by Maria Bagdasarova | On-Ice Photographs by Daphne Backman & Yoriko Suzuki
Competing of their eighth senior season and eleventh total collectively, Canadians Marie-Jade Lauriault & Romain Le Gac proceed to enchant audiences with their distinctive storytelling on the ice. On 14-19 January 2025, they are going to take part within the Canadian Nationwide Skating Championships within the hope to safe a spot on the nation’s crew for the World Championships in Boston.
Regardless of not reaching their desired podium placements on this 12 months’s Grand Prix sequence, Lauriault & Le Gac preserve a optimistic outlook, viewing the expertise as a chance for development. “We had been anticipating lots from this season,” Marie-Jade admitted. “However although we didn’t meet our objectives, we’re pleased with the environment friendly work we did between the 2 competitions.”
Romain echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the significance of studying from their performances. “We began early this season in Lake Placid and bought nice suggestions. Sadly, we left some factors on the desk on the Grand Prix occasions, however we’re pleased with the preparation and coaching we’ve performed,” he mentioned. For the rest of the season, the crew is concentrated on refining their applications and attaining consistency. “It’s about understanding why sure ranges weren’t achieved and ensuring we don’t go away any factors behind,” Marie-Jade defined.
Lauriault & Le Gac are recognized for his or her rigorously crafted applications with inventive storytelling. This season, their rhythm dance attracts inspiration from the Nineteen Sixties quantity referred to as “The Wealthy Man’s Frug” from the musical movie “Candy Charity”. This system incorporates quirky actions, reflecting the colourful and carefree essence of the period.
“We selected Wealthy Man’s Frug figuring out it could require loads of work, but additionally recognizing the fascinating story behind Bob Fosse’s choreography. His model is filled with little quirks, and but all of it ties again to the fundamentals of social dance – connecting with somebody and dancing collectively. In case you watch the video clip from Candy Charity, the actions present individuals having fun with themselves, creating a way of enjoyable and connection. On the identical time, there’s an eccentric edge to the choreography, as if the dancers are a bit conceited however not taking themselves too severely. We beloved that vibe, and it completely captured what social dance must be about: having enjoyable with others and dancing freely with out caring what the others suppose. For us, the objective within the rhythm dance was to replicate that connection and playful, barely bizarre power in our actions,” Marie-Jade explains.
In distinction, their free dance takes audiences to the Wild West, showcasing a cinematic narrative impressed by iconic Western movies. From the sheriff to the outlaw, this system juxtaposes the themes of regulation versus freedom. “Marie-Jade introduced up the thought,” Romain revealed. “At first, I wasn’t certain, however as we explored extra Western music, it began to return collectively.”
This system brings collectively stereotypical Western imagery of a great man, dangerous man, and a sheriff with fashionable components. “We used these acquainted photographs as the muse to create a narrative with numerous characters and components individuals affiliate with Westerns. We additionally wished to modernize the vibe, particularly in how girls are portrayed. We wished the lady to be highly effective,” Marie-Jade mentioned, referencing her pantsuit costume and dominant function in some lifts. “In a few of the lifts, I’m positioned larger than Romain. These delicate touches allowed us to take care of the Western aesthetic whereas introducing a recent perspective.”
Lauriault & Le Gac’s 11-year partnership has been a journey of inventive exploration and pushing the boundaries with their daring selections of characters they convey to the ice. Whether or not evoking humor in Pink Panther or gothic attraction in Corpse Bride, their applications persistently stand out for his or her creativity. “It’s simpler to work by theme,” Marie-Jade defined. “The concept takes kind as we develop this system, from costumes to choreography.”
Their inventive course of begins with music choice. “We begin with a four-hour playlist of music,” Marie-Jade defined. “It builds all through the season, after which we filter it, as a result of some music isn’t made for skating. We additionally take into consideration the weather – the lifts, spin, and the cues we would like when listening.”
As soon as the music and theme are chosen, the duo works with their coaches at Ice Academy of Montreal to refine their imaginative and prescient.
“We all the time strive completely different concepts and themes,” Marie-Jade shared. “For the Western free dance, we didn’t simply take heed to film scores; we explored Western present music and Cirque du Soleil to broaden our horizon. The music evolves repeatedly on the ice because the coaches deliver their views.”
Their storytelling positive factors depth from the specialists they work with. “Emilie [Josset], our theater coach, is nice at creating characters and backstories,” mentioned Marie-Jade. “Eva [Airapetian], our ballet instructor, helps us dig deeper into themes. For this 12 months’s free dance, she explored the regulation versus freedom theme: Is the regulation all the time proper, or is freedom generally?”.
Romain elaborated, “Marie-Jade is the sheriff, representing regulation, and I’m the dangerous man, representing freedom. However is he actually dangerous?”
“After we construct a program, we all know the instruments and crew we now have,” Romain concluded. “Every particular person brings their experience so as to add one other layer, making the story richer and extra full.”
Their inventive strategy extends past their performances. “We attempt to share this course of with younger skaters we coach now,” mentioned Marie-Jade. “It’s essential for them to deliver one thing to the desk. It’s onerous to skate on one thing imposed on you. Researching and believing within the music makes a distinction. It helps you hook up with this system and produce out that deeper efficiency, particularly when the technical half is already there.”
After the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted their routines in 2020, Marie-Jade and Romain made the choice to modify from representing France to Canada. The transfer turned a catalyst for reigniting their ardour for skating. Reflecting on the transition, Romain defined, “Throughout the pandemic, all people questioned themselves as a result of we had time; every little thing stopped. We had already performed 5 – 6 seasons collectively, each competitors we may have performed – Europeans, Worlds, Olympics. We checked out that and noticed that one thing was lacking at that time. We weren’t aligned with our values.”
Logistically, the fixed journey between France and Canada was pricey and left little time for high quality interactions with their household in France. Marie-Jade defined: “While you prepare in a rustic you don’t characterize, it’s extremely difficult. Making the change actually allowed us to really feel the values we had been speaking about. The whole lot was in place. Considered one of our core values is household and now we see our household in France with extra high quality time. Earlier than, it was all the time on the go: competitors, perhaps sooner or later to go to, after which again. Now we’re extra relaxed and may really get pleasure from these moments.”
The assets accessible in Canada additionally performed a key function of their development as athletes and people. “The crew round us – physios, psychological coaches, bodily trainers – we now have entry to so many nice assets,” mentioned Marie-Jade. “It’s not nearly turning into higher skaters; we’re turning into higher individuals. They’re constructing the entire image, giving us expertise past skating, which helps put together us for all times after the game.”
For Romain, the choice to characterize Canada has been transformative. “We’re pleased with what we achieved skating for France; it’s a part of our story,” he acknowledged. “However what retains us competing now’s the assist we’ve present in Quebec and Canada. We’re nonetheless studying a lot from the unimaginable individuals we’re surrounded by. That’s why we’re nonetheless right here right now, and so long as we’re studying, we’ll hold going.”
As Marie-Jade Lauriault & Romain Le Gac proceed their journey as skilled ice dancers, their off-ice priorities replicate a balanced and considerate way of living past competitors. “For now, in the beginning of the 12 months, we each took a break – me from my research and Romain from osteopathy – to completely immerse ourselves within the off-ice coaching alternatives we had entry to,” Marie-Jade shared. “I’ll return to high school in December, however teaching stays an integral a part of our each day routine. It’s essential to us to provide again and share what we’ve realized, because it’s additionally a method for us to continue learning.” Each emphasize the significance of getting a “plan B”, not only for themselves but additionally for the youthful skaters they mentor.
Romain echoed this sentiment, reflecting on how their households instilled the worth of preparation. “Each of our households had been aligned in guaranteeing we now have a plan B. That’s why we’re nonetheless right here right now; figuring out there’s one thing after skating offers us peace of thoughts,” he mentioned. He additionally highlighted their openness to new experiences, recalling a post-pandemic collaboration with Montreal’s “Circus des 7 doigts de la predominant”. “It was an incredible expertise, and we’re open to exhibits like Cirque du Soleil sooner or later. For now, although, we’re residing absolutely as skilled athletes for the primary time, with a schedule that’s aligned with restoration, vitamin, and coaching.”
This choice to focus absolutely on skating is a shift from their common stability of athletics and different commitments. “It was a little bit of a change for us,” Romain admitted. “We’ve all the time had one thing on the facet, however we realized this is likely to be our solely probability to go all in as full-time athletes. We need to look again and say, ‘We gave it every little thing.’”
For Marie-Jade, this strategy ensures they will skate with out concern of the longer term. “Realizing we now have one thing ready for us after skating means we’re not right here as a result of we now have to be; we’re right here as a result of we nonetheless discover pleasure in it,” she defined.
For Lauriault & Le Gac, this season’s major objective is to safe a spot on the Canadian world crew. The duo takes it one season at a time, reevaluating their priorities recurrently. “Annually, we ask ourselves, ‘The place am I in my life? Is that this the place I need to be?’” Marie-Jade mentioned. “It’s an train that has allowed us to maintain skating longer whereas staying true to our evolving objectives.”
