2010 Winter Olympic ice dance controversy

Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin at the 2010 European Championships
Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia provoked controversy with their choice of Australian Aboriginal music and costume design for their original dance. On the left are Domnina and Shabalin as they appeared at the 2010 European Figure Skating Championships, and on the right, as they appeared at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The ice dance competition at the 2010 Winter Olympics was held at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada, from 19 to 22 February. Controversy arose from the decision of Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia to perform their original dance to what they claimed to be Australian Aboriginal music while wearing costumes which many found offensive. Despite the negative reactions from the Australian press, members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and members of the First Nations in British Columbia, in whose ancestral territory the Winter Olympics were being staged, Domnina and Shabalin ended up finishing in third place, winning the bronze medals.

Background

The ice dance competition at the 2010 Winter Olympics consisted of three segments: the compulsory dance, the original dance, and the free dance.[1] The competition was held from 19 to 22 February at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada.[2][3] The required rhythm of the original dance was folk or country. The theme of the original dance was folk or country, and while it was recommended that couples should use traditional folk or country music and dance styles native to their own nations, this was not a requirement.[1] Lasting 2 minutes 30 seconds (+/− 10 seconds), the original dance had to include the following elements: one dance lift, one midline step sequence while not touching, one diagonal or circular step sequence while in hold, and one set of sequential twizzles.[1]

Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin had won the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles and were entering the Olympic season as the favourites to win the ice dance event in Vancouver.[4][5] However, the couple missed the entire 2009–10 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating season debuted their routine at the 2010 Russian Figure Skating Championships, after missing the first half of the season due to Shabalin injuring his knee in the season prior, winning the event.[6][4] Domnina and Shabalin revealed that their original dance would be set to what they described as Australian Aboriginal music.[7][8][4] The idea for the routine was suggested to them by their coach Natalia Linichuk, with the couple declining it at first, only to change their minds after listening to the musical arrangement again and seeing Domnina's dog, Topi, react to the music.[4][5] Domnina and Shabalin's music featured heavy drums, a didgeridoo, and vocal chanting; and their costumes consisted of dark flesh-toned bodysuits with red loincloths, decorated with white markings and faux green leaves, as well as face paint.[7][4] They performed it again at the 2010 European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, with the audience giving them a "warm reception" at the conclusion of the routine; they also won the event.[7][9]

Controversy over the program

Reactions from Australia, Canada and First Nations communities

The outrage concerning Domnina and Shabalin's routine came between their debut performance at the Russian Nationals and European Championships, making its way to the Australian media and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities days before their first performance of the program in Tallinn.[5] Worimi elder Bev Manton, chairwoman of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, wrote that Domnina and Shabalin's costumes were "no more authentic or Aboriginal than the shiploads of cheap Aboriginal tourist trinkets that pour into [Australia] from overseas".[8] Manton found their depiction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture offensive, although she did not believe that was their intention. She cited the brown bodysuits as problematic and likened their appearance to blackface. She added further: "They are not, as they state, wearing 'authentic Aboriginal paint markings'. They are wearing white body paint in designs they dreamed up after reading about Aboriginal Australians on the internet."[8] And just as the designs were not from the Australian First Nations community, neither was the music, as she explained, since it was composed by Sheila Chandra, a Briton of Indian descent.[8] Sol Bellear, also of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, said the routine was "yet another example of the Aboriginal people of Australia being exploited".[10] He also stated that he intended to send a letter of protest to the Russian Embassy in Canberra, noting that "it's not just intellectual property. It's straight-out cultural theft."[10] Additionally, members of the First Nations community in British Columbia were upset with the way Indigenous culture was being represented on a global platform, with former First Nations chief of the Neskonlith Indian Band Arthur Manuel stating, "People make fun of us and it is painful; that is something [Domnina and Shabalin] should have been very cognizant of".[11]

Belinda Noonan, four-time Australian national champion in pair skating[12] and Australian figure skating commentator, was critical of Domnina and Shabalin's routine, calling the costumes "dreadful" and criticizing their lack of research.[13] She also criticized the musical arrangement, noting the use of Chandra's music versus that of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist with "some didgeridoo [put] in a couple of places."[13] Manton also criticized the use of the didgeridoo in the performance, stating that while she is accepting of its use by people outside of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, it "does not mean it should be sampled and then presented as something it is not."[8] Noonan stated that she had contacted Domnina and Shabalin's team for more information about their program, but had not received a response.[13]

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and creative scene was also displeased with the routine.[14] Choreographer for the 2000 Summer Olympics opening ceremony and then-artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Stephen Page, felt the entire routine was disrespectful and when asked about his thoughts on the routine's concept, "Well, you just have to have a look at how they looked. I believe now that we just tend to ... just bastardize any form of culture."[15] He also said that it looked "stupid", and that "probably the elders in the bush would be laughing because they would be saying, “Look how stupid these fellas are” because they've got it all wrong."[14] Page also criticized the choreography as "trying to emulate the token savage caveman."[14]

Danielle O'Brien and Gregory Merriman, an Australian ice dance team, had also performed their original dance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music, but they had sought input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians, choreographers and artists to ensure the dance was performed and choreographed accurately and respectfully.[16][14] O'Brien, when asked about their routine after the 2010 World Figure Skating Championships, stated that they had worked with their songs chosen by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians Scott Wilson, James Drury, and David Hudson, with their costumes designed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art company, ThulliiDreaming.[14] Victor Kraatz, who was the 2003 world champion and ten-time Canadian national champion in ice dance with his former partner Shae-Lynn Bourne,[17] who had worked with O'Brien and Merriman on helping construct their routine, as well as O'Brien herself explained that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women did not wear body paint, nor did they wear red except for ceremonial purposes and only men had traditionally performed ceremonial dances.[16][14]

Response by Domnina, Shabalin and Russian figure skating

When Domnina and Shabalin were questioned about their program during the European Championships, Domnina said that they were unaware of any controversy concerning their program. Shabalin said that he did perform research on the internet for their routine, but claimed, "Our dance is not specifically an Australian Aboriginal dance; it is an aboriginal dance," and they decided to create the routine because they "wanted to be different."[18] Domnina also defended their costumes, saying they "were spot on right away."[18] Domnina added that they did not want to create another Slavic-style program and chose it because they "immediately fell in love with it".[10][19]

The Figure Skating Federation of Russia expressed shock at criticism of the program, stating that all teams had to perform a "world" dance, pointing to the Argentine tango and Viennese waltz as examples of routines performed without controversy.[20] Oleg Ovsyannikov, 1988 Winter Olympic silver medalist in ice dance,[21] defended Domnina and Shabalin's intentions, saying that they were "not trying to hurt anyone's feelings", while also acknowledging "these kinds of dances are really rather typical [in ice dance]".[20] Ovsyannikov pointed to a routine he and his former partner Anjelika Krylova had once done where Ovsyannikov had portrayed Buffalo Bill and Krylova a Native American princess.[20]

Before the Olympic Games

Upon hearing that Domnina and Shabalin intended to perform the same routine at the 2010 Winter Olympics, representatives of the Four Host First Nations – the Lilʼwat, the Musqueam, the Squamish, and the Tsleil-Waututh – offered to meet with them. These First Nations, in whose traditional land the 2010 Winter Olympics were held, were recognized as partners in the planning of the Olympics by the Vancouver Organizing Committee.[16] They recommended that Domnina and Shabalin contact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia for feedback before coming to the Olympics.[22] Both Domnina and Shabalin were gifted blankets by the Four Host First Nations communities upon their arrival in Vancouver.[23]

Shabalin had told the media a week before the start of the event that they had changed their costumes, a decision that was welcomed by members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.[24][23] However, Russian journalists stated that they would continue performing the original routine and choreography, a point confirmed by Shabalin after a meeting with the First Nations representatives in Vancouver.[24][23] Despite Shabalin originally saying their costumes had changed, their coach, Natalia Linichuk backtracked on this statement with the Australian media 24 hours before their performance in Vancouver, saying, "They (Domnina and Shabalin) will wear the same costumes (as before), but a little less."[25] Linichuk was also seen before the original dance carrying multiple photos of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the media zone, repeatedly saying, "We didn't make this up."[25]

Sheila Chandra, the original composer of the music used by Domnina and Shabalin, was unhappy with her song being utilised in the routine.[24] She subsequently made a complaint to the International Olympic Committee and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia just over a week before the ice dance competition in Vancouver, with the intention of stopping her song from being used.[24] Chandra also stated that it was "inappropriate" for her song to be performed as it was.[24] She also stated that neither Domnina, Shabalin, Linichuk, nor the Russian figure skating federation had sought permission from her for her song to be used.[24] It was reported by The Washington Post that IOC president, Jacques Rogge, was considering intervening in forcing complete changes to the routine for Olympic competition, but ultimately, nothing came of it.[26]

Olympic performance

Domnina and Shabalin performing their routine with the revised costumes during the original dance at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

The original dance was held on 21 February.[2] Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin finished in third place in the original dance after performing their Australian Aboriginal-inspired routine.[27] Christine Brennan, a sports reporter for USA Today, wrote that "as bad as they looked, they skated even worse, with garish, halting moves".[28] Mandi Bierly of Entertainment Weekly criticised the International Skating Union for their decision for a folk/country theme, singling out Domnina and Shabalin's program specifically as being the reason viewers may never watch the sport again, stating, "that was arguably the worst concept for a program on ice ever and the crazy smiles they flashed throughout it made ice dancing seem like a joke."[29] Tracee Hamilton from The Washington Post also criticized the decision to do a folk/country theme, singling out Domnina and Shabalin's routine specifically, while also comparing the event to an American high-school prom.[26] Hamilton also argued that Domnina and Shabalin could have performed a traditional Russian dance, as their fellow Russian competitors had chosen.[26] NBC commentator Tom Hammond criticised the cultural inaccuracy of the program and quipped, “Aside from looking ridiculous, does it affect the judges?”.[29] The routine was compared with that seen in the 2007 film Blades of Glory, with Thomas Rogers stating in Salon.com, "that film wasn't an over-the-top comedy — it was a documentary."[30]

Domnina and Shabalin had made some modifications to their costumes from those they had worn at the 2010 European Figure Skating Championships, including doing away with the face paint and wearing lighter-toned bodysuits.[31] However, they instead added more green leaves, styled to resemble eucalyptus leaves, to their costumes, despite warnings from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders that the use of eucalyptus leaves on the original costume was "random."[32][25] Shabalin stated that they changed the tone of the bodysuits after the negative feedback from the media and "changed our routine about five to 10 percent."[32] Shabalin also claimed that their coach, Linichuk, conducted more research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and suggested that they had contacted Australian First Nations elders, although he had said: "You can't be 100 percent authentic."[32] He also reiterated that they did not intend to offend, and that the music was selected because it was "fair and friendly."[32]

The Australians and Canadians in the crowd during the event did not give the performance the same reception it had received in Russia and at the European Championships. Mahira Lakshman from CBC reported that the spectators in the Pacific Coliseum remained mostly silent, with "the odd boo" heard during the performance and "gasps" from the crowd when their costumes were revealed.[33] Australians who attended the event stated that they felt the routine was "quite disrespectful" and were offended that the routine continued to be performed despite the outcry.[34]

Domnina and Shabalin's routine was consistently compared to that of eventual silver-medalists Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who performed a Bollywood-routine, which received critical acclaim from both choreographers and viewers in India and South-East Asia.[30][29][35] Unlike Domnina and Shabalin, their routine had been praised by Indian choreographers and viewers, with the team working with an Indian choreographer and costume designer throughout.[35] Although both routines were described as energetic, the lack of difficulty between Domnina and Shabalin was noticeable compared to Davis and White, and eventual Olympic champions, Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.[27] Unlike praise for the musical arrangements for Davis and White's routine,[35] Domnina and Shabalin's musical arrangement was criticized for "no recognizable melody",[27] making the music difficult to follow, relying on heavy drums, didgeridoo riffs, and screams and grunts as vocals.[27]

Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin pictured with their Olympic bronze medals after their free dance performance.

The free dance was held on 22 February.[2] Domnina and Shabalin finished in third place; their routine was described as highly entertaining and theatrical, but lacking in the skating skills, power, and innovation that the gold and silver-medalists demonstrated.[36] Ultimately, Domnina and Shabalin won the bronze medals, while Virtue and Moir won the gold, and Davis and White won the silver.[37]

2010 Olympic ice dance event medalists[37]
Rank Team Nation Total CD OD FD
1st place, gold medalist(s)
 Canada 221.57 2 42.74 1 68.41 1 110.42
2nd place, silver medalist(s)  United States 215.74 3 41.47 2 67.08 2 107.19
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)  Russia 207.64 1 43.76 3 62.84 3 101.04

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Communication No. 1567: Ice Dance" (Document). International Skating Union. 8 March 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 "Olympics – Event Schedule". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "Pacific Coliseum". Vancouver2010. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Flade, Tatjana (2010-01-02). "Domnina and Shabalin on the comeback trail". Golden Skate. Retrieved 2026-06-25.
  5. 1 2 3 "'Aboriginal' ice dance draws fire". BBC News. 2010-01-21. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  6. ↑ "RUS–Oksana Domnina/Maxim Shabalin". Skating Scores. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Longman, Jeré (3 February 2010). "Out-of-step ice dancing routine". The New York Times. p. B12. Retrieved 15 June 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Manton, Bev (21 January 2010). "Russian ice dancers should rethink their routine". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Ice dance sparks Aboriginal anger". Al Jazeera. January 23, 2010. Retrieved 2026-06-25.
  10. 1 2 3 Taylor, Rob (21 January 2010). "Russian skating champions' dance offends Aborigines". Reuters. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  11. ↑ Colebourn, John (24 January 2010). "Olympic skaters on thin ice with B.C. First Nations". Global News. Archived from the original on 20 June 2026. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Ice Skating Australia Incorporated – National Champions" (PDF). Ice Skating Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 October 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 "Icy reception for Russian 'Aboriginal' dance". SBS News. 22 January 2010. Archived from the original on 20 June 2026. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Grau, Andree (January 2010). "Figure Skating and the Anthropology of Dance: The Case of Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin". University of Roehampton. 16 (3): 39–59 – via Anthropological Notebooks.
  15. ↑ Goldman, Tom (2010-02-04). "Olympic Hopefuls Destined To Steal The Stage". NPR. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  16. 1 2 3 Hume, Mark; Smith, Beverley (23 January 2010). "Russian ice-dance routine falls out of step with natives". The Globe and Mail. p. A7. Retrieved 15 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Athletic achievements". VictorKraatz.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  18. 1 2 "Russians surprised after dance offends Aborigines". Yahoo News Australia. 21 January 2010. Archived from the original on 5 August 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "Aborigines claim culture theft over Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin's Olympic ice dance". Herald Sun. January 22, 2010. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 Harding, Luke (21 January 2010). "Russian skaters' Aborigine routine causes upset in Australia". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Oleg Ovsyannikov". Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  22. ↑ "Routine a didgeri-don't?". The Toronto Star. 25 January 2010. p. S6. Retrieved 15 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. 1 2 3 Oxley, Sonia (February 20, 2010). "Russians put blanket over Aboriginal row". Reuters. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Reilly, Tom (2010-02-09). "Skaters won't go native with Olympics costumes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  25. 1 2 3 "Russian skaters continue to use controversial Aboriginal routine". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2010-02-21. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  26. 1 2 3 Hamilton, Tracee (2010-02-22). "Tracee Hamilton - Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin aboriginal costumes are right to draw criticism". ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Armour, Nancy (22 February 2010). "Canadian pair in lead; U.S. second". Staten Island Advance. Associated Press. p. B6. Retrieved 15 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ Brennan, Christine (22 February 2010). "A Russian retreat in ice dancing". USA Today. p. 4D. Retrieved 15 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. 1 2 3 Bierly, Mandi (February 22, 2010). "PopWatch on Ice: Culture clash on Original Dance night". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  30. 1 2 Rogers, Thomas (2010-01-22). "Bring on the blades of glory!". Salon.com. Retrieved 2026-06-25.
  31. ↑ Mihoces, Gary (22 February 2010). "Canada and USA spin past Russians". USA Today. p. 4D. Retrieved 15 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. 1 2 3 4 "Russian 'Aboriginal' routine on thin ice". SBS News. 2010-02-22. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  33. ↑ Lakshman, Mihira (February 22, 2010). "Canada's Virtue, Moir lead ice dance". CBC.ca Mobile. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  34. ↑ Du, Xiaodan (February 23, 2010). "Russian dance team´s costume controversy CCTV-International". CCTV.com. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  35. 1 2 3 Gerstner, Joanne C. (2010-01-04). "From Davis and White to India, With Love". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  36. ↑ Wilner, Barry (23 February 2010). "Canadian pair dances to gold". The Park City Daily News. p. 5B. Retrieved 15 June 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. 1 2 "2010 Olympic Winter Games – Ice Dance Final Results". Skating Scores. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
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