Torvill & Dean perform Bolero at 1984 Winter Olympics

[BeastlyBab26]

always end up crying after watching this! Absolutely amazing, they are so synchronized .. just Perfection!!! They shall defiantly be remembered for a very long time!

[wisetrucker]

After seeing this I thought ice dancing was on the up, something different and exciting, but no. The russians turned it back into the same old shit when they left, boring as fuck.

[breadbombs]

brilliant dont you think so.

[hundetuem]

This is perfect harmony. Like one human with two bodies. And they make you forget that they are on ice - looks like they fly.

[glamiator]

wonderful



[blessOTMA]

Utter perfection....and what did you notice about this broadcast from 1984?

The announcer did not speak during the performance. We were allowed to experience this wonderful performance in the complete trance it naturally produced .

Today there would two & they would never shut even for a few moments..but would rattle off statistics from a list they were handed, or" explain" some movement ...ruining the experience of it of course. .and they wonder why rating are often down ?

[sonicstep]

This brought back some memories. One has to give much credit to French composer Maurice Ravel too. It's initially very serene and smooth flowing. It has a progressive emotional tempo that is in itself very captivating to listen to (full of wonderment and anticipation). It draws you in like a 'snake charmer' to an ultimate, splendorous crescendo. I subjectively recollect that it was the best music used by any of those competitors. Arguably, it was the best I've ever heard used for figure skating.

[ohleander]

Why does the footage change to a different perfomance @ 4:24 through 4:33? (The ads on the walls of the rink change) For novices like me who don't know crap about this sport, the only really mesmerizing part about this performance was the end. The rest was nice, but didn't really thrill me like the ending did when he swings her in the air and they throw themselves on the ice. I'd give them perfect scores just for that.

[MrDaiseymay]

There will never be a better combination of artistic Skill, combined with musical, and visual beauty in motion, like this again. They are STILL amazing to watch. Having come out of retierment a few years ago, to head a British TV series similar to the popular 'Strictly come dancing' format, but with ice skating celibrities and Pro's. A joy to watch. Long may they perform.

[MoonlitGypsy]

My first son was exactly one month old the day Jan Torvel and Christopher Dean made history skating to "Bolero." I sat in my new rocking chair with little Matty, with my eyes glued to the TV absolutely mesmerized by their routine. I got the same feeling today watching this video footage. But little Matt is now 6 feet tall at 27 years of age.

Thanks for sharing this wonderful clip!

[Gibbs505]

For this competition, the only question was "Who is going to be second?"

[szqsk8]

Thirteen people must be blind!

[Uaohio]

Utterly glorious! I remember at the time I didn't know much about ice dancing, and thought when I first saw the short program that the form was very inferior to figure skating. Then the long program, and this, and my jaw was on the floor. I literally couldn't take my eyes off the screen while they were dancing.

[Jatziko]

13 people were so stunned and utterly amazed at this that their hands started shaking so drastically that they accidently clicked the dislike button.

[Jolie028]

magnifique!

[KeirandAlex]

O.o Wow....

[sarahjunko]

That's why I like England, they produce the most talented people from their country and give a great impression & movement to the world.

[2267211]

unique - thats all i can say!!

[IsisSlovenska]

Fantastique!!!

[kpsuk]

I remember my mum staying up until about 4am to watch this!

Was it 96 when they made a return and should have won gold again because their performance out done the favourites but 'politics' and saving face meant they were given a bronze instead.

[hiltonbrit92]

Sheer perfection. It gave me shivers in 1984, and has done again. They will always be the greatest, most memorable, shing stars of ice dance.

[tuxtommy69]

Great ice dancers come and go but there will never be another Torvill & Dean. They are the quintessential ice dancers that advanced the look and interpretation of dancing on ice like no one before them and none since. Their mark on the sport will last forever!

[aaliyahsmom]

A thing of beauty.

[marjan12342]

WHOEHOE I finally found the video!! This was so great. I love their dance.

[teelineshort]

Still mesmerising and captivating after all these years. The performance still makes me hold my breath! They should be Sir Chris and Dame Jane!

[compazine]

The don't call it the gold medal performance for nothing!

[laug66]

I don't know that people are aware of how great an achievement this performance is. It is a tragedy this wasn't preserved on better quality video - it is a wonderful dance performance to this music and is as great as the greatest ballet performances. I can only say it is a shame that ice dance has become such a formulaic un-artistic thing in the years since.

[shadowmia22]

I think I'll never tire of this vid. Torvil, Dean & Bolero -- powerful, fluid & perfect

[Ayame895]

Everything flows so well, it's beautiful to watch and the tricks were amazing!

England needs another Torvill and Dean!!

Simply Beautiful In Every Way

xxx

[MysticMagicalMayhem]

Beautiful, just BEAUTIFUL

[shadowmia22]

They make it all look effortless. Simply flow from one move to the next

[shadowmia22]

Smooth as silk -- downright thrilling performance.  THIS is ice dancing at its best

[pogi7788]

@shadowmia22 at it'sbest....in 84.

[shadowmia22]

@pogi7788 -- at its best, bar none. They just make it look so easy people sometimes don't realize how great they are. For instance, they don't look as though there's any preparation at all as they flow rapidly from dance movement to movement regardless of how complicated each is. And they literally feel & dance rather than just moving to music. No other ice-dance couple has ever quite equalled them.

[walesbyfamily]

Torvill and Dean were and still are amazing, dancing on ice is really good, I'm looking forward to seeing the tour in April. I think it's about time they were recognized for their hard work by an MBE or something!

[viclcook]

They were given OBEs in 1999.

[georgie1]

I know T&D are ice dance icons,but I beg to differ with all of you....Virtue and Moir proved to be as exceptional,if not better @the Vancouver Olympics.Their speed,lifts,edges in their Olympic GOLD skates,easily rival this performance!!!

[viclcook]

You must have either been a babe in arms in 84 or not even born to make a comment like that. You don't understand that this was major groundbreaking stuff, most other couples were still skating in bloody waltz holds. Virtue and Moir were very good this year, but they have yet to break new ground the way Jayne & Chris did.

[huxylady]

@viclcook , You are absolutely right- this was earth shattering in 1984, no-one had ever danced like this before and ice dance was HUGE because of T&D. I was 11 and all I could think about was ice dance- we all watched this with bated breath. And it really stands the test of time- I really enjoy this as much as I did 25 years ago. @georgie1, you wouldn't have your Virtue and Moir without Torvill and Dean's beautiful and pioneering dancing.

[shadowmia22]

I just checked out Virtue & Moir's 2010 Olympic free-skate--they're excellent but don't have the fluidity & artistry, etc., of Torvill & Dean, who really are in a class by themselves

[georgie1]

Agree,shadowmia22....it really is apples and oranges.T&D were brilliant and did have fluidity and artistry...but V&M have the intense speed and complexity of their lifts...and the artistry as well!

[madabbafan]

@georgie1 yes but all the rule changes to ice dance since 1984 have ment the lifts have been alowed to become bigger when in 1984 the lifts were very limited in order to make ice dance distinctly different to pairs skating.

[Gambitgirl1974]

still absolute captivating and perfect even after all these years.

never been an ice dancing performance better than this!

[Johnmark524]

Beautiful & perfect in every way!

[mariacqartist]

There will NEVER be any couple as good as them :-) Perfection on ice!

[acehighpat]

The greatest ice dancing long program routine of all time. Compare it with any routine and they would pale in comparison to the excellence that is Bolero.

[kaysieannmiss]

Ravel was never so proud.

[bdcca]

this is just completely amazing.

[morinoroba]

Just great !!!

[Gambitgirl1974]

i usually think ice dancing is boring, but i'm watching it on the olympics tonight and decided to check out the famous torville and dean...daaaaaaammmmmnnnn!

totally amazing. i have no idea how he twisted her around like that 3 times!!!

[sgmcgrath]

I'm not much for ice skating or dancing but this was just awesome. Someone said it best, 1980 USA hockey and this will always stand out.

[maxaminibro]

I've watched this 3x since last night, just to affirm that memory has not embellished the beauty of the performance - it hasn't! Things that stand out: the total emodiment of the music in the performance - sensuous,erotic even. It's as if we had the pleasure of seeing a couple make exquisite love, their focus was on each other.

Innovative movements done with effortless, flowing precision and the entire sequence done in touch with each other. I'm so happy I was alive to see that performance!

[noaanhc]

Absolute perfection!!!!!

[Shoisia]

They are perfection. The choreography is absolutely amazing. It's unlike anyone has ever done or will ever do in ice dancing. You can't help but watch transfixed.

[larosabeth]

I enjoyed watching this as much today as I remember I did in 1984...spectacular performance and music is haunting! I love it!

[stephenj2]

perfection.

[lordsandbach]

I can still remember this performance, nothing can ever top this.

[76juno]

The British don't do Winter Sports but this was exceptional. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

[GEE120296]

that was beautiful. you can't help but whatch that with a smile on your face. utterlly fantastic.

[soxmonki]

I totally remember watching this and thinking ... wtf ... GB Torvell and Dean ... I was mesmorized that night in the 80's!

[KB3M]

Top two Winter Olympic moments: 1980 USA Ice Hockey win over USSR and this! Interesting to see the British coverage.

[pammyinlp]

KB3M, I couldn't agree with you more! Those are my favorite Olympic moments, too. :)

[Upyurviva]

How did they remember tht lol

[missbubble97]

they r so elegant wen they dance together. I wish i would be able to do sumfin like that in the futurex

[docherty0987]

what a pile of shit .

[MsRonnieee]

Amaziiingggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! not one slip up!!!!! soo beautifull and elegantt... no body in the skating world will ever be able to top torvill and deann!!! X

[clairelouise34]

They are national treasures... won't ever see this again.

[vegassipu]

i wonder if it ever could get better than this... i get chills every time i watch it! absolutely fabulous!

[spursbabe77]

@vegassipu It's amazing isn't it? I don't think it gets better than this

[xlandy1]

unglaublich schön !!!!!!!

[djlaze1972]

pure class.....,i could watch it over and over

[Newmanmick1]

unbelievable how 2 people can do that kinda stuff without making any mistakes you wont see that again ever

[corinne54]

I was mesmerized along with the rest of the world when I saw it in 1984. It's still an absolute work of art.

[Hayley1066]

the best ice dance ever of all time

[alaphize]

Just beautiful. Moves me Every time.

[ufewl]

like 5 minutes in heaven

[pauleveritt]

This was amazing, i can watch it over and over. Their timing was immaculate, the passion, sync etc and what inspires me is the passion, effort and determinition etc that must have gone into rehersing this to make it so perfect. Truly, truly, truly inspiring.

[pammyinlp]

Thank you for posting this video! I haven't seen this since the Olympics. Talk about a perfect performance! And so beautiful.

[GEOWOO230]

Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean were unbeatable. Their synchronicity,fluidity, passion and skill was a wonderful thing to see! And Ravel's Bolero just to put the icing on the cake. Complete perfection!!!

[Naron1]

Bosnia and Herzegovinia-Sarajevo best olympics games ever!!!

[The2104martine]

PERFECT!

[summerstwilight]

Oh. I thinks that sums it up.

[lulionbowler]

Absolute perfection. I get goosebumps everytime I watch this performance....stunning

[HORATIOFAN]

the world is not right ontill jayne torvill and christopher dean get a knighthood they deserve one people who have one dont derserve it like kelly holms she should NOT hace one torvill and dean SHOULD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[HORATIOFAN]

Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean

are Legends and GODS

[HORATIOFAN]

Torvill & Dean are legends i love them so much that i got a Torvill & Dean tattoo and my bearded dragon is called Dean after christopher dean

[vonwolfstraum]

I remember seeing this in 84...it was awesome then - it is awesome now...the one moment of Olympic sport that I always remember - the choregraphy is perfect - maybe the most memorable Olympic performance ever...just beautiful

thank you for putting this up - although it has been shown on TV during subsequent Olympics - I think of it and I have wanted to see it again!

[4Minutes2SaveTheWorl]

i find it strange that torvill and dean actually use youtube ... because they do ... they showed Ray Robin's split jump so he could do it, so they could easily look up themselves ... and that means they could see our compilations if they wanted ... oh my god. lol. wierd.

[blasterskv]

personally, for me figure skating is sport as much as i am a president of jupiter or something...

but this... this is my people PURE ART!!!

[clareshorty]

spine tingling beautiful,remember this superb routine well,there's no-one like T & D probably never will be

[crimsonic68]

Goose bumps all over my body ! I remember this very well, Sarajevo 84. No one will ever dance better than them. Astonishing, spellbinding stuff !

[eljayray]

i am so proud to be british

thank you torvill and dean for restoring my faith in this country

[chrisallies]

gosh am i proud to be british!!

chris and jayne just fit so well together, they're made for each other in the ice. brings a tear to my eye :' )

[Pollypoohpooh]

Thanks be to the inventor of YouTube. When she is older I will show this to my daughter as an example of flawless perfection. When I was 8 (in 1984) I could not have even dreamed of something like the internet and now it holds so many precious memories, like this one, which will last forever.

[billy865]

Art on ice.

[cursedchild666emo]

simply stunning.

[MoranLover]

25 years ago today! :D Outstanding routine, this is my first time I've seen Bolero, wish I was alive in 1984 lol

[catkins48]

I was 24 morant and it was amazing and still is today - one of the most amazing moments in sporting history!

[sewingkilla]

such a great interpretaion of the music, so romantic and so wonderfully skated

[Spencer4luv]

I am male forty-two years young and even now watching T & D gives me chills, a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat, this is something special and believe me when I say watching this makes me proud to be BRITISH.....

[beanfromex]

This remains the most memorable ice skating performance for me.

It still captivates me after so many years.

[JesusGarciaRazcon]

There are people still saying that this is not a high technical level program. I think they are mistaken. What happens is that Dean and Torvil made this performance look easy. If you watch carefully you will realize that not few of their movements had not only originality but also difficulty. I believe that this is the best ice dancing performance ever that combines perfectly the technical elements with artistry.

[Lndp4]

at first(having never seen this before) i was a little disappointed in the lack of 'flashiness'- no crazy jumps and maneuvers. but i was completely taken in by its smoothness, its lovely romanticism.

[wkbfutewc]

I was out of Britain when this happened and so I watched an American TV coverage. The commentators were speculating who was going to come second. So I watched expecting a mere gold medal for the UK what I got was nothing short of sensational. I had a tear in my eye at the end,it's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. I'm so proud to come from Nottingham. The new Ice Centre has a square in the foyer called Bolero Square.

[GJBRAITHWAITE]

Makes me proud to be British.

Even after 24 years, this STILL gives me the shivers when i watch it all come to the climax, FANTASTIC!

[eddiesteele]

Fab..xx

[Ovidius777]

Wow...that was so smooth

I can't even move on the damn things

They are very skilled

[DJOfRadioGallifrey]

They invented creative expression in ice dancing, they created unique techniques, experiemented, and added class and style to a set of regulations within a competition.

....Plus Chris Dean is HOT.

[rickram1961]

I for one say this is the best ice dancing routine ever done at the Winter Olympics. Torvill & Dean really set the standard in Ice Dancing. No other pair can ever compare to these two.

[TheUKRebel]

I wonder how many people realise that they went one 6.0 better overall at the World Championships in Ottawa very soon after performing this amazing routine. I was in Germany when I saw this, and as soon as the record came out, I bought it. I still have it somewhere.

[ncvieira]

Espetacular!

[ja3399]

There have been some great ice dancers since T&D in 1984 and 1994. Judging systems have changed. BUT---there is Torvill and Dean, and then there is everybody else. Thanks for these postings.

[DanceCrazy100]

omg this is beautiful i love the ending!

[kitkat9288]

That was really good, even though I still really don't get ice dancing.

[crismadonna]

Maravilhosos...fantásticos..pa­rabéns p´ra ambos!!!

[54spiritedwill54]

like michaelangelo on ice

[mamasensei]

The 6.0s across the board for artistic impression has got to be some kind of record! Such a gorgeous performance, WOW!

[chihuahua74]

ye that is why they are so famous because they are the only people who have ever got all sixes. . . .

[polopain]

I'm not an ice-skating fan, or a dancing fan for that matter, but I have to admire anyone that reaches out and touches perfection in their particular field. I always find these kind of things inspirational to watch - thankyou.

[lemonite1]

i was just going to say the same thing. C'mon, its ice dancing. But i do admitt that this is impressive, very beautiful.

[nexus1957]

If we are not alone in this universe ,this

is sheer beauty,let them watch ,amazing ,beautiful,wonderous,no guns ,no violence.I still watch this  after 25 years,nothing comes closeto total briliance.

[welshmaidtrue]

This really is beuatiful. I watch it whenever im feeling down, because its so peaceful and can always cheer me up.

[fraidycat30]

My God it's beautiful - the most elegant, graceful thing I've ever seen.

[AngelShellbee]

Luv Torvill & Dean!

What Would Dancing on Ice Be Wiv Out Them xx

GOOO JAYNE AND CHRIS YOUU FKIN ROCK!!! xx

[dandymeupthewall]

im meeting them on sunday for dancing on ice yayy! ;D

cuzz my auntie does the makeup for the show so shes taking me to see them im dead excited!

[9Jamii4]

Incredible

In some pictures it showes them close up and there passionate expressiones

Truuly Amazing

[ShuGal88]

there amazing, it takes my breath away!!!

i mean they tell such a good story the music and the choriography are amazing!

[beakerJT]

I remember watching this as a 9 year old - I love it still - it's pure goose bumps!

[tonylinderman]

Yes, I was 15 watching this live, trying to hide tears from my eyes.

[SheuhX]

ahaha i just totally got it now...blades of glory copied this lol

[cathrosser]

Wow. True genius's. True professionals. They looked so calm!

[meu007]

one word: Excellent!

[Emerald72]

I remember watching this on TV in 1984 when I was about 12 years old...just sheer brilliance. My Mum and Dad still have a copy of the entire Ice Dance section of this on VHS.

[SubZ34]

dats ghetto fabulous

[behnoushd]

absolutely astonishing

[trebok359]

don't watch these alot, nor am i'm in the position to judge, but i must say, beautiful performance

[transfobby]

Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, probably one of the best organized events in the history of Olympic games. And only six years later all of the world was watching as this city was watching as the Olympic stadium was bombed!

[transfobby]

perfection...the best ice dance performance ever!

[160635]

I remember when Torvill and Dean entered the Olympics for the last time and the gasp of astonishment which came from the spectators when the judges gave them third place. It reminded me of Gilbert Harding who said 'Thank God I'm not a critic' when they slated a concert which he had thoroughly enjoyed.

[madamgazelle]

divine

[tugboat2030]

Does anyone else notice they're skating on the hockey rink? I don't think that happens anymore in Olympic competition...

[francoisedouce]

I have never again seen icedancers of this magnitute! Effortless is the word I use when I see them skate.

[moonprincess30]

i wasnt born when this happend but i was watching dancing on ice when it was on so i thoght i might watch it they are stunning arnt they

[buchali]

A tear jerking moment for any lover of BEAUTY!

[alex6500]

it is a pure marvel. When Brits dance on a French classical music inspired with latin sounds, what's a result ! awesome, moving, thrilling, entertaining. The best gold medal ever.

[kimblehmoose]

i wasnt even born when this happened. this is the 1st time i've watched it, this is amazing.

[squidasl369]

There are no words to describe how amazing that was! and when the scores are announced...a tear-jerking moment for any Briton!

[billy865]

technically awesome and profoundly moving...

[willard73]

i was 11 when this happened. i watched it with my Nan. she bought the record. it was a thing for about a month !

[slowpokecat]

like michaelangelo on ice

[tallu81]

what a classic. they set the standard for ice dancing. 13 years on this is still one of the best performances around

[MinervasQuill]

Breathtaking

[funkycherrygirl]

If I had a time machine this would be one of the things I would go back to see! God I would have loved to have beent there to see it - it actually brings tears to my eyes at the end when the results are announced! There will never be two like them again - they danced like they were one, beautiful :)

[DavidBeckam1000]

Ravel's Bolero has also since become one of my alltime favourite pieces of classical music. I suspect I am not alone in that!

[Emerald72]

Nope definitely not alone in that, this was the first time I ever heard Ravel's Bolero (I was 11 or 12 years old at the time) and I went to the library the next day, borrowed the cassette tape of it and played it to death :)

[DavidBeckam1000]

I remember watching it too in 1984. I thought they were marvellous and I also felt very proud to be British when they swept the board with the judges' marks.

[emily72]

I know, I felt the goosebumps just watching those 6.0's come up.. I was 11 then and I still love these too.

[mentalseizure]

an absolute joy to watch the last two moves were nothing short of awe inpsiring *gets hanky out*

[Chickedeez]

sheer perfection! I remember watching this in '84 - it was on everyone's lips at work the next day. The best ever ice dance in the history of ice dancing.

[Mapamir]

why they don`t do it like this enymore?

Perfect...especcialy the end!

[stace85]

Absolutely breathtaking! That wouldnt happen now but I'm glad it did becuase that was pure talent.

[benbrous]

beautiful

[lottifan]

chills, everytime!! thanks for sharing:))

[fossy111]

Fabuolous, this is well known as the best ever medal winning performance in the history of the winter olymopics.

[RobSteez]

flawless