^^ Why don't we wait until next season before pronouncing judgement. I recall some four yours ago when all D/W had was their great elements and practically no danceyness or great transitions to speak of. They may not be my cup of tea but they have improved nicely.
As per I/K if their SD is any indication they CAN do more than drama!! So I'll wait before passing judgement. They are only 19 and 22 and mind you they adore V/M so I don't think they want to be labelled in any one particular category. Just a feelin...but time will tell.
Let‘s wait for World Championships judgement. Appropriate and non-appropriate GOE and components will show us how much judges appreciate real dancing and in what direction they prefer to develop this cathegory.
In SD I&K ignore the rhythm outside of finnstep, the choreo ignores ballroom overall and quickstep requirements as well (even dancing charleston for few seconds to quickstep music), and the story is – Nikita adores Lena and Lena is beautiful and presents herself to judges. No ballroom. Beautiful dress and smiles, but for me this is once again the same game like in FD and like past three years.
I know they are young - it can explain their simple choreo and not understanding deep emotions which especially Tchaikovski really really needs. But using their age I can’t excuse not keeping the rhythm and not expressing even ballroom dances – but this complain goes once again to Morozov (and previously to Zhulin) – he is the one who should learn them how to keep the rhythm and what is ballroom – quickstep about. Why didn’t he do that, that is a real mystery for me. Maybe they spent so many time learning new lifts, that they didn’t have time for other things…
While fans are kind and support the couple no matter how they skate, it is great. But judges should judge what they see on the ice wihout looking at. It this case Sinitsina & Zhiganshin should get 114 points for free, because they are younger then I&K, their choreo is more difficult, their presentation is much more into music and they keep the rhythm better then I&K. And if they make a mistake in choreo lift – come on, they are young (if judges excused Nikita problematic twizzles and forget to put down a level and GOE, they could close their eyes above that not successful lift as well, no?).
Soloviev had a brain concussion, back injury, at the end of previous season groin injury. Denis Ten had problems with both health and boots – this all caused that they couldn’t train properly for whole Olympic season (being young doesn’t protect you in front of practises). But I didn’t notice that judges would excuse Soloviev or Ten because of anything. And overall judges are sitting on their places to judge skating, they shouldn’t be influenced by anything else (injury, age, any Federation’s opinion).
I would be very glad to see that I&K start to be like V&M in same way. But I start to be sceptic…I&K talk about liking V&M since we know them internationally – 2009/2010 season. Now we have 2013/14. Both couples have deep edges, both couples tries to look like people in great relationships. V&M’s skating description – close holdings, dancing positions, difficult lifts greatly done, understanding of any music, keeping the rhythm – I&K are far to it. Why, if they love them and want to be like them, why I&K were not inspired by dancing style of V&M? Why is I&K‘s style closer and closer to pair cathegory every year? One minute in FD non-touching? Isn’t it a record in ice dancing? Why judges didn’t look at this? Holds are in compents description.
I will be happy if Ice Dance cathegory will return to dancing…I still see some couples who can dance. If I&K start to work not only on lifts but also on many other dancing aspects and if they increase a number of real dancers on the ice one day, it will be a great thing and big plus for skating overall.