MAIA and ALEX SHIBUTANI 2009 Junior Worlds Free Dance

[AdrianaMimiSparrow]

OMG, I just saw them at the Figure Skating Championships of 2011 this weekend! They won Silver, just behind Davis and White! They are amazing, I've never seen such beautiful skating in my life!

[AdrianaMimiSparrow]

OMG I just saw them yesterday and all of this weekend at the 2011 Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro, they were amazing!!! I got their autographs, along with Davis and White and Madison Chock who's mentioned there! They were *amazing*, the only difference between them and Davis and White is that they're more slow and beautiful and Davis and White usually have more drama and is more out there, but they were so beautiful!!!

[TinyAva93]

To me, they are already so much more beautiful and breathtaking to watch than Davis & White. I hope that they will be the future of US Ice Dance.

[journalistgirl07]

I was blown away by their performance too, Nicky :) You were not alone !

[icedandfrozen]

wow.how old are they?

[tinymavy]

they are amazing. grace and maturity far beyond their years. perfect music and costumes for them too. What stars.

[cutelilpooky]

Magnificent!

[slavaro1992]

They are so short! =)

[Classic1940s]

Oh! I just finished the end of the video. ;)

Of course, Igor is their coach. Hehe, what a beautiful product of great coaching. :)

[Classic1940s]

I'm thinking these two have great potential :)

--Their unison in many of the movements --especially the twizzles-- were very nice. The only thing I might suggest is better free-leg extension, though. But my goodness, for juniors, they're doing extremely well! =)

[samoedoken]

i really love this performance!

i think this is their finest program so far.

If they are found such a fit music, they will be able to get the great result next season:)

[ItsEmmalicious]

things like this make me wish i did ice dancing but my mom wont let me :'(

[LukeSkating]

Awe, that's too bad! Why not?

[ItsEmmalicious]

she thinks i dont have rythem haha!

[jacobsunkyu]

They went to my high school! He and I were in some classes together. He's a cool kid. I'm proud of you Alex! =D

[sbpetersonOR]

Gorgeous! Their Nationals OD yesterday was fantastic.

And I love this announcer - who is he? Very subtle, no histrionics ala Hamilton.

[yukiga1415]

Hi, sbpetersonOR

I would guess either Simon Reed or Chris Howarth from Eurosport, British commentators.

[journalistgirl07]

@sbpetersonOR Nicky Slater :-)

[saccharinemelon]

Join their group on fb! :))

[tanbark1]

talented beyond belief. too bad they will be so limited in the stories they can tell being brother and sister and all.

[RMountainview]

Agree on the 'talented beyond belief' I'm not worried about the stories they can tell. One has to be a story-teller to begin with, and this they have unreal natural talent for, so stories aplenty is what I look forward to. Keep an open mind. Ice dance is not simply romance. It is two people and the magic they can weave, and magic is what will come from these two for sure

[yukiga1415]

What a beautiful,enchanting and captivating performance!! Yes, indeed, they are so beautiful together as Simon? the british commentator said. Thank you so much!!

[robally1970]

I can understand where folks may be coming from with some of the comments aimed at their coaches but I mostly think those miss the point.

While there's obviously a lot more to come from these two, it's already clear they are something very special.  In plenty of ways they are like nobody else ever. I agree that they have what it takes to bring new fans to the sport.

[RMountainview]

Their coaches do seem to use similar footwork sequences for their teams, but it sure works for their teams in competitions. Any comparison to Virtue and Moir would be a nice compliment I would think as I think V/M are terrific. Both teams have the same flow, power and musical sense. I think these two are very special and have their own unique personalities and appeal. I think no nonsense, high quality skating will help rebuild interest in the sport. How can one not smile when you watch them?

[kissuck]

they are copying moves from v/m

though it's not an easy task...

they should be more original...

any V/M fan would notice this...

[kissuck]

okie maybe i was harsh on them... but given the circumstances, i understood why the similarities...

they are indeed talented as the moves they achieved are not easy at all...

i hope they will continue to skate and become one of the best skaters in the world. =D

maybe even beating v/m someday... haa haa

[libbyhale68]

15 years of forcing my husband to watch skating with me and the only skaters he said he really enjoys are Michelle, Tanith and Ben, and now Maia and Alex. He said he'll gladly watch as long as they are skating. Thank you Maia and Alex! Rock on!

[vietgrlterifa1]

Do you think the commentators liked them?  ;)

I love this performance.

[journalistgirl07]

I certainly do :-) They were amazed by them for pretty sure :D

[shineluvslambiel]

Great team. But seems like Zueva/Shpilband are turning them into a 2nd V/M. I can't help seeing SO much V/M in them. And their circular steps are a carbon copy of V/M's. Seriously, can Zueva/Shpilband think of nothing original anymore??????????

[Luukashism]

Don't bite off their heads, they have, like, fifty different teams to coach and it's not always easy to come up with different things for EACH AND EVERY ONE, and besides, the performance is still enjoyable and different and that's what matters.

[shineluvslambiel]

well, maybe they should take less teams if they can't give each team excellent choreography that they deserve? People know their own limits, you know.

[Luukashism]

I guess so, but it's not like Shpilband and Zueva go around gathering all of the couples they can to coach, these couples often times come to them. But I understand your argument, I meant no offense to you. :)

[tinymavy]

They are amazing. They are so mature and have this beautiful chemistry. i can't believe they are brother and sister.

[figskafan]

Their components scores are very low in my opinion.

I´d love to see them in Vancouver but I´m afraid that the 3rd spot in the Olympics will be for Samuelson and Bates. There are so many fantastic teams coming from North America now!

[HatakeMegumi]

I can see a great future in store for them.

[navkos4ever]

so beautiful!

[beethsyb]

woooww!!!

[journalistgirl07]

thanks a lot! These two have a bright future in front of them! Hopefully they wont be injured, coz it would mean a great harm for these two! Moved to tears!

[saccharinemelon]

Join Alex and Maia on facebook!

Group name: Maia & Alex Shibutani ♥

[hae714]

He's so handsome!!! X))))

[loiscommon]

Their sophistication and expression is simply remarkable.

I cannot get over what an elegant beauty she is! Both are so poised. The whole package, just lovely.

Standing ovation from their international competitors!  They have "It" in spades. Captured my heart.

[uncomplicatedTHAI]

beautiful.

[synchro2189tt]

it so pretty I'm gonna cry....no not really but they are amazing

[tinymavy]

They are just beautiful to watch it makes me happy.

She has these arms that move just like an angel and a face to match and he relates to her so well.

[manonbien]

To so many who have thanked me for sharing this video. You are from all over the world! It is brilliant and I am amazed and happy to share our joy for something beautiful and very special. Maia and Alex.

[blumenthal2]

I am definitely going to watch this team. They are absolutely incredible. Watch out ice dancing world. Alex and Maia have arrived. Love them.

[karaangel1]

@blumenthal2 Check out their new FD from Germany. Just search Maia and Alex Shibutani 2010. I love them!

[danceorama123]

Lovely program. They got +3GOEs on the rotational lift - gorgeous!

[karaangel1]

Simply amazing!!!! Thank you so much for posting this video. I believe that they were the true winners. I loved their program and for the first year being on the circuit they were absolutely fabulous. I don't understand why c/z won as maia and alex were the best. But I do know that maia and alex are the ones to look out for in years to come!

[gabbynewneo]

MAIA!!! ALEX!!!

You never disappoint!!! Congratulations!!!

I am incredibly happy that Shibutanis placed so high at their first World competition~~~

Keep going!!! :D

[iluvicedance]

Beautiful!!! This team is phenomenal! Never before has there been a team that has made such an amazing impact in their first year of international competition!!!

They are younger than their competitors yet show greater maturity and understanding for their music and have an ability to touch an audience. I think this is the team to watch over the next several years going into the 2014 Olympics.

[Nanomicronz]

Thank you so much for posting this! It means so much to someone like me who neither has access to IceNetwork or EuroSport.

Wow. Just wow. It's even better than their JGP Courchevel outing. The steps, the effortless spins and lifts (especially the last one), and just generally beautiful presentation. As the commentators say, it's just breathtakingly beautiful, even if I've seen the program before. I'm so happy for them to have gotten the silver medal at their first worlds!