Friends on Ice 2014 - August 22-24: The last before "DORON"

Shyla wrote:

Thanks Pattina! Did you hear the roar of crowd at the end of Akiko and Dai's Libertango, they went
wild. Carnival looks wonderful, another masterpiece for us fans to savor! I hope we get to
see some videos soon.

I can't access let's talk links I get a "forbidden message". I will try another browser.

Love your gif Genkie!

Shyla, thank you for info about "forbidden message" - strange, when I posted, links were fine (I made a preview to check before posting)

Very strange. OK I will try to find other links.

Try through let's talk's tweet

https://twitter.com/00LT/status/502779610719727616

or vk.com http://vk.com/albums-2152302

Thanks Pattina, I'm Daaaing!
I can't see the pictures either, but Daikko tango is just to Dai for 
Don't worry Pattina, this has happened to me before. I think some blog sites, like Ameba, don't allow to post photos from them or something. Let's talk's links don't work too.


I heard rumors that Dai's Caravan Ex has no triple jumps, is it true?
And that he tripped himself at the end of his performance which was rather funny.

No wonder, if he got a beer flower bouquet before   
https://twitter.com/yuge_sato/status/502741074503139328

From Shizuka:
https://twitter.com/tiramisu11/status/502832462464966656

What are they wearing? Lucky escape for Kenji  

Love the embassyrichard coment:
HE WAS GOD AT TODAY’S FOI
http://embassyrichard.tumblr.com/post/95463480631/daisuke-takahashi-friends-on-ice-2014-he-was#Notes

Another glimpse of the Tango          

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv1oJ_DfWGI

So strange - just tried through let's tweet and to me it works    

No matter, it seems we have plenty of other Dai-wonderful beauty to look at!! Thanks ilica   

i

ilica wrote:

From Shizuka:
https://twitter.com/tiramisu11/status/502832462464966656

What are they wearing? Lucky escape for Kenji   

As far as I know, at the Opening skaters make a kind of fashion parade with Vogue dresses. Seems they are "vintage" dresses. Dai-chan of course is the "weird" model   

ilica wrote:

I heard rumors that Dai's Caravan Ex has no triple jumps, is it true?
And that he tripped himself at the end of his performance which was rather funny.

Same rumors I heard. And comments that Caravan is something "different".
We know that Dai does not need jumps to perform a great, involving, entertaining EX program.

As for tripping...yes he did!! If I had it right, he ended on top of a lady in front row - OMG our adorkable Dai-chan   

More Dai-wonderful Caravan pics - I love his outfit

http://magicaleggplant.tumblr.com/post/95472051598/daisuke-takahashi-friends-on-ice-2014

ostile's second report from DTRtS https://www.facebook.com/DaisukeTakahashiRoadtoSochi confirming Dai fall flat on a lady in the front row. Lucky lady   

Friends on Ice 2014 08.22

Today we finally see the proper show and all the parts kept secret yesterday during rehearsal were revealed in all their splendor.

Liebertango - The whole number is great, Compared to the short version we saw yesterday, there was so much interaction between Dai and Akko. Also they did some actual dancing together.
Dai looked pretty wild. At some point he lies on the ice just like he did in his Tango ex, while Akko stares at him. Again their together step sequences were absolutely wild. After the number is over thye go out still dancing the tango, like the best ice.dancers do.

But what everybody is waiting about in Dai's "Caravan" This program is so innovative and Dai does things with his body movements that he has never done before:
During Caravan Dai-chan managed to fall flat on some lady
audience .

The final number is also very well done.

Sorry for keeping it short, but it's 3 AM and I realized I must have slept 10 hours in one week!

More tomorrow!

      

Thanks Pattina, and thank you ostile for finding time to write the report.

I actually cried from joy reading about "Caravan". What a man! He could just skate anything and make his fans happy, but he keeps challenging himself, even during his off time he keeps making unseen, innovating programs!  

Can't wait to see it!
In a meantime, here is a compilation of FOI clips with "Caravan" music. Also a glimpse of funny Dai in a hat and glasses from the finale there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJn2Sffolf0

Thanks to the video maker!

Can't wait to see the entire programs!     

ilica wrote:

Let's talk's links don't work too.

They work for me in Explore but not in Chrome on the same computer. Maybe indeed some copyrights issue. Try search "Friends on Ice" here http://www.newscom.com/nc/clearOpenSearch.action then just click on the pic.
If it doesn't work, then enjoy here. it must work:
http://cs617831.vk.me/v617831282/18f00/UXldElXtuEg.jpg
http://cs617831.vk.me/v617831282/18ef9/ZvDXDpmanIA.jpg
http://cs617831.vk.me/v617831282/18f07/DXL_LU83f1w.jpg
http://cs617831.vk.me/v617831282/18f0e/BtgN_W2Rexo.jpg
http://cs617831.vk.me/v617831282/18f31/wlpA07T-5xQ.jpg

FrOI news clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv1oJ_DfWGI

PATTINA wrote:

ilica wrote:I heard rumors that Dai's Caravan Ex has no triple jumps, is it true?
And that he tripped himself at the end of his performance which was rather funny.
Same rumors I heard. And comments that Caravan is something "different".
We know that Dai does not need jumps to perform a great, involving, entertaining EX program.

He landed 3F and 3S successfully in Caravan today. (according to trwitter)

Genki is too busy to make GIFs, so I made one!!
https://twitter.com/miyuskate/status/503095647176642560
https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/Bvta0kjCIAAyQrv.mp4

From Shizuka's twitter
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bvsoy5rCcAAyLOi.jpg:large

From FOI Photolog (you need ID and password)
http://www.fskating.net/photolog/2014/popup.php?id=77
http://www.fskating.net/photolog/2014/popup.php?id=78
http://www.fskating.net/photolog/2014/popup.php?id=79
http://www.fskating.net/photolog/2014/popup.php?id=80
http://www.fskating.net/photolog/2014/popup.php?id=50

ilica and let's talk, thanks for links to more Dai-wonderful stuff!!

And thanks to sochi dai for compilation!!


miyu, thanks for info on jumps and...... Awwwwwwwwww Liebertango gif    

 

http://cs619729.vk.me/v619729844/a5f2/d5R_j-fQNdA.jpg

Gifs by my Italian friend Ice Princess       



let's talk, thanks for pic of cast - they are so nice and funny

EDIT: screens by Ice Princess.  Dear friends, please don't faint (it's hard, I know   )

https://i.imgur.com/5qSPWxB.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bIjJFpK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/OChXmSW.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/OJHTldp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/67bEfBD.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7oPvJ5j.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/usKcyL4.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Dwk06Ma.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/OQIA35c.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LK4spm3.jpg

Beautiful photos and gifs, I am in Dai-Heaven. Thanks everyone!

New report from ostile after today's shows (she attended both)  https://www.facebook.com/DaisukeTakahashiRoadtoSochi

Reading with my heart getting lighter - Dai so full of energy and enthusiasm and having great fun is best news for me.  Samurai Dai with nice pony tail...awwwwwwwwwwww  I want to see him!!!

Back from the two shows and I don't even know where to start.
As imagined everything is getting so much better. Daisuke is in great shape and all the jumps and spins are looking so good.

He is doing so much in this show that it is hard to take it all in and something new always surfaces. But what doesn't cease to amaze me is his never ending improvement. This is a new Daisuke, even compared to last month's great Daisuke. So flexible and able to move every inch of his body... even better than usual. You can tell that he must have been working very hard and seriously for this show. Oh... and how he is enjoying this new role of 'host' of the show...
Libertango is growing so much. I hope they can bring it somewhere else other than here or it would be a crime. Sorry for going on and on about the step sequences but... they are truly to scream for.They are doing a different exit every single time, so funny! They both seem to enjoy skating this number and getting more at ease with each performance.
Thanks to Kenji Miyamoto-sensei for doing such a great job and for contributing to make this fans' dream come true!

Daiuske was sporting a nice pony tail in the second show, he looked like a Samurai. Shizuka announced during the half-time lottery that Daisuke was tired and getting massages backstage. Understandably two shows in a row ( and six in 3 days) 2 shows a day must take atoll on him but he sure looked full of his usual energy and contagious enthusiasm come the second part. (also we just saw him on the street with Keni-san, Honda-san and Shizuka, ready to party)  
With different seats every performance I was able to enjoy all Dai's number from all angles, and again.... he is the well that keeps giving. Tonight I was able to see Dai's number with Brian Joubert and Evan Lysachek from yet another angle and Dai is mastering the art of moving like no one else! Also a great angle for that masterpiece of "Caravan" that gets better and better.

Ok, I'll call it a night as I am very very tired...
Tomorrow I'll be sad... but for now I can't wait to see the last two shows tomorrow. Good night everybody.
Keep the Dai Love coming!!!


Here is the scheme of "Caravan" - only jumps and spins are understandable to me, anyway it seems he makes pretty much stuff here. He performs easily as it was a nice play, on the contrary it's a demanding program.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BvpYMjxCcAAucAn.jpg


Thank you, ostile    Enjoy the last shows and bring our love to Daisuke!!

News clip with Dai fall   

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24f84k_140824-news_sport

thanks ilica   

Adorkable Dai-chan!!!    His funny face when he is back on ice after fall is priceless     

While waiting for ostile last (  ) report......

FOI cast after last show Finale - from Miki's instagram. Look at Dai's dork face   

http://instagram.com/p/sFKkMSl_N_/

Dai with Shi and Miki - From Shizuka's twitter

https://twitter.com/tiramisu11/status/503513317998989314/photo/1

And from Miki's twitter - OMG Dai-chan.... your pants   

https://twitter.com/M1K1_ANDO/status/503514728434384897/photo/1

EDIT: those pants remind me something.... April 2013 hair cut - same pants!!

http://vk.com/photo-2152302_301322260

Pattina Dai's pants are wild. Just the other day my sister and I were discussing this type of fashion
of pants as we have been seeing quite a lot of young people wearing them. We reminisced
and laughed about the silly looking fashions that we wore when we were that age.

Thanks for the Dai updates Pattina and illica. FOI is over, now we wait for videos.

Ostile many thanks for your live reports! Did you get to speak to Dai-chan?

ostile's report on last show. https://www.facebook.com/DaisukeTakahashiRoadtoSochi

- Friends on Ice 2014 - The Final show

This is so late in coming, but I want to say how great the lash show was, how special in atmosphere and energy and heart... "Friends on Ice" indeed!

The extra bonus that we got after the last show ended was "Libertango" skated amusingly by Daisuke and Kenji Miyamoto... untiil Akiko catches them... and takes them both by the collar and together they go on to do part of the step sequence of the program. What a treat!! Akiko and Daisuke finish it off masterfully as they have been doing the entire time, and then the funny finale together with the teacher again. Funny and well done.

It was an incredible show: thanks Shizuka Arakawas and to all, and especially to our Daisuke who over-did himself for this, showing us once more how big his heart and commitment to his fans and to the people around him always are. He never lets anyone down!

Thank you, Dai-chan, once more!

Happy "Doron" now!
See you Next Time!!!

OMG - Liebertango with Kenji     eager to watch     

ostile, glad to know that you all - cast & audience - had a great time  

Thank you and all DTFF members who attended, for pouring out our love on Daisuke!

He deserves the best. Wish that he can enjoy his DORON time now, getting ready for next step of his life.

We will wait for news patiently because we love him for ever.

Have you all a Dai-wonderful day  

Libertano was quite a challenge for Akiko. Sometimes she did less twizzles, less turns than Dai, missed some upper body movements, etc. It was difficulut for her to keep this Dai tempo and technique, but for whom it wouldn't be. Nevertheless the collaboration was very well-done. The hillarious joke in the last show where Dai started skating tango with ... Kenji was cool! Did he actually kiss Kenji or it was just a lip move? I was in the east side, couldn't see well.

Btw, the collabortaion with Evan and Brian made me kind of sad. When you see them all together on the ice and can literally compare, you realize much clearer how messed up the judging system is, if SUCH skater is an Olympic champion and THIS one is not.

"Caravan" again proved that there is no music out there that Dai cannot play on the ice. This one had a combination of streches, steps, edge skills, changes of skating rhythm, hammer-put music accents. He did 3F (step out in the morning show), 3S. In the collaboration he did 3T, 2A. So many ikebanas, D!SK banners and amazing fan crowds. Dai looked overenergetic, genki, happy, like on adrenaline. Seeing today's pics in Kozuki Award ceremony, I suggest that he was celebrating his "last holiday weekend" before the time when he has to face the reality and make an important decision.

On the platform I bumped into Nagamitsu-sensei. I thanked her fo coaching Dai for so many years, said that Dai looked super happy today, she laughed! I asked her what now, she said Dai will be thinking.
http://twitpic.com/ear2pw
http://twitpic.com/e/2r8b
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMmWQuQjFGE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJzGjJJYlQs

Wow let's talk!! Great report and lovely pics and video!! Thank you so much

Glad you hade the chance to meet Utako-sensei and thank her for....everything.

Liebertango Trio from Kenji's blog - they are so wonderful

http://ameblo.jp/kenjimiyamoto/image-11914946400-13045912058.html

Hi, I'm sorry I don't have a time to write my report so far... The two shows (especially the last show!!!!) were just amazing! Dai-chan was super cool!!! I have no word to express how he was amazing.  Thank you, Dai-chan!

So today I give you the set list of the music.

Opening:
Zella Day - East of Eden (When Dai-chan came onto the ice like a model walking on a runway.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go2b07t18mo
Redfoo - Let's Get Ridiculous (Opening dance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QWhAN3q1AQ

Men's group number
Yello - On the run ( this music never left from my head since Sunday! )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_lqKxWWPBw

Collaboration with Akko
Libertango (I don't think you need a link.)

Caravan
The Spitfire band - Caravan (You can buy it in iTunes store.)

Finale
Fergie - A Little Party Never Killed Nobody
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZgjmE6xdaw
Pharrell Williams - Happy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZSe6N_BXs

Let your imagination run free!!

Great report let's talk, thank you! Utako looks wonderful. Rest has been good for her.
Beautiful photos especially the flower arrangement is gorgeous.

Miyu take your time with your report, we will be here to read when you post.
Meanwhile we have great music to listen to.

miyu, thank you for music compilation!

Dai posing as really cool and hot model. Breathtaking

Source (you can find pics of other skaters) http://www.vogue.co.jp/blog/vogue-wedding/archives/1973

Other Vogue page with description of dresses, stylist etc...
http://www.vogue.co.jp/fashion/news/2014-08/25/friends-on-ice/1#moveto

Thank you everyone for all your interesting updates and links.  The show looked like it was fabulous and for those who were lucky to attend I am very grateful for all of your reports.  It's hard to believe that we won't see Dai on the ice again for quite some time but I hope he enjoys his time away as much as we've enjoyed watching him.