From
pia's scan of an interview in
World Figure Skating Magaine, September 2011, translated from Japanese by
yukiusa and I simply proofread.
Thank you
pia and
yukiusa!!
Special Interview with Stéphane Lambiel and Tatsuki Machida-Stéphane Lambiel choreographed a free program for Tatsuki Machida this season. How did it happen?Lambiel: I always had respect for great Japanese skaters. I performed with Tatsuki in ice shows several times, and when I saw his skating, I felt like I fell in love. He has something special. I had the impression that he would be able to improve a lot not only his technique but also his artistry. I thought it would be great if he could improve his skill to listen to music and catch the feeling of music. First, I decided to tell him I love his performances. Figure skating is a very tough sport, and I told him that I would help him any time if he needed me. He looked very happy, and this is how it started. This is how I see our story, but Tatsuki might see it a different way (Laughs). How do you see it?
Machida: I always loved Stephane's skating as well. He started choreographing after retiring from competitive skating, and seeing Dai-chan's (Daisuke Takahashi) program Stephane created made me think that it would be great if he could also make a program for me. Then I received a message card from him, saying he would support me in every way. I was so happy, and immediately got in touch with him. This is kind of how it started.
Lambiel: Good. So we see it in the same way (Laughs).
-Tell us why you chose ballet music Don Quixote for the program for Tatsuki? It is quite different from what he used to skate to.Lambiel: I think the Don Quixote program is certainly different from his past ones, but when I heard Don Quixote, what came across my mind was Tatsuki skating to this music. His skating is fresh and dynamic; he has good knees and his edge work is beautiful. I thought he can perform by using every accent of this music. Don Quixote is actually the music I wanted to use. However, I felt that I was too old to skate to it, and I thought that if I used Don Quixote, I wanted a skater whom I find beautiful to skate to it instead. Then Tatsuki quickly came to my mind. He agreed with my music choice, and then I asked my friend for music cut. When I let Tatsuki listen to it, he seemed to like it. I'm sure he did, as he uses that version now. (Laughs)
Machida(Laughs)
Lambiel: The reason why I find this version great is that we didn't use any famous parts. The music is very strong even without famous parts, and I think the parts I selected fits him well. Some parts of the music have strong accents. There are also some slow parts that show emotion a lot, where he portrays a man who tries to ask a girl, whom he fell in love with for the first time in his life, to go out. He dances with his girlfriend during the choreographed steps. He takes her hand for the first time in his life, dancing the waltz together. Then at the end of the program, he tells everyone in a village that he is in love with his first love and that they love each other now, shouting his love. That is what I created for the program.
Machida: Since Don Quixote is very famous I imagined what the program would be like, but when I listened to the music, as Stéphane mentioned, I found that the most famous parts were not used. So I thought it would be a good challenge for me. I'd like to keep working hard so that I will be able to perform a program that can be closer to Stéphane's ideal skating, though I feel pressure a bit to skate to the music Stéphane himself really wanted to use (Laughs).
Lambiel: I believe you can do the best performance.
-What do you think of Tatsuki as a student?Lambiel: He is like a dream student. I haven't had enough experience in teaching yet, but it felt like it was a dream time for me. I give so much information to skaters in a very short period of time; this is the way I teach. Tatsuki nevertheless learns so quickly, and he remembers everything I told him. He interprets the music well, and he can step exactly how I told him to. He has everything required when working on choreography. He learns quickly and is capable of using his skating skills fully on the ice.
Machida: Before the lesson started, I was nervous and anxious about whether I could do it as Stéphane is a very famous skater. But once we started working together, it went well, and the atmosphere was good, which made me so happy. I think I must keep an eye on Stéphane and absorb as much skill as possible from him. There are shows like Fantasy on Ice where I can learn by watching his practice, and I want to improve my skating in order to make it closer to the ideal one Stéphane imagines. When it comes to performances, he taught me exactly and explained with his images, which made it so easy for me to imagine and perform.
Lambiel: I think it was great for him to have performed together in shows this week because I was able to see how he remembered things I had taught him.
At the moment, for example if there are two movements, he can do them well, so we are working more on transitions. Every time he skates we change some parts, and I think his program is getting better and better. As Tatsuki skates in front of the audience, he can learn to save energy for jumps, control his emotions or express his emotions. The more he attends shows and works on those aspects the better he will perform.
-How long did it take to choreograph the program?Machida: It took a couple of days.
Lambiel: We kept working without a break every day. We worked for a total of about ten hours. I really concentrated on working, and so did Tatsuki. He really worked intensively, which is not easy. I don't know if I can work as hard as he did. I would say if I worked with other skaters, we wouldn't be able to concentrate for such long periods of time like Tatsuki and I did. When I choreographed a short program for Liza (ElizavetaTuktamisheva), she only had 45 minutes a day and we had to work slowly everyday. As a result, it took two weeks.
-So Stéphane, did you give some advice on Tatsuki's costume?Lambiel: Yes. We watched a DVD of Tetsuya Kumakawa together. I found a black costume and its vest embroidered in gold so beautiful. That is what I imagined first. It makes you look like a good young man and has a strong image. I gave him some advice. I saw the completed costume for the first time yesterday. I still didn't have a chance to see him in it, and just saw it on a hanger, but I think the design is very nice.
Machida: I love it as well. Stéphane gave me various kinds of information about Don Quixote. For example he advised me to watch ballet DVDs, and it helped me. I hadn't watched ballet a lot before but I came to like it and it broadened my outlook. Stéphane also showed me movements I had never had before and he has opened doors for me. I really appreciate his help.
Lambiel: Good. The next challenge is contemporary dance then (Laughs).
Machida: I would like to learn a lot more about skating from him in the future, and would like to learn other various things from him as well.
Lambiel: Sure!
-Tatsuki is going to show the Don Quixote program for the first time in a competition at Nebelhorn Trophy soon. Lambiel: I probably go to Oberstdorf since it is the first competition for Tatsuki and Tanya and Max will be skating as well. I would like to see them skate at a rink.
-There will be Japanese Nationals in December. Lambiel: It would be nice to attend it. .I guess Nationals will be held during the Christmas season. I am not sure if I can go to Japan as you are supposed to spend Christmas with your family.
-Tatsuki is training in the US now. Stéphane, you trained in the US at one time as well, right? Is there any advice you can offer him about training overseas?Lambiel: It is great for young skaters like Tatsuki to have the experience of training abroad. It is very important to travel around the world, experience different cultures and meet many skaters. It can make you improve if you train with skaters from other countries, see how other coaches teach, and experience in real life rather than to keep working with same people. I myself think it helped me and gave me energy ever since I started to go to many countries. The experience can lead to inspiration and it can lead to a new weapon for skating as well. Tatsuki trains in the US this summer, and he might go to some other place next year, but it is important to find something new each year. You can keep increasing your power. It is like a pyramid; you keep heaping up stones. But it wouldn't be stable if you keep heaping the same stones. If you heap different kinds of stones instead, then it can becomes table. What Tatsuki is experiencing now will be one of the stones, which can lead to a better performances.
And one more piece of advice I would like to give him is to never forget people in your team who work with you. And believe in them. The most reliable people are those working together from the start. They always support you and you can say what you want to say to each other, and what's more, they understand you more than anyone. It is good to learn new things from various people, but it is important not to forget your team and to believe them at the end.
Machida: I'd like to learn many things and become someone who can give what I have experienced back to my team.
Lambiel: Great. He is perfect (Laughs).
-Tatsuki,is there anything you would like to ask Stéphane?Machida: I don't have much to ask righ tnow. Stéphane always communicates well during choreography and ice shows both on and off the ice. We go out for a meal and he tells me many things. I learn a lot from him.
Lambiel: That is very important. It is not only about skating. The important thing is how you go forward with a skater. What people would remember in the end is not your performances but your individuality and personality. And it depends on how you experience life. Now I have a question for Tatsuki. When are you coming to Switzerland? (Laughs)
Machida: I was about to tell you (Laughs). I'd like to learn a lot more from you. Since I have been busy I don't think I can go to Switzerland this season, but I'd like to work with you when the season is over.
Lambiel: Of course I want you to focus on skating during the season. We were able to work well, and it is your turn to do your best. But I hope some day you see beautiful mountains in Switzerland and get inspiration from them.