Routine of the Week

I found this gem last night on YouTube. It's Ilienko from the 1980 Coca Cola Invite/International (there were lots of other big names, including Mostepanova doing a routine to "Flight of the Bumblebee," it's worth a search on YouTube). I personally much prefer this routine to her famous one from 1981 (though, of course, I, like everyone else with a heart and any grain of taste, thoroughly enjoy that one as well). As the commentator says, "she flows like water." There are points in this routine where it almost looks as if she has no bones, incredibly supple, to use Christine Still's favorite word. It's one of the most fluid and flowing routines I've ever seen. I really love the variation in this routine, she has some more staccato movements as well and some moves which seem really designed to engage a crowd. Natalia also seems to be a bit inspired by flamenco movements in the middle of her routine, really a nice touch. The beginning is immediately engaging and I also love when she appears to moving in slow motion after the first tumble. Her cartwheel onto the ground also is a lovely flourish. It's not as traditional and standard as her 1981 music, and Natalia really uses that to her advantage to create an incredibly cohesive and memorable routine.