Get to Know... Lauren Collins & Shane Firus
Lauren Collins and Shane Firus teamed up in spring 2014 with Shane (yes, brother to single skater Liam) making the move from Vancouver to Barrie to skate at the Mariposa School of Skating . They gelled very well, competing at summer competitions at Minto and Thornhill before making their international debut on the Junior Grand Prix with a sixth place finish in Aichi. The team’s improvements were evident later in the season in both their Latin short dance and free to a selection of music from Edith Piaf. They placed third in the Skate Canada Challenge and second in junior dance at Nationals while Lauren dealt with a heel injury.
Their off-season involved a focus on off-ice dance and theatre classes as they related to Goldenskate, an effort which was clear to see when they emerged on the scene as seniors with strong showings on the Canadian summer circuit. They were rewarded with a spot at the Nebelhorn Trophy where they finished fifth overall, with a seventh place in the short dance (albeit with the third highest TES mark in the field and Level 3 and 4 on the Ravensburger patterns) and fifth in the free. It seems likely that a lack of international exposure may have affected their scores. Their strong domestic season continued, winning their sectionals and placing second on a Skate Canada Challenge podium where less than a mark separated all three medallists. They have made great strides throughout the season, improving in all areas while tackling more complex material.
Their short dance, choreographed by Romain Haguenauer to Shosktakovich’s Second Waltz and Strauss’ Radetsky March, is traditional in feel with the team’s performance skills particularly shining in the energetic march.
While the short may be a classic take on waltz the free is a more unusual take on tango, choreographed by Shae Zukiwsky, Shane’s first ice dance coach. Tango on ice may sometimes lean towards the dramatic but here we see a more naturalistic approach, reflected in the almost rustic costumes in blues and greens. The dance’s highlights include mirrored movements, and interesting use of space and height seen in the twizzle sequence (noticeably different to the one seen in the short dance) which lowers to the ice with each set and is soon followed by a stationary lift again low to the ice. Collins/Firus ably interpret the changes in music and mood from the ease of ‘Beautiful Tango’ to the jagged end of the programme with 'Breakfast in Baghdad’. This mature dance is one of the most original of the season.
Off-ice both Lauren and Shane enjoy socialising with friends with Lauren enjoying the outdoors and Shane reading and cooking. They aim to finish in the top seven at Nationals while showing improvement in both sets of marks.
(Photo Credits: Lauren Collins and Shane Firus, Mariposa Dance)
Just to throw it back about a decade...
