While
everyone is amazed with the popular
Tchachina routines, I think it is also
nice to take a look at the time when she
is young: a tiny but elegant 1995 ball
routine. I think the most part of this
routine is its expressiveness and high
artistry.
Listen
carefully to the beautiful background
music. Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”
violin concerto is so popular that even
royal kings use them as their main themes.
By using this music, Chachina has
brilliantly achieved the best effect for a
good and elegant routine.
Chachina
starts off from her pose by rolling the
ball from her neck down her supporting (at
the back), releasing it down her body as
she opens up her free leg to form a scale
balance. After transferring the ball round
her supporting leg, she rises to a ring
balance and finally straightens her free
leg to form a back catch balance (with the
ball tucked in between leg and body).
After a penche variation balance and an
arching double stag leap, Chachina tosses
the ball elegantly and lightly, catching
it easily while performing a switch split
leap with deep arch. I like her leaps a
lot simply because of her long and
striking legs.
Next,
she performs a quick Timochenko/ legmount
supported on knee before lying on the
floor. Here, she allows the ball to roll
vertically down her body full length,
trapping the ball on her legs and rolling
it back. Subsequently, she makes a big
lunge into a 2/3 x 360 arabesque pivots,
stopping at a flexibility position.
(P3002, rated E now!) Getting up from a
body wave, Chachina tosses the ball again
as the music turns loud suddenly. Here,
she does a switch split leap into a roll,
catching the ball simultaneously when she
finishes a MG kick.
The
music has reached one of the most
expressive parts. Chachina did not miss it
too, well expressing her inner world. Of
course, she also includes her elements,
like the not so good legmount (has to bend
her supporting leg first) into a back
flexion. She releases the ball again, but
this time when she performs a split ring
leap and catching the ball behind her back
when she executes a side split leap.
Chachina
continues the excitement with more
interesting combinations, for example her
double arabesque spins into flex position
(P3002) and immediate a body wave up.
Simultaneously, she rolls the ball down
with her head. Theses moves are very
beautiful and stylish. Original too! Of
course, Chachina never fails to express
well.
Coming
to a conclusion, Chachina performs two
throws. The first toss is tricky but often
performed: toss; 2 times turning split
leap; catch. The final toss is her
favourite: a double illusion to get the
ball on a back bend. This is definitely
not easy in 1995! She concludes
emotionally.
Getting
up, the background music changes its
theme, reaching the middle section.
Chachina tosses the ball, turns thrice to
trap the ball between her hands and her
neck.
The
touching routine certainly reminds me of a
beautiful and balletic swan dancing on the
calm waters.
The
routine may not be much spectacular or
technically as difficult as her present
ones, but it is calm, fluent, emotional
and meaningful, which is what I love about
rhythmic gymnastics. |