Nathan Chen | Page 532 | Golden Skate

Nathan Chen

We don’t know if Sam is the sole choreographer for this program. The program he’s best known for - Virtue & Moir’s Moulin Rouge - he was a co-choreographer. As for translating/connecting this movement to blade work/skating - they are at Gadbois - so I’m thinking someone there can help if needed :)

We have no clue if this is actual choreo or if they are just working on movement. Wondering if they are working on a hip hop program?
 
So, reading all the posts from the past few days… did I get that right, Sam has never done a competitive FS program single-handedly, as the sole choreographer (only exhibition numbers)?

Do you think Sam is doing Nathan’s program entirely on his own, not as a collaboration with someone knowledgeable in FS?
I mean it’s possible we’ve just not heard of any additional people, since this isn’t offical news, just Sam’s social media footage…

But if he is indeed the only one, I don’t understand how this is supposed to work?
Even if he studied up, I can’t imagine he’d have the experience and necessary insight to put together a routine where he explores and utilises steps and transitions in a skilful way, that goes beyond just putting it together „somehow“.

Being a dancer, obviously he can offer a lot in terms of cool looking arm and (especially) upper body moves, but connecting this to the blade work and skating movement (which is what I love so much about the way Shae-Lynn constructed the Nemesis choreo)… I just don’t see it with Sam?

Checking out some of his exhibition numbers seems to confirm that too, lots of poses and doing upper body choreo standing in place…

And regardless of whether Sam is his only choreographer for this program or not, if that practice clip is actual choreo from Nathan’s new program (and not just some general practice of dance moves)… well, it doesn’t look like he’s gonna do much skating during it, if any… so that’s 12 seconds „down the drain“ if you ask me, no matter how nice it may look…

I’m not saying that I won’t enjoy the finished product, but I don’t wanna see Nathan do actual hip hop or contemporary on the ice, where it's not incorporated in an organic way into the skating. :(

(I am super curious about the costume though, one that's gonna fit this style... intriguing :think:)

ETA: Also, here's hoping he won't cut his hair again, because "his haircut needs to match the edgy and straight-lined movements of the choreo"... :disapp: :noshake:


I'm confused that you think that figure skating choreographers work only on ice. This is not the case with 99.5% of choreographers. They do studio work with the skaters then move it to the ice, they are knowledgeable with figure skating movement and everything that goes into it. There has only been a few times that non-ice dancers and choreographers have worked with skaters without previously being around ice and it's movement (thinking about the first time someone like Benji Schwimmer) did a program(and it still worked out beautifully).

Sam is not like this: He is part of the permanent Gadbois team and works daily and yearly with their top skaters and coaches, and is responsible for many of the programs you see on the ice out of that facility.

Yes, there are others that do choreo there and co-coach/choreograph with him and MF and the rest.
 
I'm confused that you think that figure skating choreographers work only on ice. This is not the case with 99.5% of choreographers. They do studio work with the skaters then move it to the ice, they are knowledgeable with figure skating movement and everything that goes into it. There has only been a few times that non-ice dancers and choreographers have worked with skaters without previously being around ice and it's movement (thinking about the first time someone like Benji Schwimmer) did a program(and it still worked out beautifully).

Sam is not like this: He is part of the permanent Gadbois team and works daily and yearly with their top skaters and coaches, and is responsible for many of the programs you see on the ice out of that facility.

Yes, there are others that do choreo there and co-coach/choreograph with him and MF and the rest.

I know choreographers don't work solely on the ice, where did I imply anything different?

But in any off-ice choreo training that I've seen, it was either apparent how the choreo would translate into movement on the ice or the person was actually moving around the room (naturally there are always some "stops", since obviously every program has moments where the skater stops or is standing in one place for a certain amount of time, I just think those shouldn't go on for too long).

I am also aware that Sam is part of a whole team, I was merely worried he might do this one solo for the first time.

And I realise you all are big fans of his programs, but when I watched some of his work my impression was, that the more prominent "edgy/modern" choreo moves weren't smoothly integrated into the skating itself, but usually done standing in place. Which I think is a pity, I would like to see that kind of movement be incorporated say in a step sequence for instance, so it doesn't feel as "tacked-on".
 
I would not say I am a particular fan of Sam's programs yet - I only heard of him a few days ago :)

I doubt Nathan would want to just stand in place and do some cool-looking arm movements ?
 
Just wanted to pop in and say I am seriously impressed by Nathan's dancing. He has loads of style, even in that short clip.

One of my favorite Nathan programs (and this is a little embarrassing to admit) is the Stereo Hearts exhibition from his junior days, and I've been holding out hope that Nathan would do a fun/upbeat program (albeit more mature than Stereo Hearts) for one of his upcoming competitive programs. I see both positives and negatives to incorporating more arms- and upper-body-focused choreography in skating. I thought the opening movements in Virtue/Moir's Prince SD and Moulin Rouge FD, for example, added something special, set the right tone, and integrated well with the rest of the programs. Even if Nathan spends a few seconds of his program doing some dance moves like we saw in the clip, I fully expect that the rest of the program (like Prince and Moulin Rouge) will look different and be in full skating mode.

Anyhow, thanks to everyone who has been posting frequently in this fan thread and keeping more silent observers like me informed of all of the exciting activity. I would love to go to Sun Valley to see the program more developed (assuming it might be unveiled there) but I am 80% sure I have a work conflict that week.
 
Liking Stereo Hearts is nothing to be embarassed about - at least at one point it was Nathan’s favorite program :) - from his ask.fm

What's your favorite program you've ever done?
over 1 year ago
Probably my stereo hearts show program
 
Liking Stereo Hearts is nothing to be embarassed about - at least at one point it was Nathan’s favorite program :) - from his ask.fm

What's your favorite program you've ever done?
over 1 year ago
Probably my stereo hearts show program
Just bring back the T-shirt and costume ✔
 
Bring back everything--program, shiny shirt, jeans; just leave out the gloves ;)

I want to see those beautiful hands.

I actually love the gloves, I think it's a very cute touch...:luv17:...but yes I need to see his beautiful hands too:love:
 
A fan noticed that Nathan actually was not sitting next to Olivia Smart - there was someone sitting between them :)

https://twitter.com/StayGold_Nate/status/1008203265891188736

Like I said earlier I don't follow ID, but If Olivia is the platinum blonde then I knew right away she wasn't seated next to Nathan.

ETA: I'm pretty sure it's Kaitlin Hawayek. I just saw her post a pic of herself and Olivia Smart on her Instastory.
 
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