2022-7-21
🔗https://spur.hpplus.jp/magazine/202309/-zLGew
*includes exclusive photo
Translated by @slambielfp
Stéphane Lambiel's spectacular comeback in the September issue of SPUR! On love, both as a coach and as a performer
Figure skating is synonymous with winter sports. However, the hot summer is actually the time to pay attention to this sport, because both competitive and professional skaters have more opportunities to perform in ice shows during the summer! One of the fun things about the shows is that you get to see the excitement that is as strong as competitions and the artistic side of skating that you can't experience in competitions.
Fantasy on Ice, which kicks off the ice show season, is one of the shows not to be missed, with particularly impressive casts. Stéphane Lambiel has been one of the main cast members of Fantasy on Ice for many years. I got a chance to photograph him for the September issue of SPUR, which will be on sale on July 22. Stéphane is being active as a coach, entertainer and performer, so I made him an offer to shoot photographs. In this special article, I take you behind the scenes of the shoot.
The interview took place the day after the Fantasy on Ice shows in Makuhari. When I picked him up by the studio bus from where he was staying, he was smiling and in a good mood from the moment he got off the elevator. He was dressed simply but stylishly in a white T-shirt, sarouel pants from Yohji Yamamoto and sneakers from Nike x Comme des Garçons. When I told him how I felt seeing the show in Makuhari, he said, "Actually, my back was hurting, so I didn't know if I would be able to perform until just before the show". Although Mr. Lambiel now travels the world as a coach and choreographer, his strong desire to perform perfectly on the ice as a professional figure skater remains unchanged. The staff also felt humbled by his earnest attitude.
Mr. Lambiel is a tall, slender man who loves stylish fashion. SPUR has prepared a simple, well-made style for the mature man. In his past interviews, he has always said that "the material is the most important", and the concept of this collection is to dress him in a very direct way. In fact, a clean style without embellishment is the most difficult. It's an atmosphere that can only be embodied by Stéphane's well-trained body and a personality that is as strong as the clothes. There are also new suggestions inspired by the "coaching coat", which you know well of course, so I hope you'll pay attention to the styling as well.
Mr. Lambiel has appeared in SPUR many times. Whenever I see him during the photo shoot, I always think that even when he is just standing still, his posture is beautiful. He also instantly understands the lightness and silhouette of the material and expresses his intention through his gaze and the delicate movements of his fingertips, which makes me realize that he is a true artist. Personally, I was surprised to know that the costume he wore during "a performance" was actually a high-brand clothing! (For more details, please read the interview in the magazine!)
Mr. Lambiel's talk has a lot to learn, as we like to call him "Sensei". This time, he gave us an update on what he sees as a world-class coach, as well as the latest news on his students. He also talked about his programs that he performed in Fantasy on Ice. The theme of the program, which is very profound, was love as a human being. He always talks about 'love', but he says it evolves. I believe not only skating fans can feel it but everyone. In the interview, he also talked a lot about how this evolutionary process will lead to a certain project in the future, which you should definitely read about in the magazine. What also surprised the interview team was the depth of his love and knowledge of the music used in his performances and the movies that gave him inspirations. He talked about recent high-profile films such as "TAR" (2022) and "Everything Everywhere All at Once" (2022), as well as a wide range of content from contemporary dance to theater.
We enjoyed talking about fashion, but we were also very interested in skating. Especially in Japan, unique ice shows are being created one after another, so he even asked us about the current state of the art. He also knew about Yuzuru Hanyu's "GIFT" at the Tokyo Dome and "BEYOND" produced by Mao Asada, and said with his starry eyes, "I wanted to see that!" After the photo shoot, Stéphane thanked the staff with handshakes and hugs. We were all impressed by the way he spoke to each and every one of us. Stéphane will also be appearing at the "Friends on Ice" at the KOSÉ Shin-Yokohama Skate Center in Yokohama from August 25 to 27! Be sure to check out the show with your copy of the September issue of SPUR!
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