Ice Dancing Shoots to NFL-Level Popularity
~by Amy Lignor
It is odd to say that the sport of Ice Dancing is now being spoken about and raved about as much as the NFL. It has always been a truth that football players and the Super Bowl, are the most recognized and beloved sports event in America. However, with the slam dunk given from an amazingly talented and beautiful couple at the Sochi Olympics – bringing home the first gold medal America has ever seen in the sport of Ice Dancing – the NFL now has competition.
The fans are going crazy over Meryl Davis and Charlie White – especially Charlie because of his significant, constant and very real laughter; not to mention, the reemergence of a haircut that was truly sought after in the 1980’s. This pair rocked it at the Olympics, and they have been rocking it ever since they arrived home on news shows, talk shows – even Stephen Colbert gave them the spotlight and more fans jumped on the ice dancing wagon because of their humor.
These are two people who really began working together when they were kids. And unlike what you would assume to see, a boy wondering why on earth he had to hold an ‘icky’ girl, and a girl who was sick to death of dealing with one of those aggravating boys, the videos of these two at the young age of eight and nine were adorable. In fact, the dancing was so good back then, that it looked as if they could win the Olympics before they ever received their grade school diplomas.
The coaches say she was shy, and that he was annoyed, but staying together through the years was perfect for them, as well as the rest of us, because they have now become a pair that teens are screaming for as loudly as they did for Edward when ‘Twilight’ came on the scene. (Okay, perhaps not that much. That was absolutely ridiculous).
This is one couple who show their humor, love and absolute respect for one another, treating each other like the sister and brother they were raised to be. It’s a good thing they didn’t get overly annoyed with each other long ago, or we would have missed out on the best Ice Dancing performance the Olympics has ever seen.
For those who are unaware, America was not exactly the premiere athletes when it came to this particular sport. A change in the judging system that occurred back in the mid-2000s finally helped make our country a true contender. And it is the USA versus Canada rivalry with Tessa Virtue and Scott Mo that has helped to lift the sport even higher – with Americans wanting desperately to cheer for their duo and slam dunk the other guys.
The Canadians and Americans finished one and two back in Vancouver, with Davis and White bringing home the silver. So it was a shock (to Canada only, actually), that this time around they provided the perfect no-holds-bar romantic show that brought both art and athleticism to the ice; a stunning show that had them stealing the gold from Canada and making the rivalry even more intense for the fans.
When it comes to Ice Dancing, people don’t really know how absolutely difficult this sport is; even more difficult than pairs skating. Yes, the pairs must jump in unison, twirl in unison, land in unison, etcetera; but for the ice dancing pair, they have to stay close at all times and offer footwork that is out of this world hard.
Step sequences – real dancing – must be done face-to-face, including lifts, spins, and twizzles to land a perfect score, which is just what the Americans did in Sochi. And one of the most difficult factors comes from the rule that partners are not supposed to separate by more than two arm lengths during the entire program.
The performance this pair gave was unforgettable. The beauty – the story they created on the ice was dramatic. This was one show where the entire stadium was silent as they nailed each and every step to claim the ultimate medal for the Americans.
Keep watch on these two. They may just become the next ‘Edward’ that America will definitely obsess over!
Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy