Ice Dancing and Reading?
Yes, but not at the same time! Olympic Ice Dance Champs talk to Kid Reporter
To be honest, I didn’t particularly remember the details of the Ice Dancing competition from the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics when I got the assignment to interview Silver Medalist Ice Dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White. My mom and I went onto YouTube to do some research!
We found many interesting interviews and videos of their ice dancing routines. I was really impressed by their “Indian-inspired” ice dance in the Olympic competition. The music and choreography were great! Both skaters were completely in sync with the music and each other.
I also liked the Phantom of the Opera ice dance. Toward the end of that routine, there was an interesting lift that involved Meryl flipping onto Charlie’s back and positioning her skate blade on his calf while gliding across the ice. How did they not fall doing that move? They made it look so smooth and easy.
Just before the interview I had butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous and excited at the same time. When I got to the ice arena for our scheduled meeting, Meryl warmly welcomed me and went to find Charlie. When I asked them the questions, they gave me great answers—just the answers I needed to write a great article. They were extremely nice and told me that I had done a terrific job for my first interview. No more butterflies!
One really interesting thing I learned about the ice dancing pair is that they love to read and are excited by Scholastic’s Campaign to “Read Every Day. Lead A Better Life.”
“Reading every day is something we take to heart,” Meryl said. “Our education is something we really take pride in.”
“Reading books you enjoy can help you advance your education,” Charlie said. “For me, it was key in being accepted into a great college like University of Michigan.”
Both have their respective lists of “influential books” noted on Scholastic’s You Are What You Read website. Some of their all time favorites are targeted for teens and older such as The Chronicles of Amber (Charlie’s favorite) and The Lord of the Rings (Meryl’s favorite).
I asked them about their favorite childhood books. Meryl said The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was her favorite book because of the adventures and mischief she could experience by reading.
And Charlie’s favorite childhood book? A story about a bunny rabbit that sucks all the juice from vegetables.
“Actually, just mentioning the book makes me want to find my copy of Bunnicula so I can read it again!” Charlie said with a loud laugh.
You can check out You Are What You Read and add your own favorite books. It’s cool! (Kind of like ice dancing.) Also, check my story about the interview!
PHOTO: Kid Reporter Molly Pribble with Olympic Silver Medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White at the Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Canton, Michigan, where they train for their ice dancing routines. (Photo Courtesy Molly Pribble)
that sounds cool
Posted by: pippa | 01/12/2011 at 08:44 PM
Great article Molly. Well written and very interesting. Keep up the great work.
Posted by: Sharon | 01/19/2011 at 01:02 PM
Excellent article! You and the ice dancing pair are great inspirations to the rest of us.
Posted by: Jayne | 01/19/2011 at 03:55 PM
So glad that Reading and books were highlighted in this interview
Posted by: John | 01/19/2011 at 11:21 PM
looks like you are 1 yr older than i knew you were?????
congratulations on being a "published" author! looks great.
Posted by: Mutie | 01/19/2011 at 11:25 PM
I can't wait to watch Meryl and Charlie in the next event. They sound like great people (and I hadn't known much about them before this article).
Posted by: Amy | 01/20/2011 at 07:09 AM
I really enjoyed reading your personal perspective in your blog as well as the informative article. You clearly got over your butterflies and did a great job on the interview. (And now I want to go read Bunnicula again!)
Posted by: Angela | 01/20/2011 at 02:55 PM
You've written a wonderful article and a very interesting reflection. I look forward to seeing more of your work. Fantastic!
Posted by: Haylee | 01/20/2011 at 08:16 PM
Meryl and Charlie sound like very warm and friendly people. Glad you got to meet them, very nicely written!
Posted by: KR; Cassandra | 01/22/2011 at 07:38 PM
Great job on a wonderful article!!! Keep up the good work and looking forward to your next news story.
Posted by: Bill | 01/26/2011 at 05:21 PM
Molly, I enjoyed reading your article. I learned alot about ice dancing in this article and look forward to watching them in their competition in January. Great job on your first article.
Posted by: Julie Anne | 01/26/2011 at 05:40 PM
What a well written and informative article! Can't wait to see who or what you write about next! Great Job Molly!
Posted by: Jenny | 01/26/2011 at 06:34 PM
Wow! That was great! I like pointing out the University of Michigan references to my Mom! Good Job Molly!
Posted by: Caeden | 01/26/2011 at 06:52 PM
GREAT work Molly! i have a huge smile on my face and I'm so proud of you!! you go girl! i'm looking forward to see more! hugs!
Posted by: Ania | 01/26/2011 at 09:13 PM
Great job, Molly! Thanks for such an informative article!
--Woodruffs
Posted by: Amy | 01/27/2011 at 07:00 AM
Molly, I am so proud of all you do. You are a "heroine!" )
Posted by: Joyce | 01/27/2011 at 09:30 AM
I thought your article was both well written and informative. it also showed how study of ballet can be of help in other activities.
Posted by: Frank | 01/27/2011 at 02:20 PM
Great article!!! Informative and fun. you should consider this as a career:). Good luck!!
the walpers
Posted by: Wendy and Fam | 01/29/2011 at 02:11 PM
Meryl and Charlie just won GOLD again tonight at the US Championships in Greensboro. Hurrah! I was cheering them on tonight because of this article. They sound like a great team and I hope they have a long career in Ice Dancing. Go Meryl! Go Charlie! [And Go Blue!]
Posted by: Sarah | 01/29/2011 at 09:45 PM
Very nice article Molly! We enjoyed reading and learned something new.
Posted by: Michelle | 02/03/2011 at 06:51 PM
Very good article Molly! I enjoyed reading the article about these ice skaters!
Posted by: Sydney | 02/12/2011 at 01:41 PM
Wow! What commitment it takes and what joy it brings! Thanks for a great interview about some terrific role models!
Posted by: Anne | 02/12/2011 at 01:45 PM
Great job Molly! That was great!:)
Posted by: Callan | 02/13/2011 at 11:36 AM
i read another artical about these 2 people so i did some more reserch and found this!!!!:):):);):0
Posted by: Micha:) | 03/26/2011 at 11:27 AM
I love this artical!!!:);):0;0
Posted by: Micha:) | 03/26/2011 at 11:29 AM