July 3, 2011
Hello everyone! I realize it has been quite a while since I have written last and we have a lot of stuff to cover so let’s get right to it!
To start, I posted a video link of my short program to “Clair de Lune” on YouTube and have gotten a great response from everyone. I love the program and I’m glad that you all do as well. What I really enjoy about it is that I’m not “playing” something or being a character. I’m skating to show that I love skating. The program is about the simplicity and beauty of skating. The moves are clean and relevant, not unnecessary with over the top choreography that we so often see in these programs in the IJS system. I feel like the program shows what skating is meant to be. I hope you will all get a chance to see the program live, whether it is at a summer competition or at Nationals. I love it!
For my long program, it took us quite some time to decide upon music. I think I chose music like four different times before we actually chose the final piece which is….. drum roll please…… “The Mission”. Now, before anybody says it, let me say it. “The Mission” is a piece of music that has been used by many people and you are probably thinking, “Hmm… how can he make this program original when the music has been used over and over again.” Am I right? Okay, well, here is my answer. The music was cut by Lenore Kay who you may remember cut music for the Kween herself, Michelle Kwan. Bonus point one right there. Secondly, I spent about 10 hours choreographing it with my (can I now say long time?) choreographer Jodie Tasich. Bonus point number two.
Also, I did my research and went to my local library to rent the movie in order to better get the feel of what the movie was about. I was blown away by the drama of the film and the lessons it teaches. I feel that by doing this I can really relate to the music and skate as if I am telling the music what to do, not vice versa. Bonus point number three. Oh and did I mention I have a wicked awesome straight line step sequence? Bonus point number four and the game goes to Mr. Grant Hochstein.
This program is so cool and in many ways different from anything else I have done before. We used a bunch of different pieces from the Ennio Morricone original soundtrack and also pieces from the John Williams version. I don’t like the term “modern” because I don’t feel that I’m a “modern” skater. It still has classical influences so I have decided to call it my “impressionist” program. It’s going to be out of this world!
For summer competitions we are doing things a little differently that I have done them in the past. My first summer competition is going to be Collegiate Nationals in Sun Valley. I won this competition last year and let me just say, having that $5,000 is very helpful, especially since I do not receive envelope funding this season. Hopefully I can repeat as Champion! This means I am not going to be able to compete at Skate Detroit because it is the same week and since my coaches are needed there with their other students I am going to be putting myself through this competition. This will be a unique experience, but I think it is going to make me rely on myself for strength and mental toughness. It will make me grow as a person and as a skater (not height wise of course, but that would be really nice if it did!)
My second event will be the Thornhill Summer Skate in Canada. We decided to do this competition because I have never competed there before and from what I have heard, it is a very good event. I am looking forward to the challenge of competing against the Canadians and showing them what I’ve got!
I’m trying to think if I’ve missed anything skating wise. I don’t think so, but if I did I will write another journal to fill you all in.
In terms of my real life, I just moved to a new apartment in Midtown Detroit. It is literally a block away from the campus of Wayne State University which is really nice! I am looking forward to not having to wake up early to get to class and being able to walk across the street to get there, rather than have to drive twenty minutes during rush hour. It takes me about five extra minutes to get to skating, but I think this is an even tradeoff and since my car is a lease and I am paranoid about going over on miles, I will actually be ahead of the game. Kingston is a little worried about the apartment, but he is afraid of everything so I am hoping he will eventually get over it.
The only drawback is that I live on the fourth floor of my building and there is… wait for it… no elevator! So walking up four flights of stairs after skating to let Kingston out, walking him back down to go to the bathroom and then walking back up four flights is kind of a drag. But I am saving money and really enjoying the urban living experience!
Okay, that is all for now! I hope everyone has a fantastic Fourth of July and we all remember how fortunate we are to be Americans! And for all of you non Americans reading this, however few you may be, I hope you also have a fantastic July 4th, even if it isn’t your national holiday!
Grant
