A great interview with Tatiana Tarasova

It was translated by TAHbKA and posted on FSU:
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=64184

Tatiana talked about Mao:

Quote :

V: We already spoke about it at the Olympics in Turino. You said than that you had to stop your work with Arakawa because felt you were out of patience as a coach. Now you are working with another Japanese skater - Mao Asada. How serious is it?
TAT: I work less with Mao than I worked with Shizouka, but that's only because of my family situation. My relatives are ill. I can't be in Japan all the time. Mao spent the whole summer here in Moscow. Her short programme was made in Canada where she went to work with Lory Nickol, and well, I consider that programme a huge achievement for a choreographer.
I did the long programme. The decision to put two 3A was mine. The first skates, especially of the jumps - Asada did with me. When I realized she is capable to do both axel jumps without damaging the other elements we decided to leave them in the programme.
Now my assistant - Zhanna Folle works with Asada in Japan. We talk every day so I know what's going on. I come there as often as I can and I try to come with Asada to the competitions.

V: Does Japan federation control your work? Do they interfere?
TAT:As far as I know the switching coaches decision was of Asada herself. Together with her mother and her manager. When they turned to me I demanded a skillful translator and a Japanese coach on speed-strength. Both demands were satisfied.

I really liked the interview. There were many parts that impressed me; it seem that TAT is a really strong and passionate lady, but very caring at the same time.

One of my favourite parts: "We should work together, and not fight."

I thought it was very classy of Tatiana to praise Lori's choreography. I admit I'm very upset by the bashing of the choreographers that seems to be popular on some forums (and broadcasting stations). Especially since the arguments used by the criticizers are, in my opinion, ridiculous, outdated or both. Kudos to Tatiana for being able to praise another choreographer working with her skater!

And, of course, it was great to read that thanks to Zhanna TAT is able to watch over Mao's training even when Mao stays in Japan and Tatiana - in Russia.

Very pleasent interview, I adore this woman. Agree with every point And for someone who thinks that TAT isn't good for Mao,should remember what programs she'd made Love her. She's perfect coach for Mao.

Thanks for the heads-up Okami!

A lovely article...I TAT!!

I agree that it's classy of her to praise Lori Nichol's choreography. But I guess it's not the first time - I think she was very impressed by the step sequence in Fantasie-Impromptu, at least in the commentary for the 2007 GPF (which summervie was so nice to translate for us ).

I'm also glad that Zhanna is in Japan with Mao.

I have a question for the Russian speakers - does she really refer to Mao as "Asada"? Or was that just the translation?

Batsuchan wrote:

Thanks for the heads-up Okami!

A lovely article...I TAT!!

I agree that it's classy of her to praise Lori Nichol's choreography. But I guess it's not the first time - I think she was very impressed by the step sequence in Fantasie-Impromptu, at least in the commentary for the 2007 GPF (which summervie was so nice to translate for us ).

I'm also glad that Zhanna is in Japan with Mao.

I have a question for the Russian speakers - does she really refer to Mao as "Asada"? Or was that just the translation?

First time then she was talking about Shizuka she called Mao- Mao and in the last topic Asada...
In Russia coaches in interviews,usually call their students by their surnames

polosatik wrote:

First time then she was talking about Shizuka she called Mao- Mao and in the last topic Asada...
In Russia coaches in interviews,usually call their students by their surnames

Ah ok! Thanks polosatik!

Fascinating read - it's always very interesting to read things from a coach's perspective, isn't it? Ditto on Tat being very gracious about other choreographers and her thoughts on "cooperation" between nations.

I do wonder about the translator though. I haven't seen her since TEB, and I've kept presuming Zhanna sort of fills in that role of bridging the communication gap between Mao and Tat (which seems to be getting narrower as time goes by).

i saw the same translator of TEB in the GPF in a video of backstage, i am almost sure.

clovera wrote:

I do wonder about the translator though. I haven't seen her since TEB, and I've kept presuming Zhanna sort of fills in that role of bridging the communication gap between Mao and Tat (which seems to be getting narrower as time goes by).

I was wondering about this myself!

I think you're probably right that Zhanna helps bridge the gap, but I also think that after TEB, TAT and Mao realized that talking directly to each other, even in broken English, helps them to get on the same wavelength. It seems like TAT and Mao have become more in-synch since TEB...

And if Mao can learn some Russian like she wants to, that would probably help too!