It seems that sometimes in our zealous discussions, we on this forum become so fixated on being right that threads seem to devolve into the same old quarrels. So in the interest of some laid-back fun, when are times that you've been proven wrong about a program, only for it to be oh-so-right? What are programs that have, against all your predictions, pleasantly surprised you? Whether it be by an obscure music choice, or even a more common piece that you didn't expect to fit a particular skater's style (sometimes, it seems to me that our opinions of particular skaters tend to get calcified over time, perhaps a bit unfairly), or a combination of skater/music/choreographer that worked out unexpectedly well -- I'd love to hear both the reasons for your initial apprehensions and prejudices as well as why, in the end, you found yourself actually enjoying the performance!
For my part, the most recent and significant surprise for me was Carolina's Bolero program this past season. To be honest, Caro had not been one of my personal favorite skaters and I, like many, was wary of her decision to use Bolero. Even at the beginning of the season it took awhile for her choreography to warm up to me but her performances throughout the season eventually won me over. As far as I observed on this forum, it seemed that those who didn't like the program seemed to criticize it as lacking in transitions and other elements. While I tend to defer to other posters' technical knowledge and such, in the case of Caro's Bolero I personally appreciated how every movement seemed to have such definite purpose and was meant to exactly punctuate the music with such relentless drive. It's a bit hard for me to articulate but I think with the COP system there is a tendency to forget that there can be artistry and drama even in a more precise economy of motion and in negative space. Even I am susceptible to this stylistic prejudice out of my usual preferences but, despite all this, Caro's Bolero truly drew me in.
For my part, the most recent and significant surprise for me was Carolina's Bolero program this past season. To be honest, Caro had not been one of my personal favorite skaters and I, like many, was wary of her decision to use Bolero. Even at the beginning of the season it took awhile for her choreography to warm up to me but her performances throughout the season eventually won me over. As far as I observed on this forum, it seemed that those who didn't like the program seemed to criticize it as lacking in transitions and other elements. While I tend to defer to other posters' technical knowledge and such, in the case of Caro's Bolero I personally appreciated how every movement seemed to have such definite purpose and was meant to exactly punctuate the music with such relentless drive. It's a bit hard for me to articulate but I think with the COP system there is a tendency to forget that there can be artistry and drama even in a more precise economy of motion and in negative space. Even I am susceptible to this stylistic prejudice out of my usual preferences but, despite all this, Caro's Bolero truly drew me in.