- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
THE DANCE
There were two styles of Dance shown in Hartford. If we take The Tango as an example, we saw skating anger throughout. Why do skaters get so angry when doing The Tango? I believe The Tango is a dance of seduction. It's not about a quarrel. The object of The Tango is Amour!! not Anger. Those of us who watched from up front were laughing at the facial expressions.
The other style of dancing for most of the contestants seemed to have the theme: "The Struggle of Life." The heartbreaking performances would bring tears to the most stoic viewer.
Two couples dared to be different: Novarro/Bommentre had the audacity to display pleasure in dancing. What a concept!
The Kerrs, unfortunately, danced with fear of the American Calvary coming to take their land away. What a waste for this talented couple.
Then there was Denkova and Staviski. enough said, nothing short of stunning.
THE MEN
I must begin with It wasn't a splatfest. The Short Program, once again, showed how exceptional Nobari Oda is in thrilling the audience with the requirement elements. However, as in the past, does not carry over into his Long Program. The elements for the LP are there but somehow he loses the audience thrill.
Evan, the comeback kid, showed solid skating in his LP but it was not there in his SP and I thought he was held up in the SP.
Alban Preaubert carries on the french tradition of non conformity. He has an edgy (not ice edgy) style which shows little technique yet he completes all his elements. One does sit on the edge of one's seat when he is skating.
It was a good Men's event for all the skaters and it should give them confidence for the future.
THE PAIRS
There was nothing exceptional about Pairs. Nan/Leftheris are still in the 'potential' stage. Little booboos kept them from rising to the top. Rena and John have seen better nights. The Siudeks were faulty. Vise and Trent have the mirror image against them. One Russian team Efaieva/Menshikov have normal body heights which I like and they move well.
THE LADIES
Amercia's new sweetheart should change her SP music, Just plain drab and it caused a non support from the audience. However, she too, is a comeback kid, and her LP was quite thrilling. Mao is beatible, at least I think that at this moment in time. Miss Ando was very very clever to put a series of high level jumps at the end of her routine. Morozov to be praised for that, although it took away from a beautiful program because they looked just tacked on. Katy Taylor better get with it if she expects to be US Nats bronze medalist (sans Sasha). Emily was no great shakes either. It is the first of the big ones and there is time to work and tweak so let it be.
The big surprise was Sara Meier who lost the bronze by tenths of a point. Poor Mao.
The hotel fire was a hoot as was the entire Russian contingent from Simsburry in the bar at night. Kulic, Platov, Urmanov, Morosov, and many more.
Joe
There were two styles of Dance shown in Hartford. If we take The Tango as an example, we saw skating anger throughout. Why do skaters get so angry when doing The Tango? I believe The Tango is a dance of seduction. It's not about a quarrel. The object of The Tango is Amour!! not Anger. Those of us who watched from up front were laughing at the facial expressions.
The other style of dancing for most of the contestants seemed to have the theme: "The Struggle of Life." The heartbreaking performances would bring tears to the most stoic viewer.
Two couples dared to be different: Novarro/Bommentre had the audacity to display pleasure in dancing. What a concept!
The Kerrs, unfortunately, danced with fear of the American Calvary coming to take their land away. What a waste for this talented couple.
Then there was Denkova and Staviski. enough said, nothing short of stunning.
THE MEN
I must begin with It wasn't a splatfest. The Short Program, once again, showed how exceptional Nobari Oda is in thrilling the audience with the requirement elements. However, as in the past, does not carry over into his Long Program. The elements for the LP are there but somehow he loses the audience thrill.
Evan, the comeback kid, showed solid skating in his LP but it was not there in his SP and I thought he was held up in the SP.
Alban Preaubert carries on the french tradition of non conformity. He has an edgy (not ice edgy) style which shows little technique yet he completes all his elements. One does sit on the edge of one's seat when he is skating.
It was a good Men's event for all the skaters and it should give them confidence for the future.
THE PAIRS
There was nothing exceptional about Pairs. Nan/Leftheris are still in the 'potential' stage. Little booboos kept them from rising to the top. Rena and John have seen better nights. The Siudeks were faulty. Vise and Trent have the mirror image against them. One Russian team Efaieva/Menshikov have normal body heights which I like and they move well.
THE LADIES
Amercia's new sweetheart should change her SP music, Just plain drab and it caused a non support from the audience. However, she too, is a comeback kid, and her LP was quite thrilling. Mao is beatible, at least I think that at this moment in time. Miss Ando was very very clever to put a series of high level jumps at the end of her routine. Morozov to be praised for that, although it took away from a beautiful program because they looked just tacked on. Katy Taylor better get with it if she expects to be US Nats bronze medalist (sans Sasha). Emily was no great shakes either. It is the first of the big ones and there is time to work and tweak so let it be.
The big surprise was Sara Meier who lost the bronze by tenths of a point. Poor Mao.
The hotel fire was a hoot as was the entire Russian contingent from Simsburry in the bar at night. Kulic, Platov, Urmanov, Morosov, and many more.
Joe
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