2017-18 State of U.S. Ladies Skating

[andromache]

Dave Lease said that Mariah Bell should take La La Land - and to be honest I am inclined to agree. Mariah's LP is taking her nowhere, and she has the right look and emotional affect to carry it off. Her LP is just a mess.

I'm not happy about Ashley repeating Moulin Rouge, but I as a fan am not entitled to new programs, and I understand why she has made this decision. I'm hoping for enough new changes that it doesn't feel stale or old, and that the judges don't hurt her PCS. When you're considered to be the mature, artistic skater, I think you're risking how the judges perceive you when you go back to your most successful LP for the third time in four years.

 

[mrrice]

Dave Lease said that Mariah Bell should take La La Land - and to be honest I am inclined to agree. Mariah's LP is taking her nowhere, and she has the right look and emotional affect to carry it off. Her LP is just a mess.

I'm not happy about Ashley repeating Moulin Rouge, but I as a fan am not entitled to new programs, and I understand why she has made this decision. I'm hoping for enough new changes that it doesn't feel stale or old, and that the judges don't hurt her PCS. When you're considered to be the mature, artistic skater, I think you're risking how the judges perceive you when you go back to your most successful LP for the third time in four years.

So is it definitely that Ashley is dropping her new LP? As for Mariah....If Ashley can repeat a program, so can she. Bring back Titanic!! With her improved tech skills she could bring the house down with that program. It's been a long time since she did it last and I think it could work for her. I know she's not with Kori anymore but, she is still with Rohene and with a couple of modifications, I think they could produce a winner.

 

[Barb]

Do we know why Chock and Bates dropped it?

I think they have not officially declared that they have changed music or have they?

 

[Mrs. P]

I think they have not officially declared that they have changed music or have they?

They have. They are doing their FD to Imagine.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I'm not happy about Ashley repeating Moulin Rouge, but I as a fan am not entitled to new programs, and I understand why she has made this decision. I'm hoping for enough new changes that it doesn't feel stale or old, and that the judges don't hurt her PCS. When you're considered to be the mature, artistic skater, I think you're risking how the judges perceive you when you go back to your most successful LP for the third time in four years.

I'm not thrilled to see MR again, but I think it will have no effect on her PCS. If Ashley doesn't make the Olympic team or win an Olympic medal, it will be because of technical errors, not because she repeated the same program.

 

[Mrs. P]

So is it definitely that Ashley is dropping her new LP? As for Mariah....If Ashley can repeat a program, so can she. Bring back Titanic!! With her improved tech skills she could bring the house down with that program. It's been long since she did it last and I think it could work for her. I know she's not with Kori anymore but, she is still with Rohene and with a couple of modifications, I think they could produce a winner.

Rohene did not choreograph her Titanic program. She had it as a junior in the 2013-2014 season and repeated it when she became senior (and moved to Kori) in the 2014-2015 season. That said, it was done by her current choreographer, Cindy Stuart, so your premise would work.

 

[Moxiejan]

I think it is an L.A. thing. Michelle Kwan was spacey and kind of airheaded too in her interviews. But yeah, it's what they see on tv too. Kim Kardashian is regrettably an idol to many girls and she is the most vapid person on tv. Before her was Paris Hilton. Yuck.

I once had a long telephone interview with Michelle when she was quite young. I would describe her as "careful" in wanting to answer in a way that was not controversial. Certainly not spacey.

Really, most skaters are not "good interviews" because they either are just giggly kids (which, of course, many are) or very schooled in how to give "correct" responses. I only had 2 in which I felt I got more than rote answers: Brian Boitano and Damon Allen (now a coach).

 

[mrrice]

Rohene did not choreograph her Titanic program. She had it as a junior in the 2013-2014 season and repeated it when she became senior (and moved to Kori) in the 2014-2015 season. That said, it was done by her current choreographer, Cindy Stuart, so your premise would work.

Really? Well, if her current program isn't working for her or the judges, she may as well revamp East Of Eden like Ashley did with MR.

 

[Ginask8s]

thanks for this post. I wrote mine, just above, before I saw the link in the Programs thread. It's gorgeous!

Now she just has to top the white dress which was exquisite!

 

[andromache]

Now she just has to top the white dress which was exquisite!

It's just got to be modeled off of the silver dress. There's really no other outfits left. Though I would also advocate for something very simple and black. Satine without the glamour.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f7/eb/26/f7eb26479653de8ec1e3bb0c236b3b53.jpg

But the more simple look is, y'know, basically underwear.

 

[jenaj]

Ashley's return to Moulin Rouge is smart because most of the Olympics viewers don't follow figure skating in the off-season and will be seeing the program for the first time. It is also risky because the judges have seen it multiple times and it will lack somewhat the "excitement" factor for them. All things considered, it's probably worth the risk.

 

[Tavi...]

Dave Lease said that Mariah Bell should take La La Land - and to be honest I am inclined to agree. Mariah's LP is taking her nowhere, and she has the right look and emotional affect to carry it off. Her LP is just a mess.

IMO, the problems with Mariah's FS go beyond her music selection / cuts - the choreography does very little for her.

 

[Spirals for Miles]

On a more upbeat note, I'm so excited for Bradie! What a breakthrough for her!!

 

[el henry]

Rohene did not choreograph her Titanic program. She had it as a junior in the 2013-2014 season and repeated it when she became senior (and moved to Kori) in the 2014-2015 season. That said, it was done by her current choreographer, Cindy Stuart, so your premise would work.

Do we have any confirmation, other than IceNetwork which is not always current, that Cindy Stuart is Mariah's choreographer? I find it hard to believe that Cindy, whose work I have liked for Mariah in the past and who works with Sean Rabbitt, whose programs I love, is responsible for that boring mess of an LP that Mariah skated at the US Classic.

I said it months ago, I'll say it again. Rohene brought out the best in Mariah last year. And it was poor decision making, on someone's part, not to use him again this year. At least she's going back to Roxy....

 

[skylark]

Do we have any confirmation, other than IceNetwork which is not always current, that Cindy Stuart is Mariah's choreographer? I find it hard to believe that Cindy, whose work I have liked for Mariah in the past and who works with Sean Rabbitt, whose programs I love, is responsible for that boring mess of an LP that Mariah skated at the US Classic.

I said it months ago, I'll say it again. Rohene brought out the best in Mariah last year. And it was poor decision making, on someone's part, not to use him again this year. At least she's going back to Roxy....

I usually second-guess my passing thoughts, but here's one I had: that Mariah thru simple oversight might not have gotten to Rohene until he was too booked to work with her. He's been crazy busy this year; his clientele has expanded or even exploded! ... a fact about which I'm very happy. Or it could be a consideration of location and travel time. Cindy is in L.A.

I'm a fan of the choreographer being nearby; preferably right in the home rink, where their input is daily or nearly so.

Mariah's listing on p. 1 in GS programs thread has been updated to reflect a return to Roxie Hart, so I'm inclined to think the data about her LP is correct, choreo. by Cindy Stuart. I agree it seems completely wrong for her as performed at SLC, but maybe there's something in the vision that just needs to be brought out, and made visible. Well, it's possible anyway.

 

[Sydney Rose]

So is it definitely that Ashley is dropping her new LP? As for Mariah....If Ashley can repeat a program, so can she. Bring back Titanic!! With her improved tech skills she could bring the house down with that program. It's been long since she did it last and I think it could work for her.

I just rewatched her Titanic program and I think this is an excellent idea. As Mrs. P pointed out, it was actually her current choreographer, Cindy Stuart, who did that program for her so that should make switching less complicated for her.

 

[R.D.]

... But I do imagine Ashley thought hard about it ... she must have known that she'd get a ton of criticism for this choice. Just the speculation raised a ton of criticism. I think it's brave of her.

I think for someone like Wagner, it's an understandable move. Whether it's a wise move or not, I suppose time will tell, but it's certainly a strategic one. She can focus more on weak areas of her skating like spins and rotations on 3-3s, and less on choreo, etc. Ultimately, at the end of the day, the music is just a vehicle - the meat is in the content, doesn't matter what you skate to if your Tech doesn't cut it.

 

[skylark]

I think Ashley said her goal is to win an Olympic medal, and she undoubtedly went back to the two programs she feels give her the best chance to do that. It makes sense to me. She can focus on increasing technical difficulty and execution - which she must do to win a medal - and less on her interpretation, which is already strong in both programs. While it may disappoint those who follow skating closely, if she makes the team, the audience and judges will only see the end result - a (hopefully) very strong program /performance.

Most actors specialize - in drama or romantic comedy, for example - and they're often typecast (i.e., ingenue, leading lady, femme fatale, villain, etc.). Many classical musicians specialize in works of a certain period (i.e., romantic, baroque, etc.) or composer. When opera singers audition or compete, they usually use the same group of 4-5 arias each time; those arias were picked because they showcase the singer's strengths, minimize her weaknesses, and give her the best chance to win or get hired. I honestly don't see any reason why Ashley shouldn't do the same thing.

Beautifully said, Tavi. :agree: :2thumbs:

I really hope Ashley gives more insight into why she dropped la la land after all the hype other then "it makes me happy".

See Tavi's post, above. The other thing is that Ashley has given some insight, if you read between the lines, in her interview in which she talked about her past concussions and how they rewired her brain and have made it very difficult for her to learn and retain new choreography.

I don't really expect Ashley to use this as an explanation. She doesn't like to focus on injury or excuses before a competition. She said (after it was all over) that she didn't want to focus on the fact that for Worlds 2016 she was still experiencing effects of an injury from about a month before. She didn't want that to be her "story" going into Worlds.

Henceforward, I am going to try my darndest to follow her example. No, really. I am. :yes: :yes:

 

[Tavi...]

Didn't Shae Lynn Bourne choreograph Moulin Rouge? But Ashley is using Benji Schwimmer to update it? I'm curious as to why.

 

[Gullygirl84]

I wonder if the West Side story LP was the first one that Mariah had for this season, or if she had another one choreographed at one point that didn't work out? She skated to West Side Story as a novice (I believe) in the past, also choreographed by Cindy Stuart. She mentioned having "a few" short programs this season before going back to Roxie. It sounds like a crazy summer choreography wise/music choice wise.

I remember after Skate America last year that Dave Lease said that Rohene really spent time with Mariah before the event to get her into shape and do run-throughs before that event. Since she is back to Roxie, I wonder if he will have any time to spend with her before COR. I wasn't a fan of East of Eden, but I think that it accentuated the best of some of Mariah's qualities and disguised some weaknesses.