Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

[madison]

They will be just fine with the SP. It's the kind of music that drives you into the program, as a skater and as the public. The crowd will support them greatly on this music. I am happy with the 2 pieces they chose for their SP and i would love to see more inovative choices and programs at the others skaters too. My only concern is whether they will be able to make a cohesive program out of these 2 songs, but i guess it depends on the way the music is cut.
On the other hand, I am not very happy with Frida, especially the vocal part which i found too dramatic (hope they will not used it). I think they could have found better alternatives for their FD, something more unusual and surprising, but in a good way.

 

[Meoima]

I am very curious about the music cuts.

 

[Tanka]

I am an IZ fan but I'm unhappy about both of their choices. The SD especially. I am all for trying new things, but... Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall when dance judges last rewarded modern music, unless your name is Virtue/Moir. I am worried about if this is a right move on IZ's part as this is still early in their career and they need to establish themselves firmly. I see this as a big risk. Call me 'negative' if you want, though I prefer the term 'sceptical'. I'm still wishing IZ the best though, and especially so against their former partners.

I also think that less original and more classical music would do better for the judges but if IZ cannot be comfortable with it then they should go with what they want. I personally want to see 'rock you' much more than, say, Waltz Masquerade but I also want IZ to raise as high as possible with marks and placements and I admit that they don't choose the easiest way. While I applaud their audacity I also worry about the outcome.
Had they already skated for three years and had their technic fully synchronized I'd be calmer but risks are much higher for them as a newly formed pair.

 

[uhh]

I am an IZ fan but I'm unhappy about both of their choices. The SD especially. I am all for trying new things, but... Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall when dance judges last rewarded modern music, unless your name is Virtue/Moir. I am worried about if this is a right move on IZ's part as this is still early in their career and they need to establish themselves firmly. I see this as a big risk. Call me 'negative' if you want, though I prefer the term 'sceptical'. I'm still wishing IZ the best though, and especially so against their former partners.

Stepanova/Bukin's Beatles program won a European medal, Davis/White Eleanor Rigby - 1 GP medal and a 4CC silver, Delobel/Schoenfelder were unbeaten and getting world record scores with their Great Gig in the Sky program until Isabelle got injured, G/P came from not even being Russian no. 1 & won the Olympics with a rock&roll program, and I could go on and on... The judges won't automatically take against more modern music, they just have to use it properly and make sure they don't rely on having popular, well known music do the work for them like the Shibs did with their MJ program.

 

[bramweld]

Both their music choices in my opinion are genius; they're fresh and suit their on ice personalities. They will not be lost in the crowd of classical choices. This Olympic cycle is four years, the second year is the perfect one to experiment. But personally I hope they stay on till 2022.

Have you guys listened to this version? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYQm1Fn5VD0We will rock you fits in nicely. I think they'll be using the air guitar potion of we will rock you primarily.

Remember they have had these ideas for some time now, so I'm sure the fed is aware of their choices. Have you taken a critical look at the majority of the Russian team; B/S, S/B, Y/M, S/K, Z/G etc? I/Z are the most compact and exotic looking pair, pulling off classical themes would be a stretch for them as they don't naturally fit the mold. I/Z made choices to suit themselves and to show them off at their best ; highly intelligent if you ask me. Give the boys the benefit of the doubt till you see the actual programs.

 

[bramweld]

Stepanova/Bukin's Beatles program won a European medal, David/White Eleanor Rigby - 1 GP medal and a 4CC silver, Delobel/Schoenfelder were unbeaten and getting world record scores with their Great Gig in the Sky program until Isabelle got injured, G/P came from not even being Russian no. 1 & won the Olympics with a rock&roll program, and I could go on and on... The judges won't automatically take against more modern music, they just have to use it properly and make sure they don't rely on having popular, well known music do the work for them like the Shibs did with their MJ program.

Precisely right. Z/G are also skating to Queen for their FD this coming season.

 

[uhh]

Also, looking down what people did the last time we had a waltz SD, all the Marina & Igor teams went super traditional, but then in the rest of the top 10 finishers at Worlds, there were people using Etta James (W/P), Chess (B/S) and Que Sera Sera (C/L), plus I/K's Schnittke, which is technically "classical" but was also a really modern and quite divisive piece of music. Doing something that's not a usual ballroom waltz hasn't held people back before. Somebody to Love also has a nice swing to it and the the emphasis on the 1st & 3rd beat helps with the 3 turns on beat 3 and the swing rolls. It's also got quite a good drive to it in the way that B/S's Chess piece did in 2011 (that was really their only program with Kustarova that I liked, so I'm still optimistic about this). More reservations about the march part, but we shall see.

As others have said, the fed will be in touch with them all the time like they were last summer - maybe there was already someone with them in Moscow when they did the choreography unless Kustarova or Aleexeva left the training camp as well? And then there will be feedback in August from test skates, and then open skates later - if it really really doesn't work by then, there's time to change it to something more traditional because at least they'll have the pattern down, they'll move around twizzles & the lift but the only thing that would need to be completely re-done would be the march/polka/foxtrot part.

 

[Tex]

Now I am over my initial surprise at the SD choice, I've decided to focus on the costume possibilities for our rockstars! I want something like this dress: http://www.insideskating.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_0901-copy.jpg it was for Swan Lake but she only ever wore it in practice. Less feathers needed this time round, but something like the cut outs on the skirt would be perfect for adding some edge.

Love that dress!

I wonder if Ruslan is gonna try guyliner since they are doing a rock-modern waltz. I think it would look good on him.

 

[ppoison]

Love that dress!

I wonder if Ruslan is gonna try guyliner since they are doing a rock-modern waltz. I think it would look good on him.

love that dress too! thanks for sharing @uhh i've never seen it. And yes, i was wondering the same about Ruslan and eyeliner

 

[Tex]

Here's a DWTS Viennese waltz to "Somebody to Love" with Mel B and Maks http://youtu.be/h9W9xHldorY

 

[ppoison]

if you wondered how it would look like on the ice : https://vimeo.com/130779740

 

[bramweld]

if you wondered how it would look like on the ice : https://vimeo.com/130779740

Curious now as to how they will incorporate their theme with the choreographic touches and their SS. This is gonna be light, tongue in cheek fun in stark contrast to their Frida.

 

[uhh]

I loooove D/V, thank you for that video ppoison!

 

[Alba]

On the other hand, I am not very happy with Frida, especially the vocal part which i found too dramatic (hope they will not used it). I think they could have found better alternatives for their FD, something more unusual and surprising, but in a good way.

Do we already know the music they're using for Frida?

Precisely right. Z/G are also skating to Queen for their FD this coming season.

They're using it for the FD though. It's completely different.

 

[alithia]

They haven't announced the FD selections yet

 

[bramweld]

Do we already know the music they're using for Frida?



They're using it for the FD though. It's completely different.

I know. But what would ice dance be if not for the risk takers to make things interesting. They are 21 and 23 if they don't take risks now when can they? Let them live a little. For years we complained bitterly when others played it safe every single solitary season, if these two want to take a risk, I say go for it. These two are intelligent people and they know their federations politics if they're choosing to be brave who are we to second guess them? All we can do is cheer for them.

 

[solani]

I don't think that "Somebody to love" and "We will rock you" are risky music selections. Quite to opposite, if you want something modern to begin with. The wedding waltz for at least half a dozen weddings I've attended was to "Somebody to love" and all marching bands I know have their version of "We will rock you".
I like it, the crowd will go grazy, this will be so much fun!

 

[alithia]

I don't think that "Somebody to love" and "We will rock you" are risky music selections. Quite to opposite, if you want something modern to begin with. The wedding waltz for at least half a dozen weddings I've attended was to "Somebody to love" and all marching bands I know have their version of "We will rock you".
I like it, the crowd will go grazy, this will be so much fun!

You don't even know how much I agree with you. My first impression was ' risky why'?. It's one of the most popular modern waltz choices, the march too.

 

[Marta25]

I can`t wait for the new programs! I want them to do so many different styles, that skating only until 2018 is waaaay too short. It`s a pity that they have found each other so late. It`s weird that this teaming up was more of a coincidence, but they look as if they were meant for each other on ice.

 

[alithia]

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