Hello!

I know it's too early to wonder about this, but I was watching a few vids of Mao from past seasons and I couldn't help but be curious.

What do you think Mao should do for the Olympic season? Should she a. get two new programs, b. keep her long and change her short (or the other way around), or c. go back to any program from the last two seasons (and which ones)?

I personally never get tired of her Nocturne SP. And I think that with her current spirals and spins (as well as her unequaled talent for steps), it would be THE program of the season. On the other hand, I think her LP this season is a real challenge. I feel that she still hasn't mastered all the potential of that program and that when she does, she will blow everyone away. One more season to work on it should do it. So I guess it's option b for me.

What do you guys think?

This is a really difficult question...!
Though I really love Mao's programs this season, I think she should change her programs for the upcoming Olympics. I think she can really develop some great new programs that showcase her strengths that she improves and hones in on after this season. But if she stuck with one or both of her current programs I wouldn't be upset or disappointed at all~~!
I agree with you completely when you said one more season would make Mao's LP astounding.
I can't wait to see

Hi chiyori! This is a very interesting question!

First of all, I definitely think that Mao should get two new programs so she can maximize her options. She can always choose to go back to one of her old programs if she wants.

But what kinds of new programs should Mao get?
I've done quite a bit of thinking on this question since you posted this topic, chiyori, and here are my thoughts. I apologize in advance because this most certainly will be a looong post.

For the Olympics, I think Mao ultimately needs to pick two programs that 1) are 真央らしい "Mao-rashii" = Mao-like and 2) have impact and make the average viewer think "wow, this is a champion's program!"

As much as I love 'Nocturne,' and I do think it matches Mao's natural style perfectly, I worry that it is too understated, too subtle. I also wonder if Mao has outgrown 'Nocturne' - it was perfect when she was 16, but now she has matured and evolved so much, I'm not sure...

'Clair de Lune' is very much like Nocturne in that it showcases Mao's lovely, elegant style, and for the Olympics, it could be good because it's a well-recognized melody. But some people might still find it too subtle/soft too. For example - I sent the clips of Mao and Yu-Na's SPs from the 2008 GPF to my Mom, and even though she is a big Mao fan, she said she thought Yu-Na did a better job! (Even with the popped jump!) She said Yu-Na's SP seemed more impressive/powerful!

So I definitely think that Mao needs to have a program that has impact.

'Masquerade Waltz' does have a lot of impact, but for some people it seems to be a negative impact -- they say "my ears were bleeding" and "the music is so repetitive." And even though I love Mao's LP, especially the step sequence, I agree with you, chiyori, that it doesn't seem like 'Masquerade Waltz' is 'Mao-like' yet; she still hasn't 'made it her own.'

But I'm not sure she should continue to work on this program...I think it was good to have challenged herself with a new style this year, but for the Olympics, I think she should pick something closer to her natural style.

As the new article I posted in the "Really nice article about Mao and the Olympics" thread said, this is the year for challenges, for Mao to try different styles, but next year she should take less risk.

[Slight digression: in this respect, I feel like Mao's programs and goals this year are very similar to the 2006-07 season. In the 06-07 season, Mao chose songs that were very different from one another, and the SP was in her natural/ballet-like/elegant style, while the LP was in a style she's not used to (and contained some kind of 3A challenge). I think 06-07 and this season are all about evolution. In contrast, I think last year, Mao did want to keep progressing, of course, but I think she really, really wanted to win Worlds. And as a result, I think her two programs last year, at least in terms of music choice, were closer to her natural style.]

So based on the two criteria I mentioned, what kind of music would I like to see Mao skate to next year?

1) Something heartwrenchingly beautiful
-I mentioned this in the "Music links" thread, but I think Mao's 07-08 SP and "So deep is the night" show that Mao is really good at these very sad, expressive pieces. Currently I am obsessing over the "Schindler's List" theme, and if Mao had a really great program choreographed to a song like that, she would reduce the audience to tears. That's what I want to see - Mao skating so beautifully that the crowd can't help but cry, that even the commentators find themselves speechless...a moment of awed silence after Mao finishes, and then thunderous applause.

2) "Gentle joy"
Back during last summer when Mao did the performance of "Over the Rainbow" with Miku, the little violinist with the prosthetic arm, I remember being really impressed by how well Mao expressed that. Songs that are not overly or obviously cheerful, but kind of have this gentle/subtle joy, or a very warm feeling - they always make me think of Mao. I don't Mao would want to, or if she should - but I do think a nice arrangement of "Over the Rainbow" might be good for the Olympics, since it's a well-known melody, and uplifting. (So that after reducing the audience to tears after the SP, she can give an uplifting, inspiring LP.) And like that "Challenge & Evolution" video showed - Mao is all about progress and change and overcoming obstacles.

So that's what I think...sorry to have rambled on for so long! If anyone made it through to the end, I'll be impressed!

I hope she will choose whatever she feels comfortable to skate. A few months ago, I read a magazine in a bookstore and there was an interveiw from Mao and she said that she thought her Czardas was a wrong choice cuz she had'nt been able to express the music till the last. and I was quite surprised since I felt it suited her so well and she was brilliant in that program at 07 worlds.

I think if Mao only sticks to winning, she should not keep her this year's LP program since I heard some criticisms from commentators(including Kurt!). I might be wrong but Mao's LP somehow has an Russian style and I guess its not the North American's favorite type of a program. However, I think Mao is a kind of a girl who really has her opinion about skating and doesnt care a bit what other people say. so If Mao chooses to keep her this year's program, Im ok for that too!!

Personally, I wanna see Mao skates to 'The Polovetsian Dances' or 'Swan Lake' someday.

Oooh this sounds really nice! I didn't know "The Polovetsian Dances" but I like it very much. I think it could make a great impact with Mao

Batsuchan, I think you may be right about Mao outgrowing Nocturne... I hadn't thought of it like that but it's true, I think it was perfect as it was and I have a difficult time imagining the new Mao doing that again. I think I kept putting her 16 year-old self over the music, but Mao has mastered a bit of her "dramatic" self over the years, as showed in her SP last year and also a little in her SP this year (step sequence). With that in mind, I think I would find the current Mao skating her 06-07 SP pretty but a bit lacking.

I'm all for Mao skating two new programs actually. I don't really like it when skaters use the same music and choreography year after year (though it can sometimes be really beneficial, as shown by Joannie's LP to Don Juan last year), but I was under the impression that Mao's LP was a work in progress. TAT was talking about the long term and I might have gotten the wrong impression that this applied to her LP as well. By now, I think this was more to do with Masquerade Waltz being a challenge to push Mao further technically, to maker her try on a new style so that she could push her limits. I do think this kind of program as done wonders for her speed as well.

And I agree! The Schindler's List theme is a gogeous piece of music, soft, sad, haunting, everything I think Mao can make a masterpiece out of. It reminds me of Michelle Kwan "The Red Violon" in a way.

Anyway gotta go now so I'll look at this post later to see if I missed something

Batsuchan, I have to say thank you for your wonderful translation too! Itsumo arigatou gozaimasu

I adore her LP this year. I want her to keep it forever.

I think that she should use her Exhibition music for a future program! It's really nice and I think it would be great. I love Czardas too, I don't know!