Karas' Madonna-Themed Floor Routine a Hit
1/18/2018 1:54:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics, Features
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan women's gymnastics junior Olivia Karas is having some fun trying to get Madonna to come to one of the team's meets this season.
Karas' floor exercise routine is a mix of Madonna songs "Four Minutes" and "Vogue" and has quickly become a fan favorite. Karas is a charismatic performer on floor, drawing the crowd's full attention with her upbeat music, huge tumbling passes, catchy dance moves and wide smile.
She first decided to Tweet at Madonna after seeing someone comment on her floor music following the team's exhibition against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 3.
"It started as a PSA to try and get people to come to our meets," said Karas. "I was thinking about how cool it would be if she came since both she and her daughter came to school here."
Hey guys, it's Liv! Let's get @Madonna to join us this season as Michigan gymnastics' honorary member. Help ya gals out and tweet @Madonna to get her to come! #madonna2umgym https://t.co/95HFKADht6
— liv karas (@lil_livkay) December 31, 2017
Madonna, a Michigan native born in Bay City, came to the University of Michigan in 1977 on a full scholarship from the School of Music, Theatre and Dance. She then left after two years to further her dance career in New York City. Her daughter, Lourdes Leon, also went to school at Michigan. Â
Karas does not expect a response from the pop singer, but she has enjoyed using Madonna's song lyrics and GIFs of her to help promote her team.
"I don't imagine she has seen any of the Tweets, because how much time do celebrities have to look at their social media and respond?" said Karas. "It is just fun for me and makes me laugh."
Karas didn't start out with Madonna's songs in her floor music. She originally had her heart set on another song, but head coach Bev Plocki felt like there was something better out there for her.
"I was not opposed to the piece of music, but it wasn't coming together," said Plocki. "It is my job to make sure they have the best of the best. She is too elite an athlete to settle on something that is not totally awesome."
A couple of days later Karas found the Madonna piece and everything started to fall into place.
"I wanted something different," said Karas. "I was looking at '80s music like Michael Jackson and stumbled on this Madonna remix. I wanted something different that would connect with the entire crowd. I wanted something sassy and fun I could play up."
Karas worked with former U-M gymnast Reema Zakharia on the choreography. Zakharia works with several of the U-M gymnasts on their floor routines. The two of them came up with a routine that went perfectly to the music and was upbeat.
"My favorite part is after my first pass I do a walk like I am on a catwalk," said Karas. "It is a climactic moment in my routine because that is when the switch goes off in people's minds that they know the song. Reema did a great job of picking things I was comfortable with but also putting me a little outside of my comfort zone."
It is hard to get Karas out of a comfort zone when she is performing. Competition is second nature to the junior, who has scored a 9.925 and a 9.950 in the first two meets of the season on floor. She is ranked tied for fourth in the country with classmate Emma McLean.
Once again Olivia Karas wowed the crowd on floor as she scored a 9.950 against Ohio State. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/FEtLavgVH3
— Michigan Women's Gymnastics (@UMichWGym) January 18, 2018
Karas is excellent at making the crowd feel like she is performing just for them. She has mastered the art of making eye contact with fans in the stands, her teammates, judges and even television cameras to really bring people in to her routine.
"She's phenomenal at that," said Plocki. "We train for that and for some people, like Olivia, it is natural. For others, it is like pulling teeth. Olivia is a performer. She is outgoing and charismatic. Instead of feeling pressure at competitions she just goes out there and performs because she enjoys it."
Mixed in with her outstanding choreography are three tumbling passes that make the routine complete. She starts with an Arabian Double Front but is also working on a Double Layout to potentially start her routine. Her second pass is a Front Layout, Front Full and her final pass is a Double Pike.
The routine is one Plocki thinks can compete for a national championship.
"This is a routine that can contend with anybody in the country," said Plocki. "I think Madonna would be pretty impressed and Olivia would make her proud."
As a dancer, Madonna would certainly appreciate the performing style of Karas. For now, Karas is just fine with showing her routine to college gymnastics fans in Ann Arbor and around the country.
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