other kinds of female artistry

[gkelly]

I'm sure we can all think of plenty of examples of beautiful artistic programs by skaters who emphasize traditional classical beauty in their choices of how to present themselves on ice. We can probably also think of examples of female skaters who choose to play up their sex appeal.

What about other choices that female skaters have made? What are some good examples of successful female artistry that's not primarily about beauty or sex appeal?

Here are a few to get started:

Thomas

Harding SP
Harding LP

Witt 94

Gusmeroli

I'll add some more later.

[dorispulaski]

Stephanie Rosenthal!

SP 2006 Rockit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnkku5aJzZM

One of the best things about this program is Dick Button loving it despite the jumps not being top notch!

The audience also loved it.

[emma]

Stephanie Rosenthal!

SP 2006 Rockit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnkku5aJzZM

One of the best things about this program is Dick Button loving it despite the jumps not being top notch!

The audience also loved it.

That was such a great program, and if I have my years correct, her LP that year was to Andean music and it too was very creative and I really enjoyed it!

I am finding both Kostner's SP and LP very interesting this year - the music is interesting to me and the shapes she creates on the ice with her long limbs really just make it hard for me to look away...

[dorispulaski]

Stephanie's LP, to Andean music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9y1ui80eRA

[gkelly]

Yup, I was going to add both of those too! And I think those were a good example of IJS being used well, since she got significantly higher scores for choreography, etc., than for skating skills.

[mmcdermott]

Good thread! I was thinking of posting something similar in the Skating and Feminism thread from last week. I often wonder if the ladies and their coaches feel (rightly or wrongly) that they'll get weaker marks for non-traditional programs. It seems like there is a wider diversity of music and costume choices in the other disciplines.

Carolina Kostner's LP came to mind for me as well. It's an interesting example because, IMO, her costume completely changes the feel of the program. If she was wearing a pretty dress it would feel more like a traditional beauty type of program.

And surely there must be some examples from Surya Bonaly?? I don't remember well enough to look for any in particular ...

[gkelly]

This is probably my favorite Bonaly program

The question, raised in the feminism thread now in the political forum is: Was the reason she wasn't ahead of Baiul-with-touchdown, or even Kerrigan as one of the comments below the video suggests, because of her choice of style or because of her weaknesses in technical areas such as edge quality throughout the program?

Same with other occasions when she skated landed more jumps and lost to skaters with more refined technique.

How can we separate skating technique -- especially the aspects that result in graceful movement or classical body line -- from gendered artistic choices?

[Spun Silver]

Midori Ito is the greatest example to me with her athletic style. It can't be denied that her appeal comes not only from her astounding jumps but also her charm and her irresistible smile, though. I guess you could reduce those to "gendered artistic choices." Would a feminist rather Midori not smile?

[Olympia]

Oh, my, how could anyone not want to see that radiant smile? What a lovely spirit Midori had. I remember when she fell out of the rink and collided with the cameraman. As she got up and hastened back onto the ice, she was apologizing to the cameraman.

She's a great example of nontraditional style, especially because she's very musical and obviously enjoys expressing the piece she's performing to.

[callalily]

Midori Ito is the greatest example to me with her athletic style. It can't be denied that her appeal comes not only from her astounding jumps but also her charm and her irresistible smile, though. I guess you could reduce those to "gendered artistic choices." Would a feminist rather Midori not smile?

Plenty of men smile when they skate. Charm and a smile have great appeal, both from men and women.

Midori Ito was a phenomenal skater and I loved her guts, enthusiasm and joy for skating; thanks for mentioning her.

[callalily]

Joannie Rochette and Cynthia Phaneuf have skating styles that are polished; they can be sexy (in exhibitions) or elegant in a more restrained way, yet they are very powerful. Neither is a princess; they express womanliness in a different way.

[dorispulaski]

I loved Midori, and her total joy in skating.

Here's Midori in a more princessy mood, but I still love it:
The Rose of Pain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dg3jlLS9W4

Gracie Gold may develop in a nonprincessy way. She has the power, now does she have the will?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D04eVuX_mbI

[claphappy]

Alena Leonova is the first person that comes to my mind.

The second person would be Krisztina Czako. I absolutley adore her Addams Family program. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi0FazjCHRQ

Akiko Suzuki is another skater I'd put in this category; more for her presence than for her programs. The same goes for Joshi Helgesson, despite her incredibly pink lp costume this year.

[Poodlepal]

This is a great thread. I hate that every woman seems to skate in the exact same style now, to very soft, slow, music. If you watch videos from years gone by (before Michelle, whom I love, but blame for popularizing this style of skating), the music was much faster and louder. I don't know if the skating was faster, but the overall impression wasn't one of such delicateness and gentleness. I think trying to skate in that mold hurt Rachael, Kimmie and Mao. When Tonya and Midori did triple axels, it seemed like an exciting, energetic type of jump. Mao and Kimmie seemed to have to do them so wispily so that it fit in with their serious, quiet music. Irina Slutskaya was another one who didn't fit that dainty mold, but seemed to try to force herself into it for whatever reason.

[cosmos]

YuNa certainly has a traditional beauty but her Danse Macbre shows other kinds of female artistry.