Programs with Transgendered or Cross-dressing Themes
Descriptions
Disclaimer: I have compiled this list without regard to the skaters'
sexual orientations. Unless they are listed as out elsewhere on this site
(élite gay skaters or adult gay skaters), the skaters here are not
known to be other than heterosexual.
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- Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, Russia -- "The Kid."
Exhibition program, Champions on Ice tour, 2001. In a continuation of the
Charlie Chaplin theme they established in the 2000-2001 season with their
free program, Sikharulidze reprises his role as Chaplin, while Berezhnaya
dons a cap to portray an urchin boy. Except for the throw triple, even
the skating elements in the program are performed in character, such as a
pair spin in which the urchin is following the adult around.
- Vladimir Besedin and Oleksey Polichuk, Ukraine -- "The Swan" by
Saint-Saens. 2000. This is a two-man ice acrobatic team specializing in
circus strength moves and comedy. They dress in women's feathery white
swan costumes with headdresses, similar to Oksana Baiul's in her 1994
Olympic exhibition; Besedin, the larger of the two, wears falsies and also
flesh-colored padding to support moves in which Polichuk stands on his
back and shoulders while wearing skates. The humor is derived from the
irony of two muscular men portraying swans.
- Judy Blumberg and Michael Seibert, USA -- male challenge tango. [I
can't describe this one, as I haven't seen it. Sorry.] 1986.
- Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz, Canada -- "Maison des Lunes,"
autumn 1996. From the Disney television special "Beauty and the Beast: A
Concert on Ice." A contributor says: "Shae and Vic are dressed
identically in dark blue jackets and knee length tight pants, blue and
white horizontally striped shirts and socks, dark blue boot covers,
'zorro' like masks, both have the same dark blonde hair colour. Shae wears
her longer hair pulled back in a pony tail. The number is light-hearted,
skated on a street scene at night, and features several hydro-blading
moves, including the shae-crusher. At the end they pull off their masks."
- Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler, Canada -- "Patricia the Stripper" [photo]. Pro and
exhibition cross-dressing program, 1995. Brasseur dresses in a hat,
mustache and jacket; Eisler, portraying "Patricia," dons a wig, makeup,
skirt, and boot covers that resemble high-heeled shoes. Brasseur throws
Eisler into a throw axel; the program ends with Eisler spinning Brasseur
in a one-handed Detroiter.
- Isabelle and Paul Duchesnay, France -- "Reflections."
Ungendered freedance, 1991 Europeans. Choreographer Christopher Dean
showcased the siblings' similar appearances by presenting them as "asexual
beings, two versions of the same persona." They both wore black trousers
and reflected one another's movements.
- Lloyd Eisler, Canada -- "Spaghetti Western"
[photo]. Cross-dressed showgirl character in a Stars on Ice 1997
ensemble. She is named "Izznt" (to go with Isabelle Brasseur's character,
"Izzy"). Eisler again dons wig, makeup and skirt, and woos Scott Hamilton
to the tune of "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" At the lyrics "when
you find yourself lying helpless in her arms," he lifts the chagrined
Hamilton and dips him.
- Dan Hollander, USA -- "Eric Cartman/Mrs. Doubtfire." After skating to
Eric Cartman's cover of "Come Sail Away" from South Park, Hollander
strips off his Cartman costume to reveal an old granny-type dress and
skates to Aerosmith's "Dude Looks Like a Lady" from the Mrs.
Doubtfire soundtrack. From Jennifer Lyon's review of the Detroit stop
of the 1999 Champions on Ice summer tour.
- Michelle Kwan, USA -- "Mulan." Femme drag
and cross-dressing role in television special promoting Disney film, 1998.
- Michelle Kwan, USA -- "Peter Pan." Cross-dressing exhibition program,
1994. Kwan continues the tradition of Peter Pan being played by
androgynous women.
- Elizabeth Manley, Canada -- "Jack and the Beanstalk." Following her
1988 Olympic silver medal win, Manley portrayed the title character in a
television special about the fairy tale.
- Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, Russia -- "Swan Lake." Exhibition
program in which Naumov only cross-dresses, 1995.
- Laurent Tobel, France -- "Swan Lake." Cross-dressing exhibition
program, 1996. Tobel dons a tutu, smears lipstick across his mouth, and
lampoons beginning skaters.
- Alexei Urmanov, Russia --"Harlequin's Dream."
A playful meditation on Urmanov's 1995 Worlds exhibition program by Eda
Tseinyev.
- Alexei Urmanov, Russia -- "Swan Lake." Intersexed long program,
1995. Urmanov, in a sweeping costume painted with white feathers on one
side and black on the other, portrays both male and female roles from
"Swan Lake." [Contributed by Toho Soma.]
- Maya Usova and Alexander Zhulin, Russia -- tango. Pro program, 1996.
Both wear identical black and white clothes, with Usova's hair hidden
under a hat. They mirror each other's movements, portraying antagonists;
Zhulin's character thinks Usova's character is a man. When the music
changes, Usova sweeps off her hat and her hair tumbles down. Romance
ensues.
- Katarina Witt, Germany -- "Man of La Mancha." Exhibition program
wearing trousers, 1998.
- Katarina Witt, Germany -- "Robin Hood." Cross-dressing Olympic short
program, 1994. Witt satisfies the ISU skirt requirement with a tunic, and
portrays Robin Hood with masculine, assertive movements and body
positions.
- Katarina Witt, Germany -- "Zorro." Cross-dressing show character in
Disney on Ice, 1994-1995. Witt dons a mask and an all-black catsuit.
- Greg Wittrock, USA -- "Whorita." [photo] Cross-dressing
show program in the gay drag tradition, utilizing a mask and a wig to
Donna Summer's "Love to Love You." Wittrock delighted audiences with this
number at the gay-oriented Skates of Pride in Manhattan in 1997, and
shocked them at the mainstream American Open in Chicago in 1998.
- Susie Wynne and Joseph Druar, USA -- "Chaplin." Professional ice
dance program in which both are dressed as the Little Tramp, early 1990's.
[Contributed by Toho Soma.]
- Kristi Yamaguchi, USA -- "Nasty." Cross-dressing ensemble with Scott
Hamilton and Paul Wylie in Stars on Ice, 1993. The three skaters wear
identical hats and pinstripe suits, and skate in unison, Yamaguchi in the
center. The men don't realize she is a woman until the hat and jacket
come off, revealing long hair and skimpy clothing.
- Ararat Zakarian and Akop Manoukian, Armenia -- "Kalinka." Acrobatic
show program, 1996. One of the two men dressed as an old peasant woman
with pumps and large, conical breasts.
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