Miki Ando looks to improve artistic impression

http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/ando-looks-to-improve-artistic-impression

Quote :

As the new season approaches, world bronze medalist Miki Ando is concentrating on improving the artistic component of her program. (...)
She now puts more emphasis on understanding the meaning and the theme of the music as she skates. ‘‘I think I had the image of being strong at jumps, but figure skating must also be expressive. I thought I lacked that part so I am practicing to get higher presentation marks.’’

Quote :

Ando, who was in Russia last week to ready her new costume for this season’s program, characterizes her short program music as ‘‘different’’ and her free skate music as ‘‘telling a story of a woman.’’

Intersesting! And I wonder why Miki went to Russia to have her costume done. I thought Nikolai designed them and they were created by a (Russian speaking) lady in USA? There was one fluff about Nobu and Morozov bickering about colors (it was hilarious ) and Nobu being measured to fit the costume. In the background there was Miki's "Giselle" costume. I thought the clip was filmed in New Jersey..? (Maybe not.)

Quote :

‘‘I want to see the reaction of the audience and the judges,’’ Ando said, looking ahead to her first appearance of the upcoming season at the Cup of Russia in Moscow on Oct 23-24.

I can't wait! And I'm so curious what music Miki & Nikolai have picked.

Are you talking about this lady ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCfQqNWXGpE And it's great to hear that she wants to make a dress for Mao
All Miki's dresses are I really hope that new ones will be better.

polosatik wrote:

All Miki's dresses are I really hope that new ones will be better.

Last season's weren't too bad...I personally wasn't too fond of the Giselle dress though. Miki's Organ Symphony costume, however, was gorgeous.

The Morozov camp is killing me with their silence concerning Miki's music picks for the Olympic season.

polosatik wrote:

Are you talking about this lady ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCfQqNWXGpE And it's great to hear that she wants to make a dress for Mao

No, the lady in the Morozov team clips looked a bit older and had short, blond hair. I don't think she was a designer (like Tania), I think she was a tailor.

I'll search for the clip, maybe somebody will be able to identify her.

Quote :

All Miki's dresses are I really hope that new ones will be better.

Aw, I love most of Miki's dresses! I think the only ones that I didn't like were Samson & Delilah (too bright colors), Carmen (could be great, actually, if it wasn't so overdone) and Chairman Waltz SP (mostly because the burgundy EX dress was so gorgeous and suited Miki so much better).

Clovera, actually one of the reason's I was sad that Miki gave up her Giselle program was that I loved the dress. It made Miki look so youthful. The colors were great, and the sleeves were quite original. I loved the Organ Symphony dress, as well.

Quote :

The Morozov camp is killing me with their silence concerning Miki's music picks for the Olympic season.

Me to... Some time ago Miki said that she will probably reveal her music choices once her SP is finished. Then she jokingly added that she has half a mind to keep her choices secret until the season starts... Well, her SP had been completed before The Ice. I thought she would reveal her choices during the show or in a documentary, but it looks like she really might keep her choices secret...

polosatik wrote:

All Miki's dresses are I really hope that new ones will be better.

clovera wrote:

Last season's weren't too bad...I personally wasn't too fond of the Giselle dress though. Miki's Organ Symphony costume, however, was gorgeous.

Okami wrote:

Aw, I love most of Miki's dresses!

See, you're in the minority here, polosatik!
You know, the first thing I'll do after seizing the power over this forum (with the help of my local Chinese friends, naturally) is put our with Evan pictures on the front page and deny you all the access to all Miki Ando-related topics.

summervie wrote:

polosatik wrote:

All Miki's dresses are I really hope that new ones will be better.

clovera wrote:

Last season's weren't too bad...I personally wasn't too fond of the Giselle dress though. Miki's Organ Symphony costume, however, was gorgeous.

Okami wrote:

Aw, I love most of Miki's dresses!

See, you're in the minority here, polosatik!

Yeah, I see I always thought that her dresses are overdone, too much of different pretty things! I'm for simplicity! That's why I love Mao's dresses

On the subject of dresses...
Does TAT have a dress theme for Mao? It seems like all her dresses seem similar in one way or another since TAT started designing them (her black lace dress and Caprice dress in particular). I think they are all beautiful but I've noticed a pattern...

I don't know if Tania Bass was Miki Ando's designer last year but she certainly has been for Miki's LP dress at Worlds in 2007. http://taniabass.com/product-popup.php?id=mikiando01

I'm so happy to know some news about Miki!

Okami wrote:

I can't wait! And I'm so curious what music Miki & Nikolai have picked.

Me, too! I'm dying to know their music choices!

Okami wrote:

Aw, I love most of Miki's dresses!

I love most of them, too. I also like her two Scheherazade dresses, her Violin Concerto she used at Worlds and probably my favourite are her Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence she used at the Olympics and her Requiem. And I also think Mao's dresses are amazing, especially the ones she started using at the 2008 4CC and last season's dresses. Just gorgeus!

Oh, my! I can't wait!

bibi wrote:

I don't know if Tania Bass was Miki Ando's designer last year but she certainly has been for Miki's LP dress at Worlds in 2007. http://taniabass.com/product-popup.php?id=mikiando01

Yes, so that's why I was thinking that this year dresses will be by her, but it's not true

For me, by a long long long way, Miki's best dress ever is her Requiem one. It looks so gorgeous on her. The length, the colours and the cut are amazing. But like polosatik, I'm not a fan of her recent dresses (except maybe the LP at the end of last season). I think they're usually too colourful and a bit overdone. But she's so beautiful that she can pull them off, so good for her

polosatik wrote:

Are you talking about this lady ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCfQqNWXGpE And it's great to hear that she wants to make a dress for Mao
All Miki's dresses are I really hope that new ones will be better.

Wow, that is such a cool clip!! Of course she wants to design for Mao; who wouldn't want to design for such perfection?! That's like the Japaense designer who wants to use Mao as a model, because she says Mao has a beautiful body.

@ MaoMaoRevolution - Mao is a big fan of the chokers/neck ornaments, it seems. I generally really like Mao's costumes though; they're so PRETTY!

Miki's costumes are definitely interesting!

It might be a little bit off topic here.
But since we have mentioned about mao's costumes, anyone has any idea about who designed that gorgerous dress for Mao's nocturne program.

Sorry for the late reply! I caught awful flu yesterday, I didn't even feel like getting up today.

I found on my HDD the clip I was talking about. I uploaded it here:
http://okamidesu.wrzuta.pl/film/aUb5XmLnswz/nobunari_oda_stretching_costumes_fluff
(The site is in Polish, but I think it's pretty easy to use. Just wait patiently about 3 seconds for the advertisement to finisg playing, it's very short.)
I didn't want to upload it on YT, because I'm pretty sure it has already been uploaded... I just forgot by whom, and I feel too sick to search for it.

After the part about stretching, the fluff about the costume starts. There's Miki's unfinished "Giselle" costume. The lady who sews the costumes speaks Russian - she speaks Nobu's measurements aloud (warning, not worksafe shirtless clip! )

Nobu & Morozov bickering about colors

I really liked this costume design for Nobu's Masquerade. Too bad Nobu kept his old costume (I read that his SP outfit was created before he switched coaches). Maybe Nikolai really had the costume done in orange and green, and now it's hanging somewhere to teach other skaters to be more cooperative.

Batsuchan wrote:

@ MaoMaoRevolution - Mao is a big fan of the chokers/neck ornaments, it seems. I generally really like Mao's costumes though; they're so PRETTY!

I know! I've always been in awe though of how Mao is able to skate so well in such heavily decorated costumes. They are so beautiful, like the maroon one she used this season--but it had so many frills and bunches of fabric that it really impresses me she can skate with so much on!

inskate wrote:

That was fun!

Please no pink for the free skate. It reminds me of MaoMaoRevolution's "Gymnastics" clip...

Yes, we definitely wouldn't want that...
But...if she does use pink though, I'll be responsible for the scarring of people on this forum

Okami wrote:

Sorry for the late reply! I caught awful flu yesterday, I didn't even feel like getting up today.

Thank you for the video! Watching Nobu always makes me smile...and wow, he's got some really good flexibility in his arms. Haha, designers must like working with him, he gives them total creative license ("Any color!")

Also, I hope you feel better soon!!!!
Take care.

MaoMaoRevolution wrote:

Thank you for the video! (...)
Also, I hope you feel better soon!!!!
Take care.

Thank you, MaoMaoRevolution! I feel better today and I keep trying to force myself to do something constructive; like finish a new iGoogle theme and forum layout or watch Alien, Aliens, Blade Runner and 2001: A Space Odyssey (which I need to do to write my MA paper. I think. Unless I change my mind about the topic. )

inskate wrote:

Haha... I meant Nobu, actually - when Morozov started suggesting outrageous color combinations in the clip (orange-green for SP and pink for LP ) Nobu was like "Fine! Let's do that!" and "Pink is cute!" And it reminded me of your clip, because "Nobu" was wearing a pink unitard in it... I wonder if he would still thought it was cute when he saw it!

But I don't mind pink, as long as it's not an unitard worn by a male skater!

If Nobu did it I would feel even more guilty!
Or maybe there would really be no need to feel guilty because Nobu skating in a pink leotard would probably scar people in itself

But on the other extreme...it could be oddly cute... sort of

Okami wrote:

MaoMaoRevolution wrote:

Thank you for the video! (...)
Also, I hope you feel better soon!!!!
Take care.

Thank you, MaoMaoRevolution! I feel better today and I keep trying to force myself to do something constructive; like finish a new iGoogle theme and forum layout or watch Alien, Aliens, Blade Runner and 2001: A Space Odyssey (which I need to do to write my MA paper. I think. Unless I change my mind about the topic. )

It's good to hear you're doing better~
There's nothing to motivate you more than making Mao graphics or watching 80s Sci-Fi films!
Good luck on your paper, too (even though it sounds like a pretty fun one to do research on from what you've said)