The Sibling Advantage
Excerpt from "An Amazing Moment - Desire, Hard Work Put Shibutanis In Spotlight". By Lynn Rutherford Ice dance is often looked upon as a romantic sport, with its rumbas, tangos and sambas. While some think brother-and-sister teams are constrained by proprietary, both Maia and Alex count their familial relationship as a big plus. "Sometimes someone will say, 'Oh, I get the icks when I see brother-and-sister teams,'" Alex said. "Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but in the ballroom world there are many brother-and-sister couples. I don't hear any complaints when people watch Julianne Hough and Derek Hough perform on Dancing with the Stars." "Maia and I are very aware of the perception out there and I think we've done a good job keeping our programs tasteful. In the end, the advantages – similar work ethics, drive and temperament – outweigh any negatives. "We know each other so well, which sometimes doesn't work to our advantage when it comes to small arguments, because we know how to push each other’s buttons," Alex said. "But at the end of the day, she is always going to be my sister, and I am always going to be her brother. There are so many different kinds of love."