It could be that most Americans tend to have programs absent of choreography and transitions (see almost all of the US ladies). Europeans OTOH tend to be more unfinished, but have superior programs in terms of transitions and choreo. Maybe that's what you're seeing?April said:From reading various post on GS, why are Americana programs not as respected as a European theme program? I see nothing wrong American skaters creating programs around American music. Is euro-folk dancing better than our jitterbug?
Joesitz said:Quote.........
From reading various post on GS, why are Americana programs not as respected as a European theme program? I see nothing wrong American skaters creating programs around American music. Is euro-folk dancing better than our jitterbug?. Unquote
I'm not quite sure what you are driving at. You may have a point by I do not see it. Can you point out the GS posts which led you to believe this?
A waltz in vienna is not the same as the waltz in Tennessee or the one that is done by that in Madrid. It would be fair to say that their are cultural differences betwen continents as well as countries, and indeed, some cities within the same country. It shows up in judging when one can detect that a group of judges united in a common language have the same subjective view while judging. The secrecy in present day judging has not shown that as it did in the past.
Sasha Cohen did a very nice job to Swan Lake without interpreting the ballet. Oksana Baiul mimicked 4 acts of Swan Lake in 4 minutes. Pick your choice.
Michelle Kwan did a very dramatic take on Tosca but did not follow the opera. Irina Slutskaya did at the last Olys and it proved her down fall with that 'headache' scene. Pick your choice.
Michael Weiss does character work on American Jazz, Toreadors, and recently as a civil war soldier. Pick you choice.
Philippe Candoloro interpreed many charcters on ice and he so very well.
Plushenko mimicked Njinsky with his poses but not his immortal dancing and certainly not his life or his ballets.
Oh, yues, Amber Corwin did a very nice rendeition of Holly Golightly this past season, costume and all.
Again, it would be nice to read your source of GS posts that laed you to this conclusion.
Cheers - Joe
shine said:I think your impression of GS is just wrong.
While I agree with the example of Weiss, plenty of people (see Baiul) have been successful using musicals. And B/A moved up 6 spots in the world rankings using Elvis, which they couldn't have done had European judges not "gotten" it.April said:Examples:
Belbin and Agosto Elvis program vs. any Russian folk dance,
Michael Weiss Patriotic meledly
Any broadway music
shine said:I still don't see how American theme is not favored by the judges. If you are talking about Weiss's program, it's not because it's of American theme, it's just because it's over-the-top, blatantly partiotic and very cheesy, and the choreography just sucks. I'm not sure how much the judges appreciate it, but the majority of fans on the internet certainly don't.
Kulik won Olympic gold skating to American music. B/S skated to Chaplin in 2001 and it was highly successful with the judges and a total crowd pleaser. N/K got a gold this year skating to Pink Panter. How is American theme SO unfavored? Not to mention the countless Hollywood soundtracks that have been used by skaters forever.
Maybe instead of being lazy, YOU should give a few specific examples so we can have something to refer to in this discussion.
shine said:Kulik won Olympic gold skating to American music.
PrincessLeppard said:HOWEVER, Green Acres is a distinctly American show watched by Americans. I lived overseas for 10 years, and I've never seen Green Acres on European television. So the cultural reference for Europeans won't be there if B/A go with this program next year. The costumes won't help, either, unless you know what hicks in America are supposed to dress like.
Laura
Not necessarily true. Cohen's LP at Worlds for instance, was totally absent of choreography but if you look at the Trophee Lalique version, it was packed with inbetweens including a nice serpentine footwork section, a creative and difficult final combination spin with her arms held behind her back throughout and elements before practically every jump. The dumbing down of that program was very disappointing.It could be that most Americans tend to have programs absent of choreography and transitions (see almost all of the US ladies).
and to skate to this music at worlds in Europe was not a wise decision. The reaction of the crowd in Dortmund showed him what the people thought about it.But it's not a good year for an overly patriotic American program.