- Joined
- Mar 21, 2005
After watching her programs, I think there is so much potential.
My 3 favourite free skates are from Mao, Akiko and Ashley!
My 3 favourite free skates are from Mao, Akiko and Ashley!
Akiko's exhibition this year is just wonderful too, to Umbrellas of Cherbourg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LcCjjNiU5c
A friend of mine suggested a high profile coaching change will help her in the politics of the sport
I'm not too much a fan of her SP. I think the edit of music throws it off. I like that she's trying something different but I'm not sure it's working.
Her LP is probably the best she's ever had. Her arms and hands are so lovely in this program; it's a weird thing to focus in on but she really tells the story especially in the footwork. I love how the music speeds up and then slows down and I love the sweeping quality the last minute has. After the salchow to the end is just gorgeous! The spiral sequence is wonderful! I love the speed and the steps into her arabesque spiral, which has really improved over the years.
The music is different and new; I don't think anyone has skated to those selections so it really sets the program apart from Mao and Ashley (who are both using well-known pieces). It's a different style and I love it.
I like her SP actually -- and so does my non-fan husband. I can see how the music cuts seem a bit off-putting, but I sort of like the mix between tough and gentle music, kind of describes Akiko pretty well actually!
And yes the LP as an absolute masterpiece. I think it's good for Akiko to challenge herself with pieces that aren't as dramatic or performance oriented like her West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Dark Eyes or Die Fidermaus. I think it's more of a subtle, nuanced piece that I think is hard for judges to warm up to at first. In a sense, I can see why she was lowballed on PCS -- it doesn't have"in your face" performance quality like Ashley's FS, for example. It's the same reason, IMO, that Kozuka was underscored in PCS for his Exodus SP at SKAM.
Maybe the SP will grown on me...I love the footwork section and the hydro-blade move. Maybe a stronger performance of it will change my mind.
I don't think not understanding the program was the reason she was underscored. On reputation alone her scores should have been higher, never mind the fact she put out a clean program and Kaetlyn had mistakes. That was purposeful lowballing IMO. I don't think it had anything to do with the program...they wanted Kaetlyn to win and to do so, Akiko got held back. Sad but true...
After the salchow to the end is just gorgeous! The spiral sequence is wonderful!
Akiko is not considered as Japan's No.1 therefore do not have the full weight of JSF behind her maybe is the main reason she will never get good PCS when she couldn't even get it at home!
I have been an admirer or Akiko for sometime, especially her West Side Story Olympic program, and I was overjoyed hearing she was going to do 'Kill bill' and 'O' this year. What inspiring choices and great challenge for her! But having seen the actual work, I just wasn't as impressed as I thought I'd be.
These programs feel gimmicky, and it was skating by numbers with little correlation to do with the theme she has chosen. Her FS music edit simply does not flow, and between the transition of music changes there were little style references or acknowledgement in the choreography or interpretation. The whole program therefore felt generic, flat, emotionally removed rather than something special or even memorable. It is a shame, because I do love her peacock FS costume, but she might as well be performing to Carmen, and it would hardly make any difference.
Just what so 'O' about it? Was there any style reference to water, fluidity, the show even once other than the peacock feather recalls birds in her costume? Cirque du soleil 'O' show is one of the most imaginative avant garde extravaganza experiences in the world, I expect the program to do it justice, even 5% of it would be enough. I saw the Cirque du soleil Michael Jackson show a few weeks ago in London, I'd bet Florent's version of that show would be infinitely more lively, interesting and more relevant than this one.