Best/Most Important Michelle Kwan performances/programs? | Golden Skate

Best/Most Important Michelle Kwan performances/programs?

wordsworthgirl

Medalist
Joined
Sep 12, 2013
As my skating education of my new husband and stepdaughter marches on (I'm doing my best to get them ready for and invested in the skaters by Nationals/Olympics), we have reached Michelle Kwan. What are the 6-10 most important/best Michelle performances that will give them an overview of her career and show them what an unparalleled talent and joy she was?
Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions!
 

samson

Medalist
Joined
Aug 10, 2012
Oh god this is a tough question! I think 98 Nationals certainly comes to mind.

I also think to truly understand the scope of her achievements and what she did it's important to show the less happy moments in her skating to emphasize the triumphs and the level and presence and vulnerability she really was displaying on the ice.

Fields of Gold in Salt Lake for sure.

I know the two videos I've shown friends who know little about skating that have elicited tears from them are her free skate at 2002 nationals and either worlds or nationals in 2003.

Good luck! let us know how it goes.
 

attyfan

Custom Title
Medalist
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Mazel tov on the marriage! Michelle's programs between '96 and '01 have things that your hubby and stepdaughter may recognize in the CoP programs -- choreography, transitions, and the spinning in both directions (which is a feature that may move a spin up a level) -- that Michelle's post SLC programs didn't have. I would recommend:

1996 Worlds ... both SP and FS

1998 Nats ... both SP and FS

2000 Worlds FS

2001 Worlds ... QR (emergency boot repair before her QR -- her great skate in the QR shows something of her mental strength. Her 2004 Worlds FS ... complete with streaker ... also shows her focus)
 

wordsworthgirl

Medalist
Joined
Sep 12, 2013
Oh god this is a tough question! I think 98 Nationals certainly comes to mind.

I also think to truly understand the scope of her achievements and what she did it's important to show the less happy moments in her skating to emphasize the triumphs and the level and presence and vulnerability she really was displaying on the ice.

Fields of Gold in Salt Lake for sure.

I know the two videos I've shown friends who know little about skating that have elicited tears from them are her free skate at 2002 nationals and either worlds or nationals in 2003.

Good luck! let us know how it goes.

Great ideas and thoughts- thank you so much!

I am also planning to show a picture or video of her pre the 1996 transformation so they can see how young and little she was and how she came into her own in 96.
 

wordsworthgirl

Medalist
Joined
Sep 12, 2013
Mazel tov on the marriage! Michelle's programs between '96 and '01 have things that your hubby and stepdaughter may recognize in the CoP programs -- choreography, transitions, and the spinning in both directions (which is a feature that may move a spin up a level) -- that Michelle's post SLC programs didn't have. I would recommend:

1996 Worlds ... both SP and FS

1998 Nats ... both SP and FS

2000 Worlds FS

2001 Worlds ... QR (emergency boot repair before her QR -- her great skate in the QR shows something of her mental strength. Her 2004 Worlds FS ... complete with streaker ... also shows her focus)

Thanks for your kind words! Excellent points you make here. I am compiling a list based on your and Samson's great suggestions. Big Thanks!
 

noskates

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
My favorite program of Michelle's - East of Eden! The music was beautiful, the choreography was exquisite, and Michelle skated it with her heart. Was it important? I don't know. I just know that it was mesmerizing and really showed what a beautiful skater Michelle was.
 

museksk8r

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 31, 2006
Country
United-States
1995 Worlds LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMpLejOZkm4
1996 Worlds SP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGvRCis1upE
1996 Worlds LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJwtHxPifjo
1997 Ultimate 4 SP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfV0Ck1wlA0
1997 Worlds LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE0Blj2A0x4
1997 Worlds Exhibition Winter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8i-KY1nuHY
1998 Nationals SP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gjub2tjIGA
1998 Nationals LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdAv4NglqvE
1998 Olympic SP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88xpDflZ-lU
1998 Olympic LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AVOsh2Y5FE
1998 World Pro LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzIMASKRm_4
Dante's Prayer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZnp3fTlVwY
Kissing You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrFlbL0riDE
Hands http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGYxhM1NAjE
2000 Worlds LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY_9LvtnXn0
2001 Nationals SP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2D9DDQxwIk
2001 Worlds QR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-QDfrvNsf4
2001 Worlds LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F68ZUxutKE8
2002 Nationals LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR4VtmHh0Wc
2002 Olympic Exhibition Fields of Gold http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1r9u8ye8ME
2003 Nationals SP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5pL8LpFP6k
2003 Worlds LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfluAux0Sf0
2004 Nationals LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzcUIuD4xfo
2004 Worlds LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zir_Bj7Dw8E
2004 Debut of Bolero http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdM6yxjYli0
2005 Nationals SP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwr4zH53-bo
2005 Nationals Exhibition You Raise Me Up (unable to find video)
2006 Song for You Exhibition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4MbfKSX10I

If only limited to 10, I'd say: 1996 Worlds LP, 1998 Nationals SP & LP, 1998 World Pro LP, 2000 Worlds LP, 2001 Nationals SP, 2001 Worlds LP, 2002 Olympic Exhibition Fields of Gold, 2003 Worlds LP, & 2004 Nationals LP.
 

Blades of Passion

Skating is Art, if you let it be
Record Breaker
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Country
France
^ AMAZING compilation. A few more:

1996 Pocahontas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbLdsAh7_cc Phenomenal emotion and character study. This is what skating is missing so much of the past 6-7 years.

2000 Worlds SP. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX1RbjiLorc SO underrated.

1994 Worlds LP. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDEqF3ykrgA 13 years old and already you can see the consistency and radiance.

1999 Nationals LP. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdYMMAyyMWg Yes, she fell, but the rest of it was perfection and this version of the program is actually a little better than her 1998 World Pro performance, because of the stunning 3-3 combo.

Also, her 2001 Worlds SP performance is better than her 2001 Nationals SP performance that you linked. The costume was far better for the program at Worlds. ^_^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTO6104VEqc
 

amc987

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 12, 2012
If only limited to 10, I'd say: 1996 Worlds LP, 1998 Nationals SP & LP, 1998 World Pro LP, 2000 Worlds LP, 2001 Nationals SP, 2001 Worlds LP, 2002 Olympic Exhibition Fields of Gold, 2003 Worlds LP, & 2004 Nationals LP.

This. Michelle was sublime on all of these occasions. I think the 2001 Worlds LP is my favorite.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
I'm so glad you're introducing your new family to Michelle's work. Everything that's been mentioned so far is worth looking at. My top choices are generally Worlds 2001 LP (Song of the Black Swan) and Nationals 1998, both SP and LP, as well as the 1998 Pro-Am performance of East of Eden, but all the others are compelling as well. Enjoy!
 

iluvtodd

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 5, 2004
Country
United-States
Salome (1996 Worlds), Lyra Angelica (1998 Nationals), Dante's Prayer, Winter, East of Eden, Hands, Pocahontas, 2003 Worlds LP
 

FSGMT

Record Breaker
Joined
Sep 10, 2012
To show the qualities of her skating: 1996 Worlds FS, 1998 Nationals SP, 2004 Nationals FS
To show that she had difficult times, too: 2002 SLC FS
To show her ability to share her emotions with an audience: 2002 SLC Fields of Gold EX
A pre-1996 video could also help to make them understand how she improved...
 

miki88

Medalist
Joined
Dec 28, 2009
This is quite hard because there are so many to choose from!

Best performances: 1998 Nationals SP and LP
Most emotional performance: Fields of Gold (2002 Winter Olympics Gala)
Best exhibition: Dante's Prayer
Most important performance (s): 1996 Worlds SP and LP (Her first world title)

Honorable mentions: East of Eden, Dreams of Desdemona, Hands
 
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