it shouldn't always be about SPEED though... some music calls for calm
it shouldn't always be about SPEED though... some music calls for calm
Very true. They have helped the sport of ice dance immensely in the US, and I have heard Meryl and Charlie say the same thing.Originally Posted by chuckm
Well...I like D/W and love B/A, maybe after Tan and Ben reatiring I will love D/W
I think Tanith and Ben improve a lot, they certainly did and I also feel that they regain a huge confidence and rediscovered the chemistry between them
finally they are back on track, they have many months ahead to train more, imporve more and you choose great programs that ffits them well.
( I juts saw moulin rouge and i think they could do one FD with that soundtrack)
Thanks for that post chuckm.
It's disheartening to see so much bashing of B/A when they have done soooo much for US figure skating and US dance. They really put US dance on the map with all their podium finishes and their Olympic Silver medal win.
I am a huge fan of Tanith and Ben but I am also huge fans of most of the US Dance teams. There really isn't too many I don't like. Just because I love and enjoy the others does not mean that I still do not appreciate and respect all that B/A have done for this sport. They, along with Roca/Sur, Punsalan/Swallow, and Lang/Tchernyshev put so many years of hard work and dedication into making the US get some respect for their dance programs. Because of all the hard work of these competitors and their coaches and choreographers have done, we now have an abundance of young dance teams that are able to win and compete with the top teams on the international scene.
B/A have made huge improvements in their skating and I actually loved their OD and their Tosca program. They were tentative in the FD but I thought it was still a beautiful performance and I felt their emotions, especially the tears in Tanith's eyes after their skate. I was devastated that they did not win the world title, but the positive of the situation is that they have proved to people that they were not washed up and left for dead. So many fans wrote them off and thought they had no shot of a podium finish, but they come out and proved them wrong. I really respect that and I love that no matter what the challenges they don't give up. They keep on fighting.
Next year, I will be rooting for B/A and the other US dancers all the way, and rooting for some other dance teams as well.
I think we have to step back as B/A fans and realize 1. not everyone is a fan and 2. it's not bashing to critique what they have and what they lack...
LOL!!! You have a point.
Oh I know people have their preferences. I have mine as well. I just get tired of some of the thngs that I read about B/A when it just seems as though they do not get their due considering all the things they have done for US Dance. They have done so much for US Figure Skating and been an inspiration to so many young dance teams that I just want to point that out because I feel as though they just do not get the respect other top teams, past and present have.
But thanks for the reminder from another B/A fan.
Thank you. I don't mean to bash. I know they have a great track record, I just don't understand it. Other teams seem to skate better, plus B/A's programs frequently seem unimaginative compared to others. Also, I see other teams making progress whereas B/A seem to go backwards or stagnate. I was hoping someone would enlighten me as to what I should be looking at when they skate. What am I missing?
I honestly just really like THEM as a couple and individually. I was hooked from their Elvis routine on.... they just seemed to have fun out there.
This year, yeah, it wasn't really Tanith and Ben... it felt very put on. I saw some little improvements in Tanith, but Ben is still the same solid partner as before, but his personality was muted, as was hers... if I wanted a "wannabe" Russian version of an American team maybe I'd like it more, but I'd rather they go back to Marina and get some programs that showcase what makes them great, which is themselves.
I felt the same way when B/K switched and went to Tarasova/Morosov - it wasn't them... and for whatever reason I felt they lost a lot of their charm. Victor just looked downright annoyed.
^I know what you mean Tonichelle, and I hope I didn't come across as bashing them, they just aren't my personal preference. But nothing can take away what they've accomplished. Some might question it, but their achievements have really done so much for US ice dance.
And I think that's why I wasn't more excited about them this season. Sure they (Tanith)improved, most notably by Worlds, but throughout the season they just felt flat to me. There is something intrinsically American about them, and this season if felt as though that aspect was being purposefully masked. They had such fun and engaging personalities on the ice in the past. While they are not my favorites I always did appreciate that. Without that this season there just wasn't much for me.
So I'm hoping they get dances next year that bring that aspect out more. I still think their best dance ever was Sarajevo; it was quirky and I think that suited them.
Their OD's. Over time, they have had some of the most excellent OD's of the post Grishuk era. (not so much this year though, but they did manage to get a late 40's feel to that non-tap tap dance. I don't think another team could have done that.)
I relate B/A to another fave of mine--Michelle Kwan. I think over the years with both B/A and MK that injuries have taken a toll over the skaters. B/A has the longevity that MK had and because of all the hard work that these skaters have to do it just punishes the body. Especially as the skater gets older, its harder for the body to bounce back from injuries. When B/A came onto the scene they were youthful, energetic, and take-no-prisoners type of dancers/competitors. Over the years, their skating has matured but I also think injuries have been a reason they are not as quick as they use to be. Just like with MK and her hip injury---it limited what she could and could not do on the ice.
I don't think I can point to any one thing or not for you to look for in terms of relating to the skater. You either feel the skaters or not and for me B/A pull me in. I can't explain why they do, but they just do it for me. I enjoy them. Just like I get pulled into Samuelson/Bates, Davis/White, the Kerrs, the Italians, and a lot of the other up and coming US dance teams.
B/A have said that this is a 2 year process for them so this year was about them experimenting, getting back to basics, getting confidence, and establishing themselves on the world scene again. Their coaches I am sure gave them these programs to get them out of their comfort zone and to see what material they could or could not handle. I am sure they will sit down in the offseason and come up with something that will showcase more progress that B/A will have with their new coaches.
I can certainly give B/A credit where credit is due. They have an outstanding career record and yes, have done much for US ice dance. But that doesn't change the fact that I don't get much out of their performances and they have simply never caught my attention. Which is really odd because prior to them, I followed US ice dance very closely. It always goes back to that intangible "it" factor for me, and B/A have never had "it". For me. That's all I can say. As lmarie put it, it's all your personal preference.
Thank you for all these nice comments on Tanith and Ben, I'm another fan of them. There is nearly nothing to add. I just can thay they fascinated me all the time because of their great personalities and their attitude towards the sport. This team had to fight so much in the past, but they never gave up. They had some amazing programmes, I still can't forget the Latin OD from 2006 and the performance to Elvis. I've heard in the past that they have no chemistry and I totally disagree: There is so much sympathy between them, they really like each other and they are a great team and very close friends. You cann feel and see that in all their interviews, during the little moments after performances and even on the ice, if they skate to music that fits them. I agree that these year's programmes weren't really Tanith and Ben, but they handeled them very well and showed a new side of themselves. I wish nothing more than that they can show their full potential next year and get the credit for everything they have done.
I agree that there's a very good chemestry between them on and off the ice, not the lovey dovey type, but you can see she admires him greatly and I don't think he could look any more proud of her as a partner when they talk about each other their eyes light up and it's all very sincere.
You found the right words to express what I was trying to say!
I alwas have the impression that he really cares for her and tries to make her feel comfortable. She never has to skate back to the boards after a performance on her own, he gently pushes her with one hand on her back. And there was one interview before the Olympics where she started to cry because her grandfather died and he tried to solace her. And she shows so many love for him during interviews and always has so nice words for him. Yes, I think "admire" was the right word.
Sorry, that goes really into detail now, but I'm just so proud of them after these World Championships.
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