Few years ago I watched a documentary on pioneer young girl skaters in one of the Arabic countries. Somehow they managed to get a coach from some Asian post-Soviet state (iirc Kazakhstan) and installed on a rink in a shopping center of some bigger city. Skated with their legs covered, surprisingly with no hijabs, maybe due to the young age.
The coaches and parents were saying that only way to exist and quietly evolve for them is basically being under the radar and slowly convince more and more people that the sport is not harmful to traditional Islamic society and position of woman within it.
Introducing same-sex pairs dancing would be very controversial and widely publicized reform, met with inevitable backlash from religious/traditional majority of Islamic societies, which is the last thing those young aspiring skaters need.
But again, revolutionaries never cared, never care and will never care about consequences and potential victims of their rapid actions.
I think you are mistaken here. I am certainly not a religious person but I do believe that in those religions where men and women are not supposed to interact, same sex partnership, especially all girls, would be an incentive to start ice dance, while it may be not permitted right now.... Also, it is not mandatory. I am pretty certain that we won't see same gender pairings from some countries and yet they will be common in others... See, in Europe, there are quite a few men doing artistic swimming.. In Canada, it's pretty non-existing. It's not because it is available that people need to do it.
Finally, I don't think that Skate Canada cares about what is happening in the tradiionnal/religious countries (and vice versa) when it comes to young kids skating.. Skate Canada shall focus on their own children's needs.
And you know, it's not the first time two men skate together... it has happened quite often in shows
(and yes, I am aware they are not skating in holds...)
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