Adam Solya: ‘Thinking outside the Box’
Adam Solya
Choreographer Adam Solya has gained prominence in recent years by working with many elite figure skaters, most notably European Champion Loena Hendrickx of Belgium.
For the upcoming season, Solya has created new programs for numerous top-level figure skaters. He has continued his collaboration with Hendrickx, Germany’s top skater Nikita Starostin, and 2023 European Bronze medalist Lukas Britschgi. Additionally, Solya has worked with Georgia’s Anastasia Gubanova, Italy’s Anna Pezzetta, and both Selevko brothers (Mihhail and Aleksandr) of Estonia, for the first time.
We met Solya in July during a training camp in Imatra, Finland, where he worked hard on the ice six days a week from early morning to late evening. He shared his detailed thoughts on both of Loena Hendrickx’s new programs and provided insights into his work with her European competitor, Anastasia Gubanova. Solya doesn’t see any conflict in working with two direct competitors, as they are very different types of skaters.
Solya shares insights on how he finds inspiration for his programs and selects the perfect music for each of his skaters. He emphasizes the importance of keeping his skaters in good spirits and fostering a friendly, relaxed atmosphere during his choreography sessions. Solya also explains how he is able to maintain a positive mood despite his long workdays.
As a choreographer, I focus on emotions and thinking outside the box when creating programs. Here are several key aspects I emphasize:
- Emotional Expression: I encourage my skaters to connect with their feelings to generate more genuine and powerful presentations on the ice. This connection creates emotionally resonant performances that stand out and connect with the audience on a deeper level.
- Creativity and Innovation: I inspire skaters to think outside the box and step away from conventional moves. While I appreciate traditional figure skating, I aim to push boundaries and create unique and memorable performances that distinguish each skater.
- Self-Discovery: The creation process is a journey of self-discovery for my skaters. Exploring their own emotions leads to authentic performances, making their time on the ice truly their own.
By focusing on these aspects, I strive to create performances that are not only technically excellent but also emotionally impactful and memorable.
The choreographer reveals that he is extremely excited for the 2024-25 season as many new programs he developed show new sides of his skaters.
Having competed as an Ice Dancer himself back in the day for his home country of Hungary, Solya reveals he would be open and interested in working with Ice Dancers in the future.
Additionally, he opens up regarding which active singles skaters he would like to work with in the upcoming years and which skater’s programs, created by a different choreographer, he is especially curious to see in the 2024-25 season. Listen in below!
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