Lots
of RSG fans believe that Vitrichenko’s strongest
apparatus is the ribbon. Her ribbon exercises are
diverse, exciting, phenomenal and definitely
elegant. In 1997, Vitrichenko composed an
especially graceful routine that win her the third
consecutive ribbon world title. The choice of
music was Yanni’s softly lilting “One Man’s
Dream”. While viewing the performance (esp. her
1997 Worlds Ribbon Finals), take time to
appreciate her balletic artistry and fine
techniques.
With
the ribbon flowing down her shoulders, Elena
starts her routine in a grand eccart pose. As the
music slowly rises, Vitrichenko collects her
ribbon, creates a series of large concentric
circles with the ribbon in a pénche balance into
a toe balance. Next, she tosses the ribbon and
catches it in a double stag ring leap. Crouching
down Vitrichenko swirls the ribbon into a
beautiful large circle that encircles her body
points diagonally into mid air and the body bends
into a back arch. While performing these
movements, Elena is simultaneously drawing
“snakes” with her ribbon. This entire set of
motion tests the gymnast’s strength and
flexibility. More commendably, Vitrichenko
coalesces elegance and artistry into it with her
selection of body language and ribbon patterns.
The
mood of the music slowly brightens. Its pace
consequently quickens. Rising up, Vitrichenko
collects the two ends of the ribbon together,
performs a turn, before hurling the stick into the
ceiling. Catching it, she performs a body wave and
displays her signature flexibility move: her left
leg raised into an arching, touching her head,
forming a closed “P” shape with her body. Her
famous multiple throws trail behind. Holding on to
the ribbon end, she executes a huge toss and on
receiving back the stick, Elena launches he stick
into the air a second time to showcase another
boomerang toss. Frolicking into a split leap with
a deep arch, Elena pulls the ribbon end of her
apparatus. Then, in a deep back arch, she gets the
stick back. A variation knee cartwheel followed
close at heel, as Vitrichenko creates some zigzags
with her ribbon.
A
double stag ring leap into a “Timochenko” is
then enacted, while Elena designs spirals with the
ribbon in the balance position. Vitrichenko
certainly scores in terms of difficulty with such
a combination. Subsequently, she kicks into a
split leg with deep arch, switches the apparatus
into her other hand, does some vertical leg up
pivots, before jumping into a turning split leap
(leaping through the ribbon). Following the
amazing sequence of leaps and rotations,
Vitrichenko elapses into a range of pivots to
accompany the music’s clam tone: firstly, an
excellent and well-controlled triple passé
collapsing into an absolutely gorgeous back scale
waterfall, then whirlwinds into a combination of
attitude spin and passé variation. Keep an eye on
the ribbon throughout all these exchanges and
moves. See how Vitrichenko keeps the apparatus in
perpetual fluid movement with her seasoned and
nimble hands, the awe-inspiring patterns she
created, and the interaction between the apparatus
and her wonderful choice of body movements to
present a resplendent composition.
As
for the finale, Vitrichenko throws her apparatus
against the dreamily cascading background music
and catches it in a cartwheel position. Spreading
the ribbon along her shoulder length, she strikes
an graceful pose to conclude a stunning routine.
Great
choice of music, body motion and execution.
Vitrichenko charms fansand judges alike with this
exercise. She works with increadible grace,
aptitude, confidence and technical perfection. As
some say, she epitomizes the sport. Critics always
earmark her elegance and subtly sweet
interpretations of mesmerizing pieces illustrated
here as the so-called “Vitrichenko Style”
Watch
this routine. Experience the magic of Vitrichenko.
It’s inspiring.