Dance of the knights is certainly the most powerful and well known piece from Prokofiev's R&J, but perhaps more suited to the role of Romeo, or Pair/Dance.
I thought the music was a little too ponderous. There are some other cuts of Prokofiev's R&J that would have helped tell the story better. What's there would be difficult for anybody to interpret.
I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in Ashley's R&J program. After her transformation in 2012 and 2013, this seemed like a step back. I miss the little things she did in her Black Swan and S&D programs that really made them stand out--the bent arms in her spiral in Black Swan and that really cool move into her Biellmann--following the beats of the music--in S& D. I really do not understand why she split with Mills, who I assume added those little nuances that were so effective. There is nothing really exciting in her R&J program and I don't like the music cuts. Warhorse music has a place in an Olympic year--I think Mao, for instance, is going to get extra points just for skating to the Rach 2, which is always a crowd-pleaser. Likewise, Max's skate to Carmen. If she was going to use the Proko R&J, she needed to use the familiar parts more. And why David Wilson, who will always save his best for Yu Na?
And why David Wilson, who will always save his best for Yu Na?
I don't think Wilson is the type of choreographer who gives best effort (only) to his main top students.
Last season, Wilson gave good or great programs to Chan(LP), Javier(LP), Kozuka(SP), Korpi(SP), Elene G(SP) etc.
This season, among Wilson's works, for me Chan LP is awesome and Oda SP & Wagner LP are (very) good.
And why David Wilson, who will always save his best for Yu Na?