Skateluvr and Ven, the other members of the forum would be grateful if you would put each other on "ignore." Here's how:
http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?35354-How-to-Ignore-Other-Posters
Yeah, but I thought that the 2010 experience was that way because Yuna had won gold and at that point she had nothing to prove anymore. I think when she talked about how empty she felt, it was because, well, she'd just won the most major award for her sport, so...now what?
If on the other hand she lands off the podium in Sochi, she might feel like she does have something left to prove.
ETA: Of course this is all just speculation on my part!
The question was about Ashley, but there she goes again...
I hate to say it but I also disliked her Swan program, although I recognize that she liked it and it gave her confidence. I hardly ever like anyone's swan skates. Swan Lake is the quintessentially difficult ballet. You just can't pull it off unless nature chose you to be a swan. I didn't hate Sasha's Swan Lake but I didn't love it either. Somehow, it left me cold.
Anyway, I loved Ashley's S/D and her SP from last year even more. I also like Romeo and Juliet. It's true what some people are saying that I don't exactly get Juliet from her but somehow it doesn't bother me. She does well to the music and at least Juliet is a person so there's no need to pretend to be a bird, which again, is so hard to pull off.
I think I said it before, and that was that Ashley had great rapport with Philip Mills. I really think Ashley is not letting us down this year. She is taking a risk with her SP choice. It is good, but not as good as the last two years were. Most of the ladies are competing with programs that are not as memorable as Ashley's LPs. We are comparing her more to BSwan or S/D than current LPs. I like both her Juliet costumes. I think she should skate to the music, not try to be Juliet. I wanted her to keep Swan. No one liked the idea, but the loss of Mills has taken the edge off her programs, but she will skate with power. I think skating cleanly with precision could win the bronze.
But she doesn't have to embody Juliet. Not needed to interpret.
She doesn't have to embody Juliet. She could also portray Romeo. Just like Hanyu seems to be portraying Juliet, or all the female skaters going for character portrayal to the tune of Nessun Dorma are apparently doing Calaf.If she's not embodying Juliet or interpret anything (I'm not sure what you're trying to say there), why is she even skating to any music at all?
She doesn't have to embody Juliet. She could also portray Romeo. Just like Hanyu seems to be portraying Juliet, or all the female skaters going for character portrayal to the tune of Nessun Dorma are apparently doing Calaf.
You're not alone. I didn't like her Swan program either. I thought her arms looked really stiff and it didn't feel very swan-like. I also don't like R&J either. Last year's LP was better, but it's still not my favorite. I prefer her short over long.
My impression was always that Ashley was portraying a character from the movie Black Swan. Though I didn't see the film, I gather one of the dancers kind of becomes unhinged after obsessing on the role of the Swan, and the jerky "wing" movements stem from the film portrayal. I didn't love this program either, but it certainly marked a watershed moment for Ashley as a confident skater.
She doesn't have to embody Juliet. She could also portray Romeo. Just like Hanyu seems to be portraying Juliet, or all the female skaters going for character portrayal to the tune of Nessun Dorma are apparently doing Calaf.