» OK, let’s just stop to think about how bizarre it is to read about figure skating on the self-proclaimed “world’s most dangerous site”. Maybe one day in the future, it won’t seem so odd to see thugs decked out in sequined neon pink spandex gliding across the ice, but for right now it’s sort of mind-blowing. Figure skating’s whitebreadedness runs rampant, so it’s no surprise that hip hop receives very little love from its community; most attempts come off like Al Jolson in blackface. (Blades of Glory mines this area for a majority of its laughs, “Haw, haw, look at the clueless skaters, their corny outfits and being 10-15 years behind musical trends!”) Maybe if figure skating’s governing bodies addressed this with some sort of programming initiative, maybe skating would cease to be laughably awful. At least from a glance, rollerskating seems less divided on gender/ethnicity/class issues; additionally it’s been more in tune, if not instrumental, with musical trends (disco, hip hop, etc) as a result of its egalitarian attitude.

U.S. Ice Dance Champions Campaign for Hip-Hop Music in Competition
By Chris Richburg

Hip-Hop may be one of the hottest genres in music, but it has received a chilly reception in the world of ice dancing.

However, that may change if four-time U.S. ice dance champions Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto have a say.

Belbin and Agosto are recognized world-wide as one of the top American couples in ice dancing.

The 2006 Olympic silver medalists recently captured a bronze medal at the 2006 world championships.

The pair incorporated music from Justin Timberlake during their routine Friday night (April 6) at the Marshalls Showcase, the final event of the figure skating season.

The positive crowd reaction reinforced Belbin and Agosto’s belief that ice-skating audiences are ready to hear new music from skaters.

”We’re trying to push Hip-Hop and it’s never been accepted in the current international community,” Belbin told the San Diego Union Tribune. ”Hopefully someday we’ll be able to spice up the competitions. ‘We meet after the world championships every year and talk about the regulations for next season. We need more North American teams trying it before we can get it accepted,” she added.

Although changes in ice dance have been slow, there has been progress over the last decade.

”It’s difficult, because we’re young and a new generation and this is what we listen to and dance to,” said Belbin, who remains positive in spite of the uphill battle to have Hip-Hop accepted. ”It’s tough to be deprived of it.”

While the International Skating Union has encouraged skaters to try something from their culture, the governing body has provided no guidelines, as evidenced by news that the original dance for next season will be folk music.

There are few parameters offered on what defines folk.

”We’re trying to expand the audience of our sport and Hip-Hop is a huge part of our culture,” said Agosto. “We’d love to tap into it.”

Belbin and Agosto are currently on tour with Champions on Ice. After the tour, the duo will take a break and work on new routines that could include more Hip-Hop.

» Whitney Pastorek (who is really, really good at covering Bon Jovi on the acoustic guitar, if I say so) wrote this kind of amazing piece about the state of critical thought in these You™-heavy times. Yeah, it’s nothing new, but it was good to read.

» Tonight I’m off to cover Spoon at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ — what, did you think I was going to spend 15$ to watch the band in a crowded, poorly ventilated room here in town? You must be out of your freaking mind. I really, really want Springsteen to show up and jam with the band.

» Last but not least, my radio show is on tomorrow. Same Bat time, same Bat channel. I had to take off last week on account of some Heavy Life Stuff.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 24th, 2007 at 9:08 am and is filed under general, internet, music, skating.