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2007 Russian National Figure Skating ChampionshipsIce Dance Highlights
All medalists have earned a spot at the upcoming European Figure Skating Championships. Compulsory Dance (CD)The Compulsory Dance (CD) for the event was the Golden Waltz. The dance was invented by Natalia Dubova, Marina Klimova, and Sergei Ponomarenko and was first performed at the 1987 Moscow Cup. Domnina and Shabalin delivered a powerful CD, emphasizing holds and displaying good expression to place first with 41.26 points. Clearly a class apart from the rest of the field, Khokhlova and Novitski placed second with 37.15 points after skating a fast, confident and smooth waltz. Rubleva and Shefer displayed smaller patterns in their dance, but were smooth and exhibited a nice glide. They were third with 32.51 points. In fourth with 31.85 points were Anastasia Platonova and Andrei Maximishin, followed by Olga Gmyzina and Ivan Lobanov (26.09 points), Anastasia Yakovleva and Ivan Manvelov (24.40 points), Ksenia Shmyrina and Denis Bazdyrev (24.15 points), and Julia Zlobina and Alexei Sitnikov (16.23 points). Original Dance (OD)The event continued with the OD in which the dance for the 2006-2007 season is the "Tango". Couples can choose one to three tango rhythms. If two rhythms are used, one can be repeated. Vocals are permitted. Domnina and Shabalin were sharp and precise in their routine, earning a level four on all elements. The current national silver medalists produced excellent synchronized twizzles, a midline step sequence, a diagonal step sequence, and a rotational lift. Their straight line and diagonal step sequence was very good, as was their dance spin. The team earned 63.67 points for a first place finish in the OD and overall (104.93 points). "I think each time we perform this dance, we perform it better and better," Domnina said during a press conference. "It's a very good program now, but we will try to make if perfect." Asked if they were affected by the starting order (they were first to skate of the eight teams) she replied: "We are always skating before our rivals this year. It's almost a tradition now, but so far it has been a good omen." Khokhlova and Novitski almost flew across the ice in their performance of Tango Jalousie. In some places, the students of Irina Zhuk and Alexander Svinin were too wrapped up in the emotions of their performance and as a result, had a couple of minor glitches, which, however, did not impact either the dramatic expression or the scores. They also received level fours for their elements, except for the diagonal footwork sequence, which was very good. The reigning national bronze medalists produced a smooth midline and straight line step sequence, as well as two excellent lifts, and a very good dance spin. They placed second with 60.11 points, maintaining second place overall (97.26 points). Rubleva and Shefer displayed good expression and attack in their dance, producing level four side-by-side twizzles, two very good level four lifts, and a level three diagonal step sequence. However, their combination dance spin was a bit wobbly and was graded a level two. The team was awarded 51.47 points, placing third in the OD and overall (83.98 points). Platonova and Maximishin displayed a lot of attack in their dance, but overall their program wasn't as expressive and smooth as Rubleva and Shefer dance. They included two very good level four lifts and a good level three combination dance spin. The current junior national bronze medalists placed fourth (51.09 points) in the OD and overall (82.95 points). Gmyzina and Lobanov delivered two very good level four lifts in their routine, but one was extended, resulting in a deduction. The team placed fifth (44.10 points) in the OD and overall (70.19 points). Shmyrina and Bazdyrev, who were seventh after the CD, placed sixth in the OD (43.74 points) and overall (67.89 points), while Yakovleva and Manvelov placed eighth in the OD (42.11 points), dropping to eighth overall (66.51 points). Zlobina and Sitnikov placed seventh in the OD (42.60 points) and overall (58.83 points). Free Dance (FD)Domnina and Shabalin opened their powerful routine to Borodin's Polovetsian Dances with a very good level four dance spin, followed by a solid level four diagonal step sequence, and an excellent level four straight line and straight line-rotational combination lift. The 2006-07 Grand Prix Final bronze medalists also produced good synchronized twizzles, an excellent level four serpentine lift, a very good level four circular step sequence, and an excellent level four rotational lift to earn 102.39 points for a first place finish in the FD. With a total score of 207.32 points, the Olympians, who were second last year at this event, placed first overall to win the title. Khokhlova and Novitski also produced an incredibly well done dance which featured good synchronized twizzles, as well as four excellent level four lifts (one in combination) and dance spin, and two very good level three step sequences. The 2006 NHK Trophy silver medalists earned 95.68 points for their routine to Aranjuez Mon Amour by Joaquín Rodrigo, placing second in the FD and overall (192.94 points). Skating to Swan Lake with Russian lyrics, Rubleva and Shefer produced a powerful program which included level four side-by-side twizzles, four very good level four lifts (one in combination with a level three lift), and a good level four straight line step sequence. The 2004 Junior National bronze medalists were awarded 85.36 points, placing third in the FD and overall (169.34 points). Performing to a flamenco, Platonova and Maximishin put out a very good level four combination dance spin as well as four very good lifts. The 2006 Karl Schäfer Memorial silver medalists placed fourth (83.20 points) in the FD and overall (166.15 points). Yakovleva and Manvelov, who stood in eighth after the OD, displayed good lifts, but seemed to be lacking somewhat in the serpentine and diagonal footwork sequences. The team placed fifth in the FD (72.01 points), moving up to sixth place overall (138.52 points). Gmyzina and Lobanov produced an interesting dance with good choreography which included a very good level four straight line lift, but the second portion of their diagonal step sequence was slow and graded a level one. The team also received a deduction for an extended lift (again), scoring 70.08 points for a sixth place finish and fifth overall (140.27 points). Zlobina and Sitnikov placed seventh in the FD (69.95) and eighth overall (128.78 points), while Shmyrina and Bazdyrev, who were sixth after the OD, placed eighth in the FD (66.51 points) and slipped to seventh overall (134.40 points). |
