Which Dance Teams Will Rise This Season?

[dorispulaski]

From the C&B interview, between Champs Camp and Nebehorn, they were restructuring their FD extensively. I like how it turned out very much! Especially the first section, which was the one they reworked most.

Since Nebelhorn, they seem to have been concentrating on the SD-I hope the SD improvements will match the FD ones.

But yes, I agree the SD needs a lot of work, both technically and performance-wise.

I also was surprised at how much I liked Orford & Williams' Free Dance to Titanic. Looking back to Autumn Classic, I preferred it to Gilles & Poirier's and Paul & Islam's performances there. I particularly like the Party in Steerage part of the program. For once in it seems a lifetime, twizzles really come organically out of the music and the story! And they performed that part really well at Autumn Classic! It is too bad how much thet struggled with the SD. Perhaps it is time that they leave Wing & Lowe.

 

[brushalley]

I think at this stage I would have Cooms/Buckland in front of S/K .We don't know yet how S/K will skate while C/B have skated together for a long time and have just had a great competition result in Nice.

 

[Mattieu]

Stepanova and Bukin over the Shibs? Everything else seems somewhat plausible, but I think the Shibs have better technique.

Don't underestimate the Russian politiks machine, with Tarasova personally backing S/B.
Also with Bobrova/Soloviev out through injury, the Russians badly need to push Sinitsina/Katsalapov, as there are no real stars and these are about the only couple with any possibility to be stars. Russian skating is a mess at the moment.

 

[WeakAnkles]

Don't underestimate the Russian politiks machine, with Tarasova personally backing S/B.
Also with Bobrova/Soloviev out through injury, the Russians badly need to push Sinitsina/Katsalapov, as there are no real stars and these are about the only couple with any possibility to be stars. Russian skating is a mess at the moment.

I wish I liked S/B more, but I just can't seem to warm up to them. They look like they have loads of talent and potential, but there's something missing there, some spark. It all looks very, well, dutiful to me. And dutiful isn't inspirational. M/K is similar--just can't seem to warm up to them either. Probably because I loathed their FD last season!

So far, I haven't been unduly impressed by ANY of the programs I've seen so far, though admittedly it is early days and there are so many couples we really haven't seen yet. I do like several of them (C/B's FD, the Shibs' FD, W/P's SD), and think they have promise, but nothing wowser! so far.

I do see Papadakis/Cizeron making a big move UP this season. Their FD may be my favorite program so far of those I've seen. And given what I've seen so far, I see a major halting to the upward momentum of Gilles & Poirier. W/P's FD is another bit of a disappointment.

Ah well, early, post-Olympic days...

 

[chuckm]

M&K recently skated their SD at Ice Star of Minsk for the highest score of the season so far. Has anyone found any video of it yet?

Ice Star is notorious for outlandishly high scores given to Russian skaters, especially considering it's at the beginning of the season.


OLYMPICS 2014 5 BOBROVA / SOLOVIEV RUS 172.92 69.97 102.95
OLYMPICS TEAM 2014 3 BOBROVA / SOLOVIEV RUS 70.27 70.27
GPF 2013 4 BOBROVA / SOLOVIEV RUS 166.72 68.90 97.82
COR 2013 1 BOBROVA / SOLOVIEV RUS 168.32 68.42 99.90
COC 2013 2 BOBROVA / SOLOVIEV RUS 163.42 65.70 97.72
ICE STAR 2013 1 BOBROVA / SOLOVIEV RUS 180.32 74.17 106.15

WORLDS 2014 7 SINITSINA / ZHIGANSHIN RUS 155.35 62.11 93.24
OLYMPICS 2014 16 SINITSINA / ZHIGANSHIN RUS 140.66 58.01 82.65
EUROS 2014 4 SINITSINA / ZHIGANSHIN RUS 153.73 60.63 93.10
NHK 2013 8 SINITSINA / ZHIGANSHIN RUS 124.23 44.34 79.89
ICE STAR 2013 SINITSINA / ZHIGANSHIN RUS 160.22 63.05 97.17


Look at the tech and judging panels for this year's event:

Referee Mr. Alexandre GOROJDANOV BLR
Technical Controller Mr. Walter ZUCCARO ITA
Technical Specialist Mr. Sergei BARANOV UKR
Assistant Technical Specialist Ms. Julia KOMLEVA BLR

Judge No.1 Ms. Raisa GAGARINA UZB
Judge No.2 Mr. Marcin KOZUBEK POL
Judge No.3 Ms. Lolita LABUNSKAYA RUS
Judge No.4 Ms. Rose Mary QUARTO ITA
Judge No.5 Mr. Roberts KRUTKRAMELIS LAT
Judge No.6 Ms. Zhanna SHEMET BLR

Oh, and as an aside, KAVALIOVA / BIELIAIEV (BLR) finished 3rd in this SENIOR event with a Total score (132.50) higher than ORFORD / WILLIAMS earned at the SC AUTUMN CLASSIC. K/B were 15th at JW 2014 and 32nd at Worlds 2014, not making the cut for the FD.

 

[IceVampire]

The Shibutani's have great programs this year (Specifically SD)

 

[Barb]

The Shibutani's have great programs this year (Specifically SD)

Totally agree, and technically they are among the best 3 or 4 teams. I dont understand why so hype about some couples as Paul/Islam when they are technically so deficient and artistically they are not great, yes, she is really beautiful but for me it is not enough.

And I love W/P FD, my favorite program this season.

 

[Skater Boy]

Chock and Bates have the momentum. We will see about the Italians; Weaver and Poje look vulnerable. It would nice to see a resurgence from The Shibutani's and I would love to see one of the Russians teams break through but I think lady luck is with C and B

 

[Elen2702]

Why don't you consider Ilinykh/Zhiganshin couple as candidates for high positions. They seem to be the most promising Russian pair. I believe that they can surprise us. They prepare their programs very secretive. Really wanting to see them.

 

[WeakAnkles]

Why don't you consider Ilinykh/Zhiganshin couple as candidates for high positions. They seem to be the most promising Russian pair. I believe that they can surprise us. They prepare their programs very secretive. Really wanting to see them.

That's rather the point isn't it--that until we actually see the programs, it is hard to know what if anything they may be promising?

 

[dorispulaski]

If, as reported, they are using the Ferrante & Teicher version of Antony & Cleopatra, along with Apassionata, for their FD, my hopes are not as high for them as they would be otherwise.

Why do they want to skate to Easy Listening elevator music version rather the Alex North original version version

 

[bramweld]

Lets wait and see. Lena pretty much chose the music used last year for I/K and she didn't do too badly. We don't even know how the music will be altered and arranged. If horribly wrong I'm sure they'll sort this out in time. If you just look at blade to ice and sheer artistry these two could be really great for Kustarova and Alexeeva. And these two have had their fair share of losses recently, so I really don't think they can have their only high profile senior team looking dreadful. Albeit K&A do have unusual taste in music case in point Y/M this year, but their FD (Y/M) is probably one of my favourites if not my favourite this season even though they're juniors. The Danes have my favourite SD. All of the usual suspects with few exceptions (maybe Pap/Ciz) have been rather average looking. Its times like these I really miss V/M, D/W and P/B.

 

[dorispulaski]

But it is times like these that bring out the best in ambitious younger teams, and we get completely new performances to love.

Otoh, for I&Z, this sounds like Ghost to me rather than like Black Swan.

But I too miss D&W, V&M and P&B

 

[snowflakebeautiful]

But it is times like these that bring out the best in ambitious younger teams, and we get completely new performances to love.

But I too miss D&W, V&M and P&B

Yes, I agree with you so much, Doris! I am definitely missing D/W, V/M, and P/B this season as we see more dances. There are definitely other teams I like, but I do feel that a lot of teams seem to be "playing it safe" in their choices this season...which isn't very exciting.

Personally, I'm really enjoying Papadakis/Cizeron and the Danish teams (as far as younger teams go). And I like Hawayek/Baker too!
I also think that Hurtado/Diaz's programs will be interesting to watch over the season. I just really enjoy watching their lifts.

EDIT: - I'm not sure who will end up on top this season, yet (since their are new teams we have yet to see). I'm just really ready to see all of the teams that we haven't yet!

 

[brushalley]

Cappellini/Lanotte are debuting their programmes this weekend so we'll have more of an idea how they're going to compete with W/P.Will they look and skate like the champions ?We wait to see

 

[dorispulaski]

Where will C&L be presenting their programs? And will there be video?

BTW, the Danish team will be competing at Ice Challenge in November, so there will be another chance to see them prior to Europeans. The only other team of note there will be the Shibutanis.

 

[Alba]

Chock and Bates have a big handicap IMHO, with their SD it has no spark. The FD however is lovely. So much will depend on the work that is currently being done by the dancers. Excited!

For me was the opposite. I thought they have a very good SD but I found their FD booooring!
I saw it once though, so I might get used to it and like it more.


I haven't seen the Shibs yet. Which competition did they partecipate? I need to find their videos.

Why don't you consider Ilinykh/Zhiganshin couple as candidates for high positions. They seem to be the most promising Russian pair. I believe that they can surprise us. They prepare their programs very secretive. Really wanting to see them.

The new couples need time, especially when it comes to Ice Dance.
I don't think it's fair to expect from them to be candidates for high positions so soon. Besides, there is no hurry.
IMO, what they have to show now is the potential. How much do they have for the future, not win.

 

[alithia]

For me was the opposite. I thought they have a very good SD but I found their FD booooring!
I saw it once though, so I might get used to it and like it more.


I haven't seen the Shibs yet. Which competition did they partecipate? I need to find their videos.

Nepela Trophy

 

[Alba]

Nepela Trophy

Thanks.

 

[dorispulaski]

Links to Nepela videos are in the first post on the Nepela thread.
http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?51643-22nd-Ondrej-Nepela-Memorial