{"id":23129,"date":"2019-11-12T10:25:28","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T15:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/?p=23129"},"modified":"2020-02-16T12:29:44","modified_gmt":"2020-02-16T17:29:44","slug":"a-new-chapter-for-manta-johnson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/a-new-chapter-for-manta-johnson\/","title":{"rendered":"Manta & Johnson’s New Chapter"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Gina Capellazzi <\/em><\/p>\n

Last fall, Karina Manta & Joe Johnson were preparing to make their senior ISU Grand Prix debut at Skate America in Everett, Washington.<\/p>\n

A few months after a memorable \u201cSweet Dreams\u201d free dance at the 2019 U.S. Championships, which brought the crowd to its feet inside Little Caesar Arena in Detroit, the team announced it was stepping away from competition. The duo was embarking on a new adventure as cast members of Cirque du Soleil\u2019s <\/em>second ice show, AXEL.<\/p>\n

The show kicked off its 2019-2020 tour in Cornwell, Ontario Canada Oct. 4.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were debating after Nationals last year what we were going to do,\u201d Manta explained to Ice-Dance.com before their Oct. 12 show in Syracuse, N.Y. \u201cWe talked about maybe stopping or doing another season and then we got the call from Cirque while we were in this debating position.<\/p>\n

We were like, \u2018Wow, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be apart of something so cool and special and it is something we have never done before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Manta and Johnson\u2019s best finish at the senior U.S. Championships was 7th place (2016 and 2019), which meant they were not eligible to receive the highest level of funding from U.S. Figure Skating. Johnson divulged that the cost to continue training at the elite level was a major component to their decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were fresh out of money,\u201d Johnson, 25, said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompeting is so expensive and sustaining a career at our level without a ton of funding was hard to continue,\u201d Manta, 23, added. \u201cSo it was a matter of \u2018We have this opportunity, we are tight on funding, let\u2019s go with it and see what happens.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The team was forthcoming that they had some doubts at first, but that their lives were indicating to them that they should pursue this opportunity. Manta had graduated from college only weeks before the Cirque contract began and both Manta\u2019s and Johnson\u2019s apartment leases were ending in June.<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved competing. I honestly did like that environment and loved training for competition, so it was hard to back away from it at first,\u201d Manta admitted. \u201cBut there were a lot of signs (to pursue this).\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"So the duo agreed to sign a two-year contract. In June, they moved from Colorado Springs to Montreal to begin working on Cirque du Soleil\u2019s unnamed project. Johnson said when they were presented the contracts, they didn\u2019t even know what the show was going to be or what the music was in it.<\/p>\n

One thing they were apprised of was that Sam Chouinard, choreographer at the renowned Ice Academy of Montreal, would be doing the choreography for the show, along with Olympic silver medalist Ben Agosto and noted choreographer Katherine Hill.<\/p>\n

During the show creation, Manta and Johnson said they spent 12 hours a day in the rink, learning two hours worth of choreography. The two said they found the schedule quite challenging since previously on average they trained four hours a day on ice, with some off-ice training.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe thought we trained a lot before,\u201d Manta laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that is the one thing that has been a lot different for us is the amount we skate,\u201d Johnson added.<\/p>\n

AXEL, which follows the success of Cirque du Soleil<\/em>\u2019s first-ever show on-ice, Crystal, combines skating, with acrobatics, live music and colorful graphics. In the show, Manta and Johnson play members of the corporation, who are lead by the show\u2019s villain \u201cVi\u201d, played by Canadian skater Jeremy Ten.<\/p>\n

The team has numerous costumes throughout the 2-hour show. Johnson told Ice-Dance.com that their costumes vary from a hammer-style pant and bomber jacket costume to tailored suits and dresses for a scene called \u201cGala.\u201d Each costume is tailored specially for each skater. Unlike the competitive realm where an ice dancer only wears two costumes, one each for their rhythm and free dances that occur on separate days, the skaters are changing costumes frequently during the two-hour AXEL show.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe zipper comes from the base of the ankle, all the way up to the hip so you don\u2019t have to take your skates off (to change costumes),\u201d Johnson explained. \u201cSo we never have to take our skates off in either of the acts.\u201d So it is real easy to get (costumes) on and off, but it is still really quick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also unlike competitive skating where they skated as a sole unit, Manta and Johnson are a part of a larger ensemble that features skaters, aerobats and musicians from 22 countries. While the team has adjusted to performing with others, Manta and Johnson have found being with a diverse cast is an opportunity to learn some new tricks.<\/p>\n

Both have learned how to juggle, but laughingly noted that they won\u2019t be shedding their skates to become professional jugglers anytime soon. Johnson said he also learned flexibility tips from the contortionists and aerialists in the cast.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody is so willing to share their talents,\u201d Johnson remarked.<\/p>\n

Manta and Johnson also have an aerial number in the show where the pair skaters fly in a harness.<\/p>\n

While Manta and Johnson are embarking on this next chapter, they are fully aware that a new competitive season has begun without them. Manta confessed that she is watching skating more now than when she competed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is fun just to enjoy it now,\u201d Manta exclaimed. \u201cI can be a spectator and cheer on my friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Yet, when asked if they miss competing, Manta and Johnson both acknowledged that they are satisfied with their decision to join Cirque du Soleil<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are aspects that I miss, but I definitely don\u2019t regret the decision that we made because this is such a different way to enjoy what we do every day,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will say I wish the rhythm was Broadway last year because we would have loved to do Broadway,\u201d Manta laughed.<\/p>\n

About that spellbinding free dance from the 2019 U.S. Championships in Detroit\u2014will they ever skate it again?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a magical program. Who knows?\u201d Manta chuckled.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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