#gypsy dance

An homage to the beautiful performance by Azusa Tanaka at her first Junior Grand Prix in Lake Placid. Coached by Mie Hamada, the 13-year-old already has many of the great traits that set apart other Hamada students. Azusa's intentional and precise movements remind me of Satoko Miyahara, but I also think of Marin Honda in how soft and light her skating is. The music choice perfectly encapsulates all these qualities.

Azusa is a very refined skater for her tender age. While she may need more experience to fully bring out the character of the music, I great enjoy her ability to "feel" her performance through pitch changes and the various accents spicing up the choreography. Her spins, skating skills and range of movements are magnificent. It's her triple jumps that just aren't fully rotated yet, bringing her chances of competing internationally again this season near zero.

Her double Axel however is very good, performed here with difficult steps going into it. There's plenty of flow coming out of the jump, too.

Azusa shows enviable ease and flow throughout the program. A quality often overlooked, she has the ability to effortlessly change the direction of her turns while keeping up the speed. I'm looking forward to seeing her progress!

Below is a series of one foot turns from the delightful step sequence.

Wakaba Higuchi's short program costume at the 2017 Lombardia Trophy. She skated to Gypsy Dance from Don Quixote. I love how vibrant it is!

Spanish flamenco dancer La Argentina (Antonia Mercé), Photo by Studio d'Ora (Madame d’Ora, Dora Kallmus), Paris, 1930.