Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin | Page 86 | Golden Skate

Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

I don't think that Averbuch gave them a dud, he gave them a program that they could cope with (not something their Exes got imho). And the FD has grown on me, it's both dramatic and romantic and different from the SD, I like that. I also like Ruslan's posture in the FD, I think he "frames" Elena nicely so she can shine. It's true that some parts in it are a bit blank and I'm looking forward to the changes they'll make!
 
MK's Winter said:
I don't think he intentionally gave them a dud. We have to remember this was first program choreographed. And it was don't at the very beginning of their partnership and don't have a type of style yet. I believe the SD was choreographed after. I think it is an ok starting point. They found their type of style in their SD IMO. They are fiery and passionate. In sure they will have a better FD next season since they have developed a lot since the beginning.
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I agree with you on this, and I'm not a lover of their FD at all.
It was very difficult to make a program for them, at the end of May, when they had no idea what was their style and ability. Plus, as you said, they are getting very good PCS, so in the end it doesn't seem to be a big deal. The SD is a total different story. You have an established pattern there, a precise theme Paso, and a well-defined role: Carmen. It's easier to work on something that you actually have an idea what you have to do. Furthermore, it was done from someone who has that music/story in his blood and culture.
 
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I missed the whole converstation...
First of all, I see no russian ice dance community not caring about I/Z,I hated the conspiracy theories back in the summer, and they didn't turn out to be true anyway.So people should be careful with what they read, where they get their translations from and what to believe in the first place.
The beauty factor that I see overstressed here , always gets me, cause ,sorry, there is no beauty factor. I/Z are striking young people and I don't know that beauty has to do with people having blue eyes or blond hair. But what I see around the net, and thank God I can speak fluently quite a bunch of languages is respect and admiration for I/Z.
I understand that some I/K, and especially Nikita fans, want to support him, or wanted I/K back, but this is sad right now.Today,for example,I read some post saying that I/Z will become champions but what about poor Nikita, so I/K should come back, and I came to realise that some people think that they leave these skaters' lives, probably wanted to even date some of them, and here we go.

That said, I like the FD a lot. It was made for a team that didn't know what is their style, showcases them , their chemistry, their skating skills, speed and amplitude of skating and I completely disagree that it lacked in the top five or that Averbukh did that on purpose. Don't buy into conspiracy theories that are purposefully thrown around for fans to believe.Cause the facts showed a different case.
Elena herself said that they went for simple so they could do it and that after Rostelecom they realised they can do more. The good thing is that I/Z have a great coaching team, the program gets the PCS ( and hey..IK with Ghost got over 100 at Euros...what can be worse) and judges like it enough to put it ahead of both the Shibs and G/P who are older teams at the GPF. And this is what counts.

Now, I get sad whenever I see that some people can't get over I/K in a way,or try to treat I/Z as if they are a I/K sequel.
I/Z are Russian Champions, they will be champions of much more things in the future,trust me, and they are totally different than I/K were,different skaters, different style, different chemistry, normal relationship,no drama and intrigues, so please don't try to make them I/K.

I think I had a lot of drinks:laugh2:
 
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Their FD has grown on me, I particularly liked their GPF performance.
Also, I think that white dress is perfect cause it makes the programm look lighter. Black dress and all the drama is too much, I actually don't mind the grey one but I don't like the cut of the skirt, I would prefer it to start lower that the waist line(if you know what I mean).

And words cannot express how much I love this team. They have IT factor, I feel how warm-hearted, passionate they are. They are no way a sequel of I/K, they are something totally different, something more genuine. (and I was a huge I/K fan). Not to mention that probably most of their SD views are mine :) *watching it at least once a day*
 
I think you have also consider that Kustarova apparently took the approach to build I/Z up slowly, instead of overwhelming them with technical difficulties. For example their lifts are rather simple compared to what I/K and S/Z did last year, but their twizzles are much harder compared to what the other couples are showing and their step sequences are very strong for a new couple.

Regarding their FD, I have to say that nobody knew that they would be this good so early, so I hope the changes on the FD will include more transitions in dance holds.

I would love I/Z to do a Tango FD one day, I totally think they could pull something like this off.
 
Alba said:
I agree with you on this, and I'm not a lover of their FD at all. It was very difficult to make a program for them, at the end of May, when they had no idea what was their style and ability. Plus, as you said, they are getting very good PCS, so in the end it doesn't seem to be a big deal. The SD is a total different story. You have an established pattern there, a precise theme Paso, and a well-defined role: Carmen. It's easier to work on something that you actually have an idea what you have to do. Furthermore, it was done from someone who has that music/story in his blood and culture.
Click to expand...

Part of me hopes, even though I think it's over used, that they do a Carmen FD. I am so ashamed!! Head goes down...
 
I'm holding out for a brilliant, sexy tango for Ruslena... You just know Elena would kill it! (And Ruslan is no slouch either...)
 
MsLiinaLii said:
Their FD has grown on me, I particularly liked their GPF performance.
Also, I think that white dress is perfect cause it makes the programm look lighter. Black dress and all the drama is too much, I actually don't mind the grey one but I don't like the cut of the skirt, I would prefer it to start lower that the waist line(if you know what I mean).
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I don't care what changes they make to the FD for Euros, I just want the white dress back!! :drama: And hair up like at Nationals. I'm not at all a demanding fan...
 
uhh said:
I don't care what changes they make to the FD for Euros, I just want the white dress back!! :drama: And hair up like at Nationals. I'm not at all a demanding fan...
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I feel like I am the only one who thinks she can pull off any of the dresses. I'm not going to lie I want to see her in Emerald green. She was born to wear vibrant colors.
 
I think that the FD isn't bad but is better than some people give it credit for. However I think that it's really hard to keep up the energy and passion in the dance because the whole thing has intense music. Maybe if there were more highs and lows it would have been easier for them to interpret.
 
MsLiinaLii said:
Their FD has grown on me, I particularly liked their GPF performance.
Also, I think that white dress is perfect cause it makes the programm look lighter. Black dress and all the drama is too much, I actually don't mind the grey one but I don't like the cut of the skirt, I would prefer it to start lower that the waist line(if you know what I mean).

And words cannot express how much I love this team. They have IT factor, I feel how warm-hearted, passionate they are. They are no way a sequel of I/K, they are something totally different, something more genuine. (and I was a huge I/K fan). Not to mention that probably most of their SD views are mine :) *watching it at least once a day*
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I absolutely agree on everything, I was a huge I/K fan also and these two are something different.I feel like they are what was missing from the old teams

https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/mihsersh/album/458104/
A lot of great pics, short dance and fd draw
 
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LisaM said:
The one where Ruslan does his jump. :drama: My heart. (And maybe some other parts :biggrin::slink:) But my God, Elena, what an amazing performer. The thigh grab in the last pose even, just wow.
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Look at Elena's hands. That girl never hits a wrong position and she does choreography down to her finger tips.
 
Marta25 said:
I would love I/Z to do a Tango FD one day, I totally think they could pull something like this off.
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If they don't, I'm sure ''tango year'' for short dance is coming soon. ;) Last time was 2007 we watched tango as original/short dance. Argantine Tango (2008) and Tango Romantica (2010) skated as compulsory dances of course but it was not same thing.

Next season is ''waltz year'' for short dances. Probably there will be option to skate waltz+tango together but I like pure waltz much much more.
 
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Even though, I not a fan of their FD, I grown to love it purely because of their connection together. Someone mentioned earlier, that character driven programs are better suited for these two with which I agree with wholeheartedly. With the SD, they not only had a talented choreographer but I think they did a lot of research on how to portray these characters. They mentioned something of the sort in an article that they studied Spanish/Paso culture and probably looked at videos of Carmen performances from the Royal Opera’s version to the movie Carmen Jones. On a side note Elena’s SD reminds we of the dress Dorothy Dandridge wears in Carmen Jones. http://www.thecubiclechick.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/carmen-jones.jpg
Elena and Ruslan hands down excel at portraying passionate-fiery characters, and like others said I would love to see them to a Tango down the road. I think Elena and Ruslan have a colossal capacity and capability to portray of variety of characters and themes and should try and explore different programs. I read a post suggesting that that Elena which make a great Sally Bowles from Cabaret and thought, hey, Ruslan would make a spectacular Emcee. These two could pull off just about anything IMO like

-something flirty-sexy like “Light My Candle” from as Mimi and Roger from Rent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M4IcF1JXNU
-something sweet-romantic for an exhibition like “Give in to Me” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVrSChJPfhw

I have a ridiculously long list of music I want them to skate with beginning with the Purple Rain Soundtrack and the Broadway musical “Bridges of Madison County” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sVw6zJo-R4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvLS1FWsZac

With waltz SD for next season, I’m not sure what type of music I want Elena and Ruslan to use contemporary, gothic, romantic, classical, etc. Here’s waltzes I like.
Evgeni’s Waltz from the W.E. soundtrack for a SD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bdOJ18ZX5U
Waltz Again from Bliss Soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELGARaaE2Qg
Waltz for Eva and Che from Evita: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVtxXDVbLfg
Waltz to the Death from Batman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx3Zen-Knrk
Learn to Do it from Anastasia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3jGQhRDsOk
A Waltz for a Night from Before Sunrise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELShwgATJvQ
Howl’s Moving Castle Main theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owddukdxFv4
Wedding Waltz from the Beekeeper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-UtUDQi4aY
Be Be Your Love Rachel Yamagata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuLRZD1m14w
Waltz in C Minor I Origins soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4xYRiWoqIs&index=11&list=PLjsXp1MpoPMzPaYjnL3a-eTmfx7rBJNmp
How Can I be Sure by Dusty Springfield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEKHZ02R6eU
 
elif said:
If they don't, I'm sure ''tango year'' for short dance is coming soon. ;) Last time was 2007 we watched tango as original/short dance. Argantine Tango (2008) and Tango Romantica (2010) skated as compulsory dances of course but it was not same thing.

Next season is ''waltz year'' for short dances. Probably there will be option to skate waltz+tango together but I like pure waltz much much more.
Click to expand...

Hah, and here comes my waltz wish!
 
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