Hello Everyone!!

Just came back from a great, fabulous, exciting, dynamic, incredible and "wonderful world"...umm...I mean performance! (did anyone catch that...I know...it was bad!)  Let me just say, it was AMAZING.

Overall, the performaces were spectacular.  Almost everyone was "on," and especially Katia.  I haven't seen her skate so well since who knows when!  I couldn't believe my eyes.  To give you a little background, I don't know if some of you remember, but I posted a while ago that I was worried that they didn't process my ticket.  Well...it ended up that they did and I got front
row seats! Anyway, here goes my review for the Anaheim SOI on1/15/99:

ACT I:

Strobe's Nanafushi:  The Opening was absolutely great.  Everyone had smiles on their faces.  It seemed as though, Katia, Kristi, Tara, Illia an Scott got the loudest applauses....esp. Tara and Scott.

Bailamos: (Tara) Pretty good number.  Fairly short but Tara, Ilia, Jenni and Todd were very good.  (I didn't really like the techno version as much as the original but it definitely fit the costume as well as the whole mood.)

Never: (Lu) Fan matched nicely with the clothes.

Demain: I was very excited to see Kristi and Katia skating to a number.  However, I don't remember much about this performance.

Swingtown:  Sorry...don't remember much.

Rag-GIDON-time: (Kurt) I have seem this program numerous times, this being the first live.  The first time I saw it on tv, thought it was typical Kurt but wasn't falling in love with it.  When I saw it tonight, it was just amazing.  Hit every single jump, wobbly on one if I remember correctly, but overall just great.

Ghost: (Renee and Gorsha) This program was just plain beautiful.  Such inventive moves, beautiful costumes.  The whole program was just so smooth and relaxing to watch.  Really liked this program.

Ribbon: (Katia)  Needless to say, I was anticipating this program from the start of the night (along with one other of course!) The spotlight was on and she nailed a beautiful triple-toe right in front of me. Every single move was finished and polished. My cousin and I made a sign that said, "KATIA" on it....and we didn't know when to display it thinking that if we put it up during the performance, she might have been disturbed. So throughout the entire program, we waited to hold the sign up!  Tonight's program was so much better than the one on tape. Perfect single axel, no trips, perfect toss of the ribbon, perfect spins, clean double lutz...just perfect. At the end of the program, my cousin and I held the sign up, but since we were a little off center, she didn't see.  But I was just so amazed. So beautiful.

Blues for Narada: (Illia) I also love this program. The "improvised look" (as some of the board member have already named it) was definitely there. Hit ALL of the jumps, including a gorgeous TRIPLE AXEL (cleaner than the one on TV)!  Bobbled on the triple lutz if I remember, but still was amazing.

Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing: (Jenni and Todd) Home town crowd. Perfect throw double axel (HUGE, may I add). Like this program so much as well (which program do i not like you may ask!) The facial reactions were so fitting.

Genie in a Bottle: (Tara)  Kurt came down the aisle with a flash light.  It happened to be our aisle! My cousin yelled "Go Kurt" or something like that. Then the light, shown to Tara, held up by Gorsha and Denis.  Hit every single one of her jumps.  Liked this program much better in person as well.

Old Friends:
You Can Call me Al: (Scott) Great number for Scott. Hit all of his jumps, doubled a triple toe.  Awesome footwork sequence (along with his dance moves).  Huge applause.

Me and Julio:  (Scott, Kurt and Steven) Kurt and Steven were absolutely hilarious fighting with each other. However, many times, I caught myself staring at Katia who was just standing there!   :)

Cecilia: (Scott and Katia) Very nice footwork sequence, if I remember correctly. Very fun number. So glad they could skate together!

The Sound of Silence (Scott, Elena, Denis, Jenni, Todd, Renee and Gorsha).  I absolutely loved this part of the program.  It was like Scott was reminded of his past through the pair moves performed by B&P, M&S, R&S. Just so beautiful.

Bridge Over Troubled Water: (Kristi) Elegent, and very beautiful number.  She is so versitile (compared to her "Smooth" program!)  Landed all of her jumps and was just floating.  Really liked her outfit.

Old Friends: (Scott, Kristi, Katia, Kurt, and Steven) Very touching number. I love the final pose where they all look back.

ACT II:

Club AC:

Luv Me Luv Me: (Tara, Illia, Steven, Denis, and Gorsha)  Short number but very cute dance number.  Costumes so colorful this year!

It's About That Walk: (Steven) I'm really glad that Steven is in SOI.  He brings so much character and life to the programs.  His facial expressions are hilarious.  Very nice program, but fell on a triple-toe jump.

It's Not Right (But It's Okay): (Lu) Great dance moves in this number.  She fell on a triple-toe and singled her double axel.

Jazzin': (Kristi, Lu and Steven) They worked very well together I thought.  Again, it's all about Steven's facial expressions!  The couple next to me were cracking up in this number!

La Valtz:
He's Got a Way: (Tara) I thought that this program was hilarious (esp on Kurt's part).  A very interesting take on the song, esp if you listen to the lyrics and then watch Kurt.  I can't help but laugh.

La Valse Moderne/Dad Je Suis: (Tara and Kurt) Very interesting choreography.  You can definitely see the Torvill and Dean influence.  Especially when Tara goes through Kurt's legs!

Czardas: (Elena and Denis) WOW.  That's all I can say.  Just AMAZING.  I can't believe they didn't show this on CBS.  Definitely the second loudest applause of the night.  So inventive..and they skate so close to the edge, so those who are on the ice definitely get a treat.  The audience clapped with the music during the fast times and was completely in to it.  First time seeing this program and I was just in awe.  Once again, HUGE applause.  Oh..can't forget to mention a HUGE throw triple sal!

Di Bolero:
Casi Un Bolero: (Jenni & Todd, Renee and Gorsha):  I have this program at least 1000 times already on video and still can not get enough of it.  I tried to look at Meno and Sand more just because CBS concentrated more on R&S.  So beautiful.  Love the outfits...love the music..skating was beautiful..what more can anyone ask for.

Si Tu No Estas/Casi Un Bolero: (do I even have to say?!?!)
AMAZING...adjectives cannot describe how great this program was.  Everything about it..the whole mood, the facial expressions...just perfect.  Technically superb...and YES, SIDE BY SIDE DOUBLE AXELS.  PERFECT SBS DOUBLE AXELS!!!  I was so amazed...both of them skated so beautifully.  I would pay the money just to see this one program! From that Ina Bauer position, she just stepped at and hit such a clean beautiful double axel that was in perfect unison with Illia's.  I still can't get over this number.  AHHH!!

Play That Funky Music: (Kurt) Typical Kurt!  What can I say.  Wobbled on a triple sal I believe, I don't remember.  But what a dancer.  He can definitely move...and he is the KING of facial expressions! =)

Smooth: (Kristi) Great program. She fell on a triple flip (not sure if it was a triple flip, I probably have to look back at the tape..) But overall, definitely sold the program. I thought it was pretty funny how before she started skating they had a tape of people whistling at her!

Baseball Cap: (Illia) Once again, you can definitely see the Christopher Dean choreography. I LOVED this program.  Everything he did with the hat was amazing.  Don't know if that hat and shirt really matched...but hey, if you can jump like that, I guess it doesn't matter.

American Woman: (Tara) I liked how Illia spelled out the letters (AMERICAN) for the introduction to Tara's program.  I can admit that I'm not a huge fan of Tara's but she constantly amazes me.  Landed all of her jumps and was just incredibly "on"!

Don Quixote: (Scott) What an AWESOME program.  Very humerous and so light hearted.  He landed all of his jumps including the 3 double axel series (for which he pumped his fist for!)  Standing ovation of course.

WWW.
What a Wonderful World (I really liked how they named it WWW.) =)  The finale was incredible. My cousin and I held the sign up during the entire finale and finally when Kurt was lifting Katia, she looked our way and waved at us!  It was SOOO great!!  I was hoping that she would come our way and shake our hands, but she didn't.  But then everyone got to the edge of the ice and I got to shake Steven and Kristi's hand, while holding up the sign that said, "KATIA" (with a ribbon through the letters!)  Kristi passed by, saw the sign, giggled and said, "thanks for coming!"  Then when the entire cast was in the middle of the rink, Katia saw our sign again and waved at us again and blew us a kiss! =)  I was in heaven!

So that was the entire performace.  I hope I didn't mess up too bad!  If anyone else went, I hope they can fill in anything.  Let's see...merchandise wise, I bought a program (which by the way is quite pleasing to the eye!), a cast picture, and an autographed picture of Katia (with her skating to Tell me Everything.) They didn't see any new Katia pictures...I was quite disappointed.  I was hoping of getting one with her wearing her red outfit from Casi Un Bolero! =) They only had her in Fragile and Tell Me Everything. In addition, they were selling her perfume with her autograph on it (for I believe $20).

Well..that was one incredible night, let me tell you. I know everyone who goes will enjoy it immensly.  I think this is the best one i've been to so far (i've been the past 5 years!) Well..hope everyone enjoyed my review.