Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron | Page 52 | Golden Skate

Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron

How did you understand the message Gabriella posted on Instagram 6 days ago? I think many - to not say all - people understood Gabriella got hurt by comments posted on the internet bashing P/C programs... The reality is elsewhere. When Gabriella posts this comment, she has not yet read any comments on their new programs. She posted a message after watching videos of other ice dance couples and reading the associated bashing comments. I guess her focus was mainly on the Team Gadbois (Mad & Zach competing in Finland together with Nick & Laurence and Olivia & Adria) but not only. Gabriella and Guillaume share a real friendship with many ice dance couples, including some of their potential challengers.
 
All the programs we could watched in the past 3 weeks are in their early stages and some parts will be changed significantly in the next weeks and months, until the Worlds in Hesinki. Now, it's very important for the skaters to get a feedback as soon as possible on their programs. The sooner is the better especially to identify weaknesses in a program. I am talking about interesting / motivated positive and negative remarks, not bashing comments obviously.
 
I have the feeling that comments bashing ice dance couples and their programs are side effects of coaches fights and rivalry. As some of you pointed out, several couples moved to Montréal in the last two years. And it's quite obvious some coaches did not really enjoy this "migration", especially for those who saw their former ice dance couples shining after moving to Québec...
 
I am anxious about that FD, it didn't give me goosebumps like the last 2 seasons FD :(

For those who are saying Gabriella looks weaker in this FD, please realise that she is just slower at learning new stuff, but she is more than capable and it will be fine by the GPs :)

Yes me too but they need more time on this one. The music is really not obvious to connect to. They gonna have to dig deep and I think they should go towards expressing anger to give it more texture thus reflecting better the music. It would also be a bit more of a departure compared to a softer/meditative style of theirs. As for Gaby, whatever, I just don't see it. If you look at their feet, the synchronicity is amazing so if he is that good, how can she be that bad. She absolutely could not keep up with him. I think people mistake the fact she looks quite vulnerable with weak skating. She doesn't project the same type of energy as Tessa or Elena who are much more dynamic/in your face type of skater. As a result, they project a lot of confidence but they do make mistakes too. Now, I'm far from being an expert on technics so Gaby might indeed be a bit less proficient than the best ladies on the circuit but I think people wildly exaggerate her weaknesses.
 
Why did my new avi disturb you? :biggrin: Well, I did keep the other one from the start until yesterday, lol!

You just answered lol!


Back on topic, the GP season starts very soon, I can't wait to see how it will go in the Ice dance field, which seems more unpredictable this year, as some couples are getting stronger, and favourites are less "clear". I mean, 1-2 should be P/C and V/M (but in which order?) but for 3? I'm totally unable to make a prediction now. This season is going to be exciting! And of course I can't wait the evolution in Gabi and Guillaume's programs. :love:
 
When I discovered the FD in August in Montréal, I thought the music choice would be for sure questionable. I really wondered what was the aim to select a piano music combining long silences and hard chords w/o any clear chorus. When I asked Guillaume about it, I understood it was a choice from the coaches but it seems I misunderstood him as Cocotaffy found an interview explaining this music was pushed by Guillaume himself! (BTW, Cocotaffy, could you post the link to this interview?). One thing is clear, both Gabriella and Guillaume told me they wanted to meet new challenges and passing on emotions and feelings to the audience while dancing on such atypical style of music was among these challenges. Well, why not? Now, there are so many quirky music styles so why choosing this one? What’s the message? What’s the story? It would be so great if their coaches could give some hints about their new programs. Marie-France recorded a brilliant interview in Bordeaux last year. I wish she will reiterate in Paris.

I also wonder up to which point the question of the music should be part of the challenge.
Let me explain a bit...
When Gabriella and Guillaume became World champions in Shanghai, some people claimed they won "because they danced on a Mozart masterpiece". Of course we know it does not make sense at all. Alisa Agafonova & Alper Uçar chose the same Piano Concerto from Mozart in 2015 and ended up at the ... 16th place! Second, the judges are focused on the technical and artistic elements, transitions, connection between the skaters, the quality of the skating, and so on. I guess they expect to see a choreography and a performance which fits with the music but they don't give marks to the music choice itself.
In Bratislava, while being interviewed by France Television after they won, Gabriella said something a bit strange: "We have demonstrated that our victory last year was deserved and not due to the fact we danced on a Mozart piece". Honestly, my first reaction was "Again? the Mozart story?" I clearly understood Gabriella wanted somehow to reply to these people who tried to play down P/C performance in Shanghai. Guillaume actually sighed deeply when Gabriella said those words. Was it a way to say “We just don’t care of these comments”? yeah, probably. I guess so. But still, is there any connection between the : "Mozart story" and this eccentric piano music choice? I don’t know but I wonder.
 
It's october, it is normal that the programs are not developed as in March (as do the World Championships now otherwise).
The reserves that you have on the free, I did not because the program is not "finished"; it will improve.
Remember last year in december, programs were too simple, Gabriella was not good (what a surprise!:scratch2:)
The score masters are certainly overvalued but this is not anything either, or I ask to become judge:sarcasm:
As for Gabriella, whatever she does she will take all the criticism (which must be the case from the beginning...12 years):mad:, I just hope it does not lose confidence. Guillaume is very strong but I doubt this is the case without Gabriella (but I'm sure that for some Gabriella striker Guillaume's talent:confused:).
 
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When I discovered the FD in August in Montréal, I thought the music choice would be for sure questionable. I really wondered what was the aim to select a piano music combining long silences and hard chords w/o any clear chorus. When I asked Guillaume about it, I understood it was a choice from the coaches but it seems I misunderstood him as Cocotaffy found an interview explaining this music was pushed by Guillaume himself! (BTW, Cocotaffy, could you post the link to this interview?).
Ok found it: https://www.pressreader.com/france/léquipe/20161007/281797103500156
But you did talk to them so was it a mistake of the journalist ? From the interview, I felt the coaches were not so sure and MFD wanted to make it more approachable ( which I think explain the second music choice )

You might be right about the music selection and them wanted to prove a point but I think they just want to experiment. I myself love the piece they found and I even wish they would just use this. I don't know if any of you listened to the whole thing, it's just glorious and it changes so much along the 16min MFD could have made up a great FD.
Here are the files (the whole piece was cut in 4 parts on YT)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mv2SqJ_i4s&index=2&list=PLB9FA0723B22DB1BA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLEPkQ97jk4&index=1&list=PLB9FA0723B22DB1BA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yrTfiTC73E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-FFW-RKLWM

When you were over there, did you notice them working with any dance consultant for their FD ?
 
Ok found it: https://www.pressreader.com/france/léquipe/20161007/281797103500156
But you did talk to them so was it a mistake of the journalist ? From the interview, I felt the coaches were not so sure and MFD wanted to make it more approachable ( which I think explain the second music choice )

You might be right about the music selection and them wanted to prove a point but I think they just want to experiment. I myself love the piece they found and I even wish they would just use this. I don't know if any of you listened to the whole thing, it's just glorious and it changes so much along the 16min MFD could have made up a great FD.
Here are the files (the whole piece was cut in 4 parts on YT)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mv2SqJ_i4s&index=2&list=PLB9FA0723B22DB1BA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLEPkQ97jk4&index=1&list=PLB9FA0723B22DB1BA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yrTfiTC73E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-FFW-RKLWM

When you were over there, did you notice them working with any dance consultant for their FD ?

I trust the Journalist from l'Equipe and the interview does not leave room for any doubts. The thing is Guillaume is not a talkative person (LOL).
In any case, this FD is quite dynamic imHo with many technical and artistic elements. Transitions between position changes are great. I need to see this FD live in Paris to get a better idea. Will they manage to bring the audience with them? I think they have the talent to achieve that for the audience in the rink (and obviously the judges!). Captivating people watching the competition on TV is more likely a bigger challenge.

Onsite, they rehearsed with Patrice Lauzon mainly. Romain Haguenauer was keeping an eye on what they were doing of course. There were several couples rehearsing so all coaches were quite busy. Now, to answer your question, I did not see any dance consultant when I went to Gadbois but they may have asked one to get advises.
 
Will they manage to bring the audience with them? I think they have the talent to achieve that for the audience in the rink (and obviously the judges!). Captivating people watching the competition on TV is more likely a bigger challenge.

.

They managed to do it (bring the audience with them) in Villard, people are not raised for music or because they were cold:yahoo:. Me too, I am impatient to see them again in Paris, and see how the program has evolved.
 
They managed to do it (bring the audience with them) in Villard, people are not raised for music or because they were cold:yahoo:. Me too, I am impatient to see them again in Paris, and see how the program has evolved.

Hey Maya!
This FD is at its early stage of course but I can imagine how tremendous it will be in a few weeks and of course for the Europeans and Worlds. Gabriella and Guillaume have a unique style and their connection on the ice is just fabulous. The words you used to describe your feelings while watching this FD in the rink of Villard remind me exactly my own feelings during the FD in Bratislava. These Two have something special. They are so talented and so able to create the magic by the quality of their skating and the softness of their moves. :luv17:
 
Now that I watched this FD several times - and still keeping in mind it is, at this point, a draft version - I feel like this program has a real and big potential. Trying such an unexpected music style is clever. This FD can't be compared to any other FDs of this season. Gabriella and Guillaume are very effective in captivating the audience while skating on a music with long silences and not everyone can do that, clearly.

In the end the question is not about the choice of the music but what they are able to do with it.
 
There's no reason why P/C won't be fantastic by Worlds - look at what happened last season with Papadakis' serious injury.

Programs are still commonly at least a tad rough/stuff at this point in the season. By the time spring comes around, the experience competing and any needed tweaks will make them FABULOUS!
 
I was watching skate america ice desk (short dance recap) from icenetwork and charlie white said that the french aka P/C are one of the best ice dance team of all time!!!!:luv17::)

nice
 
I was watching skate america ice desk (short dance recap) from icenetwork and charlie white said that the french aka P/C are one of the best ice dance team of all time!!!!:luv17::)

nice
Olympics champions (V/M, White...) recognized and praised their talent. He already said at last Worlds that he was happy that it was it was P/C who broke the WR. The man has good taste, hehe! ;)
 
I really enjoyed those close ups of their programs :)
that interview tho ahah omg. I guess Gab and Guillaume are reserved people and they were not really in the mood/in confidence to talk much.

I wouldn't confide in Dave either tbh, and they don't strike me as the gossipy type. Not that others are but they didn't even play along with that Instagram question or V/M.
 
Thanks Maya! Indeed a great video with lots of closeups as Daphenaxa pointed out.

Having watched the French Masters and TSL videos, I really feel the softness and tenderness of this program growing in me. There's so much emotion in this FD.... Unbelievable... Considering the huge potential of this program which is still under construction, I can imagine Gabriella and Guillaume will captivate the audience in Ostrava and Helsinki.

As for the SD, I am so happy they went for the swing. One must be fun and somehow crazy to deliver a great swing hence swing perfectly fits to Gabriella and Guillaume.
 
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