Some performers reach out to us, some draw us in. It's all good. :yes:
on point, beautifully said!
it literally pains me, especially this particular season, that there is so much talk about teams being too robotic, shaming teams due to the way they are expressing or the worst one - that they stole from other teams and made a poor copy of someone else's program. I mean - I do get that we all have different tastes and different things speak to us, but I'd love to see more consideration in opinions and a better attempts/more time spent on 'getting teh bigger picture' of each team, instead of current and so frequent making judgements sorely on one performance of one program. If I had this way of assessment, I'd be detesting most of current top ice dance teams, but fortunately I actually try to reach beyond my not liking the program/not liking the expression/choreography/music etc.
As you pointed above - some teams reach out to us and yesterday Madison and Evan did that for me. Most of you probably know that I am not a big fan of this duo in general and as I appreciate them taking some major risks, it is a bit of hit/miss situation and lately they seem to have a sinusoide in outings, one good, then one worse. But yesterday - despite of my opinion that this FD is too busy, risky in expression in general and there are too much gimmick factor in it (but it's my general taste for programs) - I can't deny a technical maestry, flow and poise of that performance. Yes, they were a bit slower than usual (so were other teams as well), but the sharpness, crispness and almost aggressive attack in execution were all there and I think that this is what this FD needs to shine on its fullest. This was a first time it all clicked together for them - exceptional timing, execution of tech elements, fierceness in expression, seamless transitioning, even those new costumes elevated the performance I feel (on a side note, this type of dress looks amazingly on Madison and I wish she'd have one in similar cut in deep red/burgundy with more sparkle for next year's SD). I'm really glad they bounced back strongly from that GPF disappointment and hope they'll build on that, because they are an integral part of that diverse ice dance reality we have now and I do want to see all those teams at their best, regardless of my personal tastes and opinions.
And some teams are drawing us in, which Maia and Alex did for me. Yes, their performance yesterday was not their best I feel - to cautious, careful and there was no such tension building which I felt at GPF. Yes - it could be seen as lacking a bit of their usual sharpness and clinical quality in places. But that being said, it was still a drawing performance, a performance of program with so much thought put in it, so much personal input, effort expressed. I pointed this in many previous threads, but will repeat it now - I do get that it is easy to take this program of them, compare them to others and then judge it as robotic, boring, bland or expressionless, but it is a major injustice for me, looking from where Maia and Alex are coming with this program, what dancers and performers they are. For me, it is a motioned statement of their strenghts, experience and relationship/dynamics between them - there is that combination of subdued music, giving that tension-building effect to the tempo change and their clinical, minimal, thoughtful skating, an understated movement, quiet, but sharp and precise. Their softness, minimalistic approach is building for that final part. For me, their unity, almost 'mirroring' themselves, being one's another continuation is really exquisitely matched with that music. Being subdued and reserved in expression does not mean not having any expression at all, it is all about perception and a desire to dig deeper, at least it is what I'm doing.
Overall - my biggest emotion is about Kaitlyn and Jean-Luc, I am devastated for them, I honestly can't wrap my head around their catastrophe in FD...I just wish they won't be too much beating themselves, because it will not help anyone. They have to focus on next season, try their best as they have so much to offer
