The "SAP Arena" was well attended. The great majority of spectators were Russians living in Germany. The show was a big success with the crowd and went really well. The commentary was in Russian as in the other shows, but it was translated into German.
Discovery
Elena Leonova/Andrej Khvalko - “Misere”
(they got a new number on this year's tour and skated very powerful with strong lifts) Jana Khokhlova/Sergej Novitski performed to "night on the bald mountain"
(their free dance program. They had a very dynamic skate. It was a great pleasure to see them on the tour)Margarita Drobiazko/Alexander Djatchenko - "Shadritsa (Gypsy music)"
Alexander Abt - "Gazolina"
(He ist performing this number the 3rd season now, but it's still fun to watch. Though he was not in his best shape jumpwise that day)Albena Denkova/Maxim Staviskij - "You are so beautiful"
(A very lyrical number, good ice coverage, they transported the emotion very well)Anna Semenovitch/Vyacheslav Razbegaev - "The panter"
Margarita Drobiazko/Povilas Vanagas - "Pink Floyd"
(We've seen this number already one year ago, again there were great special effects with fire lighting up during their performance)Maria Petrova/Alexei Tikhonov - "Backstreet Boys"
(Very different from the programes we've seen from them during their eligible careers. Very energetic skating. Masha had a nasty fall on a throw 3-salchow, but it didn't affect the rest of their performance. Very difficult lifts, like we always used to see from them)Anastasia Volotchkova/Maxim Marinin - "The Scarf"
Irina Slutskaya - “Falling in Love”, performed by Alexander Djatchenko
Alexei Yagudin - "Overcome"
(He skated very dynamically and with ma lot of passion)Tatjana Navka/Marat Bascharov - "Tango"
(Another program that we've seen already on last year's tour and we still enjoy. He plays an army officer, she a waitress. Marat Basharov's skating skills deserve special mention - it's hard to believe that he started with figure skating less than two years ago, as you hardly recognize him as a "celebrity", but more as a natural ice dancing partner for Tania Navka)Break
Jana Khokhlova/Sergej Novitski - "не пара" (Not a Pair"
Margarita Drobiazko/Alexander Djatchenko - "Koleso" (The Wheel)
Alexander Abt - “Olga” by Garik Sukatchev
Albena Denkova/Maxim Stavijski - "Tango"
Petrova/Tikhonov and Leonova/Khvalko - "ABBA Medley"
Anna Semenovitch/Vyacheslav Razbegaev - "Ostap"
Tatjana Totmianina/Maxim Marinin - "Tango"
Margarita Drobiazko/Povilas Vanagas - "Pirates of the Caribbean"
Marat Bascharov and Ilia Averbukh - "The duel"
Anastasia Volotchkova/Maxim Marinin - "New York, New York"
Irina Slutskaya - "Two Guitars (Gypsy dance)" jumps - 1 Axel and 2 double Axels in a row afterwards, in the final another single Axel again, but singled out intentionally as fire came out of the blades while Irina was in the air.Tatjana Navka/Marat Bascharov - "Quadrille"
Alexei Yagudin - "Winter"
Tatjana Navka/Roman Kostomarov - "Ne otrekajutsja ljubja"
Finale
Press conference:
lia Averbukh pointed out how happy the skaters were to perfrom in this beautiful arena (SAP Arena) and that they would like to come back next year. He announced that the third "Skating with the Stars" project in Russia will start in November and that even a fourth project is planned. The TV show and the skating tour are not two different projects but one. Asked about the internal victory celebration (for the winners of the show) he answered that there will be one after the next project. Nobody will be eliminated from the competition but all artists could continue and will have a chance to win.
Tatiana Totmianina was asked how she feels about skating professionally. The journalist added that she and Maxim Marinin still could compete in ISU events as they are among the youngest participants of the show. She explained that she likes skating professionally and that there is enough adrenalin as you can't make any mistakes in the shows either. You have to skate well and you see the reaction of the crowd immediately.
Ballett dancer Anastasia Volochkova said that there is a big difference between figure skating and ballett as the movements are completely different. She also needs to stay in shape for ballett dancing.
Alexei Yagudin was asked about his plans to come back to competition after his surgery last year. He answered that he first needs to get back his triple jumps. He skated a long time with his bad hip and as a result strained other parts of his body, like his knee and now he has to recover completely before going back to train the harder jumps. His hip is doing better after the surgery, but it's not as flexible anymore. He would be much stronger technically without this handicap. He didn't have much time to recuperate after the surery but he will rest during his summer vacation and he will improve his technique. The adrenalin (of performing) is helping him a lot.
