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This is not official, and remember the unhappiness about Courcheval dates that appeared and disappeared, but the Ice Age transport guy has posted an updated schedule on his site, and he lists Los Angeles and San Francisco at the end of the tour after the German dates.

Crossing fingers, and hoping really hard it comes true.

http://shuffleshu.livejournal.com/2009/02/11/

Los Angeles - June 25, 2009
San Francisco - June 26, 2009

And some backstage photos:

http://shuffleshu.livejournal.com/2009/02/12/

Laurie

I guess my point of view is that I'd rather know that such shows are even being attempted by the organizers and try to see that my schedule is open for them, i.e., know that I could get the time off work, have the money saved, not plan to be somewhere else that week, whatever, than not know at all. Even when shows are confirmed they still can cancel, change dates, such as has happened already. Even when tickets have already been sold, they can cancel or skaters can be sick or injured. So there is nothing sure in this life. I always keep in mind that the schedule is fluid and changeable, as it always has been.

I think as long as it is pointed out that the dates are unofficial and not confirmed, I'd rather know than not know.

Laurie

More video snippets from Khabarovsk:

Totmianina/Marinin - You're Beautiful
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page

Slutskaya/Taranda - The Swans
http://www.youtube.com/wa...&feature=channel_page

Laurie

The shows are still listed on the official site schedule, but usually the venues are the first to confirm any cancellations since they have to stop selling tickets and start refunding tickets already sold.

There is a tabloid article out that blames the cancellations on the schedule between Plush's shows and Averbukh's shows - that they schedule them in the same cities at almost the same time and so it causes difficulty in attendance and ticket sales for one or both shows. I suspect Plush's December 31 Moscow shows were canceled at the last minute because there were already two Ice Age shows on December 26 and 27 and the Moscow area couldn't sustain that many big figure skating shows in one week. Tickets are expensive and not enough of the public could afford to go to all of them. The tabloid seems to imply the scheduling is on purpose, like it's some kind of "war" between Plush and Averbukh. In the past, Ilya Averbukh stated publicly that this was really not good business sense on the part of Plush's people to try and make it a "competition" because both parties lose out. And, frankly, just on the basis of his history and success with his tours, it's not, in my opinion, good business sense to try and compete with him. And, of course, in the end not only do the skaters and the show organizers lose out, but so does the public.

Laurie

An article and a few photos from rehearsal in Khabarovsk:

http://www.tvr.khv.ru/number/2009/7/arh.html

The reporter comments that Alexei was taking care of a small dog (Totmianina's).

Laurie

I'd have to go to both because it is so easy for me to fly to L.A. since there are direct flights from my tiny airport (its motto: "you can fly to anywhere in the world from here - as long as it's L.A., San Francisco, or Portland," LOL). Crossing fingers again!

From the show in Cherepovets on February 16th:

http://wobla.ru/news/1083888.aspx

>>
A military theme unexpectedly became the main theme of the Cherepovets show. Especially successful soldier themes on the ice showed Roman Kostomarov with Alena Babenko and Aleksey Yagudin, who was met, perhaps, especially stormily. On the loudness of ovations with him could argue the pair of Aleksey Tikhonov and Maria Petrova, figure skater Irina Slutskaya (Basharov: "among ourselves, we call her cigarette lighter"), yes, actor Yegor Beroev, for whom the appearance in Cherepovets became his first on the tour. However, Yagudin left under a thunder of applause, "buying" the local public with the sincere acknowledgment: "Such a reception other cities can only envy."
>>

Laurie

Fabulous review from Basic of the Channel One forum on Alexei in Cherepovets (actually, it's a fabulous review of the whole show - this is just the Alexei part, LOL - and I don't think the review is finished yet. )

>>
Ilya announced the following skater in the following intricate way: "His name begins with "A," name for "I," and between them - the whole alphabet, all the emotions." And, of course, no one for one second began to doubt that now on the ice will appear the splendid Alexey Yagudin. The hall began a rapturous roar up to the beginning of the music. Basharov wrapped Alexey in an overcoat and it became clear that in prospect for us is the excellent "Bumbarash." (Very good, I love songs from this film!) Lesha in the overcoat sat in a chair in the corner, he smoked, he threw the cigarette, then he arose, threw off the overcoat, and he was gone! Class were his steps, jumps, from which general roar began to change to delighted squeals, and other elements that it doesn't matter what they are called. Because regardless of the names, I looked at all this splendor and felt in these few minutes a proper "yagudinki." It was significant that when this song of three parts came to the third, most tragic part (after the shot), the hall that had been clapping wildly in time with the music, then was all silent in the twinkling of an eye for these last few seconds of the dance. But as the last chords sounded, there was a burst of applause and shouts of "Bravo!" from all sides! On the whole there is no shadow of doubt that the people simply adore Yagudin. Yes, even at these moments, when on the ice he creates such, he must be loved! Even more when in the end he said approximately: "Not one other city greeted us this warmly - thanks to you! Fifteen years ago it can be said I started my career in the old arena of Cherepovets, and I am joyfully again with you!" Well, you probably understand what happened after these words - terrible the noise became to our ears!
To the ice arrives our Lesha Yagudin.
His "Bumbarash" is beautiful and difficult.
He again conducts the hall,
And we are - as a violin in the hands of Paganini.
>>

Laurie

Video from IceGladiator from the show in Balashikha:

Alexei/Valeria - 8 1/2 (Fellini)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYOhVD-JUsg

Alexei/Valeria - The Black Crow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uhQpB8RZ2M

Alexei - Bumbarash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K607UoNc9jk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL5oLJlqmyg


Laurie