything effortlessly, his inherent strength… considering all of this, he is going to come out even stronger. The SEIMEI this time comes backed by the experience from last year, because hard training pays off. Practice brings confidence, no matter when. This year, I don’t think he needs to attend the first competition, but to him, furthering his growth is a necessity. The Olympic stage––is where he must be at his best condition.

It’s hard to pick one of Yuzu’s greatest strengths. He is strong as a whole. He has the ability to perform, he can also jump without under-rotation. But he doesn’t just complete his rotations, when he soars into a quad, it is as though you're looking at a double. You feel his composure and confidence from the ease and the flow in and out of his jumps. That is why he is special compared to other skaters.

Physical matters aside, his mental strength is number one, the best thing, out of all his strong points. No matter how much you work hard and train, it is probably 90% a mental problem. Not only that, his physical ability now has also gone up, he knows his body well, and his body has matured. On top of being mentally tough, he is also training his muscles––I think this is his biggest strength.

When practicing parts with Yuzu, I always feel like my hair stand on end and I get goosebumps. He has a connection with the music, and he moves freely. He does everything, believing in what I say. He makes the process of choreography a really beautiful thing for me. That’s why, it is always a pleasure to enter the rink with him and collaborate together.

(fin)

Figure Skate Magazine (B.B.Mook 1383) on Amazon.co.jp: This magazine tends to be text-heavy but detailed. Yamaguchi and the rest of the editorial team did a great job bringing to life what Team Yuzu was like during Media Day in the current issue. Please consider supporting them.

(Caption: Sharpening skate and mind.)

(These two photos from Day 1 weren’t with the piece, but I thought they fit? In a weird way? Fierce Yuzu and RAWR-RAWR Yuzu? XD)

#hanyu yuzuru #yuzuru hanyu #shae-lynn bourne #figure skating #choreographer #seimei #2017 media day #2017 #shaelynn bourne

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thechasefiles · 5 years

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 13/10/2019

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Sunday, October 13th, 2019. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Sunday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS).

BODY OF STABBING VICTIM DISCOVERED IN CEMETERY – Police are at Westbury Cemetery, Westbury Road, St Michael investigating the discovery of a man’s body with stab wounds. Lawmen said they received a report about 6:15 a.m. that a body was noticed in the cemetery with stabs wounds. Police are treating it as an unnatural death and their investigations are ongoing. (SS)

MAN DIES AFTER BEING SHOT – A St. Michael man is dead following a shooting incident at Golden Rock, The Pine last night. Lawmen say, 44-year-old Keron Anthony Hodge of #92 Midway Lane, Pinelands, St Michael was liming with other persons when a group of men passed by and opened fire about 11:45 p.m. last night. Hodge received gunshot wounds to his chest area and was transported by private vehicle to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for medical attention. He later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by medical personnel just after 12:00a.m. this morning. (SS)

UPDATE: MASS CASUALTY ACCIDENT ON BELMONT ROAD – Emergency personnel were called into action last night to respond to an accident which resulted in 13 people being injured. A minibus and a car were involved in the accident which occurred about 7:20 p.m. along Belmont Road, St. Michael. The minibus (B101) owned by Motor Haven, Black Rock, St Michael and was driven by 46-year-old Terry Hunte of Sealy Hall, St Philip and the car was driven by 42-year-old Terry Forde of Inch Marlow, Christ Church. The driver of the car and two of his passengers were transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. While the driver of the minibus and nine of his passengers were treated at the scene and discharged. None of the injuries were life-threatening. The minibus was moderately damaged while the car was extensively damaged. Police said the car was travelling west towards the city while the minibus was travelling in the opposite direction the exact reason for the crash has not yet been determined. (SS)

PORT OFFICIALS RESPOND TO SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO ALLEGING THEFT – Barbados Port Inc (BPI) says it has been made aware of a video circulating on social media platforms, which shows people removing wheels from vehicles amidst a backdrop of cargo containers. “This is not a local video, but more importantly does not depict the plant of the Port of Bridgetown,” BPI said in a statement on Saturday. “Be advised that all BPI employees wear the required company branded uniforms and personal protective equipment (PPE) while in Port and on duty.” BPI is assuring all importers that it remains committed to the highest standards of service and security protocols at all levels of our operation. (BT)

HOPEFULS TO FACE-OFF TODAY – Whoever wins the Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) St Michael West nomination this evening will likely be the next representative for that constituency after the next general elections, says political pollster Peter Wickham. He said it is to the credit of the BLP that they have been able to attract two quality candidates in Steven Leslie and Chris Gibbs, as both are young and intelligent and can bring an energy to the representation of a demanding urban constituency. Leslie, Director of Cricket at the Barbados Cricket Association, and Gibbs, an engineer and businessman, face-off for the nomination at the St Leonard’s Boys School, Richmond Gap at 4 p.m. The nomination is to replace Bishop Joseph Atherley as the ruling party’s representative in St Michael West after he parted company with the BLP to become Leader of the Opposition. (SS)

SHORTER WAIT FOR LIQUOR LICENSES – If changes to the Liquor Licence Act are approved, applicants will have to wait only a week to know if they are successful. Currently it can take up to four months for people to receive their licences, and Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce Dwight Sutherland expressed concern about this situation. “To have you apply for a liquor licence, to sell liquor, which is a commercial activity that drives the economy, and for you to take three and four months . . . you apply and it goes to the police, magistrate and it goes back to the police. “When we did our mapping, we found some 1 000 liquor licences sitting down in the Holetown Court waiting to be approved, and when we dug further – and this is no fault of the clerk – we recognised the clerks were the ones approving those applications and not the magistrates, and that is a cause for concern,” Sutherland said. He was speaking at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Friday during a second national stakeholders consultation that was attended by Government officials, members of the private sector and officials from the National Council on Substance Abuse. The Liquor Licence Act has been in effect since 1957 and, for at least the past 20 years, both administrations have tried to make changes to the act. If the amendments are made, a Liquor Licensing Authority will police the legislation. “So with the repeal and replacement you have the process moving from some three months to some seven days and it will be done on a digital platform so you can apply online via credit card. “If you don’t have a credit card, we have set up the facility at the Post Offices throughout Barbados so you can pay. Once you can pay, you journey to the Ministry of Small Business, we have an arm called the Liquor Licensing Authority and I’m speaking assuming the legislation will come to books,” Sutherland said. (SS)

CALL FOR CLEAR POLICY ON WIFI IN SCHOOLS – A philanthropist is calling on the Ministry of Education to set clearly defined rules on the use of WiFi and electronic devices in schools. Founder of the Aron and Christina Truss Foundation, Aron Truss, made the call, noting that without it, innovation in schools could be hindered. “As far as we are aware, there still aren’t official policies on the use of devices in the classroom, or WiFi in schools, so schools can’t really push forward with technology and innovation until those things are dealt with. “So we’d really encourage the ministry to get on with it so that other projects like ours can start to take place in education,” he said. (SS)

ACE PROGRAMME HELPING BOYS AT ST LEONARD’S – It has only been five weeks but the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust/St Leonard’s Boys’ Alternative Curriculum & Entrepreneurship Programme is already reaping success. The programme is the brainchild of former Third Form Year Head, Winston Cumberbatch, who realized that some of the boys were going down the wrong path when they reached Third Form. To illustrate the problem, Cumberbatch disclosed that this year, 30 students were repeating Third form “for very poor academic performance due to general weakness, little effort and/or indiscipline”. He was speaking Thursday at the official launch of the SLCT/SLB’s Alternative Curriculum and Entrepreneurship Programme at the Richmond Gap, St Michael school. Cumberbatch, who is now the First Form Year Head, told the audience of parents, students and members of the stakeholder organizations that he recommended to the Principal that an additional Third Form be created for those boys. The curriculum, while offering a reduced number of academic subjects, has been enhanced with developmental and vocational subjects. The central focus, however, is business and entrepreneurship, he stated. The subjects include: English, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Principles of Accounts, Caribbean Vocational Qualifications, Reading, Home and Family Life Education, Business Craft and Life Skills, which will be taught by the Mentorship with Love organization. Cumberbatch reported that since the programme started this term, the boys have attended all of the classes and have shown enthusiasm towards the new curriculum. Previously, he noted, they were skipping classes and displaying a general lack of interest. Parents have also been reporting improvements in the attitudes of their sons. The Year Head said even the teachers were excited about the new programme. (BT)

MORE PRIZE MONEY FOR NIFCA – Greater rewards are in store for Barbados’ most talented through the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA). Chief executive officer of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) Carol Roberts-Reifer revealed yesterday that prize monies for all of the awards have increased, new award categories were being introduced, and competitors would also be able to gain developmental opportunities. Deeming the changes as an upgrade to the festival which will take effect from this year, Roberts-Reifer said the team was making adjustments based on the pleas of the general public and past NIFCA participants. “It was time to do an assessment of the festival, retain the excellence and take on board comments made by sponsors, the general public and from current and past participants,” she said. (SS)

SUKI WINS ONE, LOSES ONE – Former world champion Ronald “Suki” King was like a foreigner in his homeland yesterday during his World Three-Move Restriction draughts title match against reigning champion Sergio Scarpetta of Italy at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex. About a dozen supporters were on hand in the classroom setting for the morning session on a day dedicated to visionary educator Professor Sir Hilary Beckles of the University of the West Indies. King won the first game but lost the second to trail 3-1, as up to press time, neither of the two games in the evening session was completed. Trailing 0-2 overnight after the first eight games on Thursday and Friday, the wily King quickly reduced the deficit by winning the ninth game when play resumed on Day 3. (SS)

TRIDENTS LIFT CPL TROPHY WITH IMPRESSIVE VICTORY OVER WARRIORS – Barbados Tridents won their second Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title as Guyana Amazon Warriors’ perfect season unravelled at the worst possible moment. The Warriors had won all 11 matches – including three against the Tridents – before the final, but came off second best in the face of an inspired performance from the Barbados outfit. After Jonathan Carter’s unbeaten 50 off 27 balls led a recovery from 108 for 6 in the 15th over to an imposing 171 for 6 from 20 overs, the Tridents bowled and fielded for their lives to defend the target by 27 runs, restricting the Warriors to 144 for 9 and break their hearts at the last.Raymon Reifer led the way with remarkable figures of four for 24 from his four overs. While the Tridents celebrate a well-deserved and comprehensive victory, the Warriors are left to reflect on a fifth Hero CPL final defeat in seven years. This will perhaps be the toughest to take of all given the flawless season that had preceded it. Chandrapaul Hemraj, apparently struggling with a hamstring injury, could have been run out twice before he was caught at short third-man off Reifer for just a single and things got worse for the Warriors when Shimron Hetmyer holed out to long-on for just nine to give Reifer a second wicket. Shoaib Malik then smashed a long-hop from leading 2019 Hero CPL wicket-taker Hayden Walsh Jr straight to Reifer on the midwicket boundary to leave his side in real trouble at 53 for three. When Brandon King yorked himself and was smartly stumped by Shai Hope off Ashley Nurse for 43, the game had swung decisively the Tridents’ way. Nicholas Pooran raced out of the blocks with two fours and a six, but Nurse and death-bowling specialist Harry Gurney strangled the life out of the Warriors’ run-chase. Just eight runs came from three overs after the loss of King, and it felt like something simply had to give as the required rate spiraled north of 14 per over. Pooran went after Nurse but only managed to pick out Alex Hales at long-on to leave the Warriors needing a miracle. Sherfane Rutherford hit back-to-back boundaries off Gurney but then failed in the daunting task of trying to clear Jason Holder at long-off. Reifer returned to take his third wicket when Romario Shepherd cue-ended a full, wide delivery through to Hope, and Keemo Paul’s 14-ball 25 was entertaining but futile. He, like Rutherford, fell to the hugely impressive Gurney having failed to get the ball over Holder. Reifer finished things off in the final over, having Chris Green caught behind for his fourth wicket and getting out of the over without any bother as the Tridents’ celebrations began. Hales and Johnson Charles had earlier got the Tridents innings off to a fine start before the England opener skied one high to midwicket where King steadied himself and made a tough catch look easy as Shepherd struck in his first over. Phil Salt, the England prospect who flew in at the last minute as an injury replacement for JP Duminy, fell soon after, given out caught behind attempting to pull a Ben Laughlin slower ball. Charles took up the charge and was absolutely flying when he became Imran Tahir’s 16th victim of the tournament. It was a wicket the Warriors desperately needed, Charles having plundered four fours and a six in his previous eight balls before Tahir’s extra bounce induced a top edge. The Tridents then wobbled for the only time in the match. Shai Hope was smartly caught by Hemraj at midwicket off Paul before the vastly experienced duo Jason Holder and Shakib Al Hasan were both run out in the space of three overs. (SS)

There are 81 days left in the year Shalom! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps #bajannewscaps #newsinanutshell

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