Greatest short programs in ladies' figure skating

[kiz_4Ever]

Yu Na 2007 Worlds
Carolina Kostner's 2003 and 2007 Pachelbel's Canon
Joannie 2010 Olympic (it was one of the most moving moments!)
Silvia Fontana 2006 SP in Torino06
many of Sasha Cohen

 

[Layfan]

I'm glad people are mentioning Oksana's Olympic Swan SP. I know it has many detractors but it's at least unforgettable. For me, one of the most memorable Olympic performances I ever saw. Oksana maybe have risen to the top of her sport before reaching her potential but she was certainly unique in her style.

 

[Olympia]

I'm glad people are mentioning Oksana's Olympic Swan SP. I know it has many detractors but it's at least unforgettable. For me, one of the most memorable Olympic performances I ever saw. Oksana maybe have risen to the top of her sport before reaching her potential but she was certainly unique in her style.

Thanks to you all and YouTube, I recently watched this SP for the first time since the '94 Olympics. I was pleasantly surprised to see how intricate and graceful it was. I'm not at all fond of her long program, but this SP definitely goes on my Hall of Fame list. It's one of the best translations of ballet onto ice that I've ever seen, and to me it does justice to both forms of movement. Galina's choreography was inspired. Moreover, I can't imagine many other skaters interpreting the choreo as beautifully as Oksana did. Maybe Asada or Cohen, though they'd do it differently, of course.

 

[sk8tngcanuck]

Joannie's Short from 2010 Olympics

Midori Ito
1988 Olympics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl3PelmX05M

Kristi Yamaguchi
1991 Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-vRIzbBMsg
1992 Olympics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KplWMCsgx2Q

Michelle Kwan
1996 Worlds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KplWMCsgx2Q
1998 Nationals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHfgjszz_Tk

Debi Thomas
1988 Olympics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChmdEFrn3OY

Caryn Kadavy
1988 Olympics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57AXUFZ_Vho

(Sadly both would see their dreams crushed after these performances)

Joannie Rochette
2010 Olympics
Unfortunately this is really difficult to find.

Here is a link for you - and I second that choice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzmpml4pUhg&feature=fvst

 

[prettykeys]

She has been an excellent SP skater over the years. I think 2004 and 2005 were her best, though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWB6GgJkgSM

http://youtu.be/2mHrWWWdp-g

YES!!! Carolina's 2005 Worlds SP is one of my favourites, and the best I've seen from her. Choreographed by Kurt Browning...captures a carefree joie de vivre perfectly. If anyone hasn't seen it...take a look!

Other favourites in chronological order:
- Michelle Kwan 1996 Worlds SP Romanza
- Michelle Kwan 1998 Nationals SP Rachmaninoff
- Sasha Cohen 2006 Olympics SP Dark Eyes
- Mao Asada 2006 Skate Canada Nocturne
- YuNa Kim 2007 Worlds SP Tango de Roxanne
- YuNa Kim 2009 Worlds SP Danse de Macabre

 

[Bartek]

And I like this Irina's sp "Cry of the forest" (1999):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hINNgBAqIxQ Just amazing! Her speed, her beautiful hands - love it.

WOW!! What an amazing program by Ira! I've never seen that. Speed and jumps fantastic like always but the spiral here is one of the best she ever did. She held it for 8 second with good extention and veeeery deep edge. That's something rare for Ira to sustain spirals, she usually ruched them with huge speed. I think it might the deepest edge in a spiral I've ever seen. And the artistry is beautiful. Of course all those Kwan fanatics will say her artistry is poor compared to the Kween or there's no artistry at all but I don't agree (maybe because I'm from Europe where Ira is loved), her artistry in this particular program is amazing.

 

[Olympia]

Bartek, I always remind myself that a Rembrandt is art but so is a Kandinsky or a Cezanne. There are many ways to be artistic, and Irina had her own style. And I say that as a Michelle fan. I might prefer, say, a Rembrandt to a Cezanne, but both get to be celebrated and admired. What's more, there are days when I'm in the mood for Cezanne.

 

[hikki]

Shizuka Arakawa 2004 NHK Trophy Madame Butterfly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q381hrTBzSE
I searched and searched and couldn't find this on youtube, so I uploaded it!

In this program all the elements blend in so seamlessly, effectively and beautifully with the music. Her understated confidence and presence as the world champion added something extra, not to mention the superb choreography by Tarasova. I love everything about it, the subtle arm movement at 1:01, the gorgeous spread eagle - 2 axel - layback right to the lovely melody, the grand spiral sequence (the edges, how fast she reaches each position, the way she holds them), everything! Too bad she had to make some changes later in the season which never had the same synchronisation.

Midori Ito '91 NHK Jalousie Espana Cani
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVPlMwqh0pY
One of the more 'refined' programs of Midori's. A bit different from the usual exuberant Midori, and the perfect 3 axel combo to boost!

Miki Ando 2007 Nationals Samson & Delilah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiptdeAP0A4
The most gorgeous 3lutz/3loop ever and so seductive. Post 'jumping bean' pre conservative Miki.

Kristi Ymaguchi 1996 (Ultimate Four Pro-Am program that beat Michelle)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWGTyPEdlXg


Of the programs already mentioned by other posters, my favourites are also:

2009 Yu-na Kim Dance Macabre
2007 Yu-na Kim El Tango de Roxanne - On top of everything I love the 3lutz (late in the program, the entry)

1997 Michelle Kwan Dream of Desdemona
1996 Michelle Kwan Romanza - Her signature make-over program

In my opinion, this is one of the best short programs that I have ever seen.

Oksana Baiul - 1994 Olympics SP Swan Lake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6zKfZVurJY

Totally agreed! That's the year I started watching skating and I remember being totally mesmerised. What a beautiful piece of performance art on the ice.

And I like this Irina's sp "Cry of the forest" (1999):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hINNgBAqIxQ Just amazing! Her speed, her beautiful hands - love it.

Wow I didn't know about this program thank you. Beautiful!

Here is a fantastic skate of Mao Asada to Fantasia for Violin and Orchestra.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1GfZW03lM4&feature=related

ITA with your entire post. My ultimate favourite Mao program, if not the figure skating program. I'm jealous that you got to see this live in Gothenburg!

She has been an excellent SP skater over the years. I think 2004 and 2005 were her best, though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWB6GgJkgSM

I somehow missed this. And I know why now- she was 5th in the SP segment and chopped from the Japanese telecast- I wonder how it would've been scored under CoP- The speed, the entry (loop)/distance/height/exist of the jumps, the harmony with the music etc- would've been difficult to justify low marks methinks. I'm a big Shizuka fan but Carolina deserved higher IMO.

On another note...
1994 Tonya Harding Much Ado About Nothing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGagm6DfZG4
What a wasted talent.

 

[jenaj]

There are many great short programs but only only one greatest. In my opinion, it is this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHfgjszz_Tk
(Michelle Kwan 1998 Nationals)

 

[krenseby]

There are many great short programs but only only one greatest. In my opinion, it is this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHfgjszz_Tk
(Michelle Kwan 1998 Nationals)

I think the strength here lies above all in the artistic presentation. She certainly sold that program. But the elements, jumps and spins, what do you think of their strength? I think my temptation is to compare the spins and jumps to what the top ladies do under COP and yet that's not fair.

 

[Bartek]

There are many great short programs but only only one greatest. In my opinion, it is this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHfgjszz_Tk
(Michelle Kwan 1998 Nationals)

I don't agree. It might have beautiful choreography and expression but with those jumps (flutz, poor height, no triple-triple) and easy spins it cannot be compared technically to Yu-Na's James Bond or Danse Macabre or Tango de Roxanne. The only thing Yu-Na does worse than Michelle in those SP's is a spiral sequnce which Yu-Na does terribly IMO. And the layback, Yu-Na's much more difficult but her positions are ugly like Michelle's when compared to Sasha or Alissa. I mean, the greatest ever is the greatest ever, it has to be complete, the whole package, right? Michelle had beautiful presentation but her technical elements are just not up to a level of some of the other skaters', e.g. Yu-Na's.

 

[mskater93]

But for that time in the 90s, that was an awesome program technically along with artistically. Why not go rip on Witt's programs too? I mean, her's weren't as technically exciting as Kim's either but she had what it took for the mid and late 80s.

 

[OS]

The Danse Macabre

A historical benchmark, a deal breaker and why I got shell shocked to become a fan of figure skating again after Michelle Kwan.

It is like waking up to skating 2.0

Ladies figure skating has always known to be graceful, beautiful, elegant, clever, but who knew ladies figure skating could actually rock hard with attitude and pure awesomeness we associate with men's figure skating. It has everything great about ladies figure skating + stunning piece of music, costumes, choreography, performance, everything come together at once. Call it bewitching, bewildering, out of this world, haunting, set your heart pounding with adrenaline rush marveling at the incredible display of athleticism of power, beauty, speed, grace, quality, and spectacular jumps going for broke, up the antes as the music gathering pace relentlessly. Simply brilliantly with everything comes together marvelously and exquisitely.

To anyone who don't consider figure skating a sport, they just need to look at the Danse Macabre and feel their blood boil and remember to close their mouth after.

It is truly an exceptional program that is worthy of the overly produced awesome fan videos such as this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nFr8AHKoq0

And here're the other 4 evolution of it side by side leading up to the WC master version of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnF3RuyiRj0

 

[Bartek]

But for that time in the 90s, that was an awesome program technically along with artistically. Why not go rip on Witt's programs too? I mean, her's weren't as technically exciting as Kim's either but she had what it took for the mid and late 80s.

I'm not going to rip on Witt's program. I'm just saying it's not THE greatest in THE HISTORY of figure skating. It can't be because there are other programs in history of the sport which are technically superior. Maybe some day Mao will do exciting, inspired and wonderful artistically short program with the triple axel, triple flip-triple loop and fixed triple lutz or her triple loop as a solo jump, with great spins as she always does and magnificent and very diffuclt footwork she usually does. Then, I'll say this is the best short program in the history over Yu-Na's short programs. And maybe in 50 years time there'll be a gril who will perform triple axel and quad in short AND will be as stunning as let's say Yu-Na or Sasha in terms of artistry/perfornance. Then, I'll say this is the best short program in history.

 

[parma]

People, please beware that the thread title says the greatest short programs, not the greatest short program. No need for direct comparisons and fan headbuttings.

 

[MrScroogeMcDuck]

If we're going to play this vs. game, then I will just state that if I could only choose to watch one female skater's SPs for the rest of my life, I would choose Kwan's. Kim's programs aren't anywhere near as memorable, IMO. So there.

Now, getting back to the point of this thread, I have so many short programs that I consider to be "great" that it's hard to choose just a few, but I'll try.

Kwan:

Romanza/Fiesta Flamenca http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iok96fRDFYA
Rachmaninoff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHfgjszz_Tk
East of Eden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2D9DDQxwIk
Feeling Begins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDTYqmcDFpM


Chen:

Spring Breeze http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-DeyZ5yY28


Asada:

Waltz Masquerade http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrEZgoPpCAI

Nagasu:

Pirates of the Caribbean/Fragile Dreams http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtkz_8phebA

Ito:

Yotei no Matsuri http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl3PelmX05M

Kim:

Danse Macabre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiC_OOZ82Lw

 

[blue dog]

Shizuka Arakawa 2004 NHK Trophy Madame Butterfly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q381hrTBzSE
I searched and searched and couldn't find this on youtube, so I uploaded it!

I know it's a simple move to some, but the head variation on the final scratch spin was very in-character.

 

[gmyers]

Sasha Cohen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELFerA2QZX8 2006 Olympics


This was so good it was the first one I thought of!

 

[christinaskater]

Romanza was absoslutely gorgeous during the 2006 Worlds! For me it was pure brilliance.

I also loved Dream of Desdemona, Rachmaninoff, East of Eden, Sparctacus, The Feeling Begins!

 

[hikki]

But for that time in the 90s, that was an awesome program technically along with artistically. Why not go rip on Witt's programs too? I mean, her's weren't as technically exciting as Kim's either but she had what it took for the mid and late 80s.

Off topic but speaking of the mid to late 80s, from what I've seen on youtube (thus those who were following skating then please step in!), I can't help but think the judging was massively reputation/politics/impression oriented, more so than now. e.g. Debi Thomas and Katarina Witt beating Midori (and Liz Manley whose skating was superior to Debi IMO)!

I know it's a simple move to some, but the head variation on the final scratch spin was very in-character.

Do you mean this move where her head faces down is in character with the ending of the opera? Please elaborate as I'm intrigued.