Posted: 12/6/16 at 12:34pm
I am a competitive figure skater, and I'm trying to start looking for music for next season my for my SP and FS. Does anyone have any ideas of musical theatre songs/pieces that would work well for skating? I really want to skate to something that isn't one of the skating warhorses (Phantom, Les Mis, etc.)
Posted: 12/6/16 at 12:42pm
"Hello" from THE BOOK OF MORMON
"A New Deal for Christmas" from ANNIE
"Henry Street" from FUNNY GIRL
"Gus, The Theatre Cat" from CATS
"Hurry Back" from APPLAUSE
Posted: 12/6/16 at 1:18pm
"At Long Last" from Bright Star would work really well, I think, with its slow build towards a soaring climax as well as its extremely heavy cello-reliance, which always works wonderfully paired with skating.
Posted: 12/6/16 at 1:23pm
How about "Waving Through a Window" if you want to get really on top of the new music? It has the key change in the middle that would be interesting.
Posted: 12/6/16 at 1:39pm
I'm picturing something really nice being done with "Burn" from Hamilton.
Posted: 12/6/16 at 1:43pm
First thing that comes to mind is Icarus, from Myths and Hymns.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LYv3QZmEAo
Posted: 12/6/16 at 1:45pm
I just sent you a private message.
Posted: 12/6/16 at 4:26pm
Depending on the length of your program, a medley of two or three songs from "A Chorus Line" might work very well. "One Singular Sensation" is a great song to skate to, and in a different tempo there is "What I Did for Love", and if your long program is three minutes, you could also include some of "At the Ballet". (Back in the day, I created some figure skating programs that were pretty successful.
Posted: 12/6/16 at 5:51pm
I second Bright Star- it has a great strings sound that might work beautifully. If you go with anything from Hamilton, "Burn" would be good, but I also think "Wait For It" might make a lovely program; the rhythm of the chorus would lend itself nicely to a step sequence and/or jumping passes.
Jason Robert Brown has some music that might work nicely. The Bridges of Madison County has some strong ballads, such as "Almost Real," that have an elegant build. I would stay away from Rodgers and Hammerstein unless it's a lesser-used song; nothing from The Sound of Music. Some of the music from South Pacific might work, depending on your style as a skater.
If you're a female skater with a diva-y style (a la Ashley Wagner, for instance), Evita might be an interesting choice, but NOT "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" unless it's part of a medley. "She Used To Be Mine" from Waitress could be good, but for a more mature skater (at least mid/late teens). I would avoid show-biz musicals (Chorus Line, 42nd Street, etc.) just because they're easy to make campy and hard to make interesting.
A lot of this depends on your age and level, too; I would recommend very different musicals to a 13-year-old competing novice than a 17-year-old junior than a skater in the adult competition track. I'd be happy to chat on PM if you'd rather not disclose that sort of info on the public board :) And best of luck!!
Updated On: 12/6/16 at 05:51 PM
Posted: 12/6/16 at 9:36pm
Give a listen to any overture to shows by Jerry Herman.
Mame, Mack and Mabel, Dear World, La Cage Aux Folles. The spins and leaps are all built into the orchestrations and sweeping melodies. I would avoid things with lyrics since they can leave one earth bound or tied to a literal idea.
Overtures can let the imagination run free.
Great question.
Posted: 12/6/16 at 10:36pm
My daughter did both her pre-pre and senior free to selections from Anastasia.
Updated On: 12/6/16 at 10:36 PM
Posted: 12/7/16 at 10:24am
I could imagine something very nice to "Do I Hear A Waltz".
Posted: 12/7/16 at 10:26am
I always thought the final dance from the musical Steel Pier and the dance sequence from the musical Chess would make for a nice figure skating routine.
Posted: 12/7/16 at 11:15am
Alexander Lamar said: "I'm picturing something really nice being done with "Burn" from Hamilton. "
This sounds stunning. Great suggestion.
