Dance - Compulsory Dance - Rhumba

[La Rhumba]

La Rhumba, thanks so much for the review! Very interesting and informative! Not being able to really judge speed and ice coverage, I also would have had the Kerrs above both K/N and F/S. Faella's upper body esp. her arms really bothered me in this CD. I haven't been paying that much attention to the Kerrs the past year, but did they improve quite a lot?
Totally looking forward to more reviews to come!

The Kerr's have certainly improved alot throughout this season, after a poor start. They are settled now with trainer Evgeni Platov, and are making strides. They know what they have to work on to improve further and climb the rankings, they certainly didn't settle on their laurels after making the top 10 at Torino Olympics. I would say their CD quality in particular is hugely improved compared to when they first started in 2000, and they have a very good Tango OD and FD this season. At least they are putting GB skating back on the map!
But they too have no GB Judge at these Worlds, it used to be that the couples represented in the top 10 had a Judge on the Panel, but no longer. I hope it doesn't make any difference though, we'll see. I just wish for them to skate 2 more clean performances, present well, and do themselves proud.

 

[La Rhumba]

A great report of the CD here with lots of super quotes from the icedancers.

http://www.iceskatingintnl.com/current/content/worlds 07d.htm

By Sandra Stevenson. :agree:

 

[Spun Silver]

Belbin appeared with dark brown hair. "We felt it suited our routines. I haven’t been this color since I was 11. As soon as this event is over, I can assure you I will be back to blonde."

Is she trying to look like Amelie?

 

[jayta]

Bitter viewers whose favs aren't at the top. I think that it has been fairly judged, comparatively to other years. I don't think there's a conspiracy and those who do think so are just complaining because they have nothing else to complain about.

Is there going to be an uproar every year and shouts of 'conspiracy' and 'alliances' when a group of ice fans' dance couple isn't placed where 'they' the untrained eye who for the most part, aren't even there to see it live, want their couple to be placed? Give me a break!

Oh and I know, I am saying all of this just because I'm from Canada.

*rolls eyes*

Actually I am and I like Dubruiel and Lauzon to a point. I'm not convinced they are excellent by far. To be honest I never really was a big fan of them. I admired their ability to come up with unique lifts, but for the most part I could see why they weren't necessarily at the top of the podium the last several years. So don't say that I'm defending it because of that. Because really I don't care for D&L.

However, after watching the CDs of the top contenders, I'd have to say they skated it the best out of all of the other skaters. Whether they deserved the almost 1 1/2 lead I don't know. That's where the judges come in. And I refuse to be that skeptical about all of these judges 'in on a big conspiracy'. It's a sad excuse for ice dance couples who are better than that. They can see the intricacies and possibilities of where they could have improved compared to those who received higher scores. They don't whine and shout conspiracy everytime they don't like their marks.

I think when a legitimate reason for conspiracy such as the 02 Olympics come around again, then it is reasonable. But right now from where I sit, it is anyone's game. And for any viewers to devalue and well piss on these hard working athlete's world experience by chocking it up to a competition that has already been won and lost, is sad.

I believe that the best skaters will rise to the top. And even though someone's opinion may not be reflected in the standings, it may very well be that there is someone else in the world who believes those athletes deserved it.

*steps down from soapbox*

 

[rain]

After watching the top three in the CDs I have to say I did think D/L were clearly the best. I cannot comment on B/A or Del/Scho as they were not broadcast. But D/L above Dom/Shab and Denk/Stav in the CD? Absolutely.

I'm unashamedly pulling for D/L to win the gold this year. I love both their OD and FD and I hope they continue to perform well.

 

[gkelly2]

Oh you, educated fan, i am quoting some parts of the report here "on at least one of the chotcows I'm positive she stepped down on an inside edge and then flipped to outside" I think that it wasn't on only one of the chotcow, but the one Rosaleen is speaking about was to obvious..
I suppose you don't know that the chotcow is one of the most important and difficult element in the CD Rhumba. So it would be great if your favourites become champion, but it would be also great if they manage to do the most important and difficult elements( chotcow, twizzles, ss ect) without mistakes as a real champions..just great lifts are not enough
And i am not wining, i am telling you the obvious facts.What is the problem if we see an obvious mistake to say it? You ll still have your champions no matter what mistakes they make

 

[bellafurr]

They are and should be in first place.

 

[Linny]

Important element

gkelly2 wrote (in part)

I suppose you don't know that the chotcow is one of the most important and difficult element in the CD Rhumba

Ummmm, dahlin, I'm hoping you were being sarcastic and that you know that the element you reference is a choctaw, right? Not a chotcow.

Linny

 

[Maribelle]

Ice Dancing judges prefer the over dramatic themes again

It seems from watching the Olympics and how D/L are doing so well and how B/A are slipping in their standings, is that the ice dancing teams who score the highest have the routines that are like an opera or soap opera on the ice. That was how it was before the new point system took over. The Russians always won with their dramatic gestures and theatrics and it was just so boring.

I would much prefer to see the traditional dance and not all these drama queens on the ice.

 

[fanofskate]

(Prefacing this by saying, this is my first post here.)

I also like Dubreil/Lauzon's Rhumba and I believe is deserving of 1st. Now let me qualify that by saying I'm a very new fan of ice dance (this season) and thus don't really know much. I watched Rhumbas of teams from years back to have a baseline and chose Torvill/Dean's.

Question: I read (somewhere) that Belbin/Agosto had a more bouncy feel to their Rhumba. And I did observe that as I watched their CD on youtube. Is that ok for Rhumba? Enlighten me please?

No, I think Charlie and Meryl are well matched overall. He is undoubtedly superior to her atm, she just lacks a little finesse that will surely come with maturity. They are both very young, and impress me greatly. They are exciting to watch, and will have a great future together, I'm sure. :agree:

There's something unique about Davis and White and I just love watching them. I don't normally pay much attention to ice dance, but after watching them in NHK, they got me very interested. BTW, I agree that White does look to be a stronger/sharper skater but I think Davis is a better dancer and has better expression (without being over the top). She spots her turns like a ballet dancer and it's evident in the twizzles. Charlie just twizzles away like a top. Would love to see more stretch and finished moves in both. Unison is very good. I'm excited to see what they can offer in the coming seasons.

Oh, I also like Virtue/Moir. Hope both teams can move up.

 

[Mafke]

I would much prefer to see the traditional dance and not all these drama queens on the ice.

To the extent I'm interested in dance, it's for the footwork. But I've read that the relative importance of footwork is less this year than last and lifts (which I'm neutral about most of the time) are more important.

ITA agree about the (mostly) Russian school of flaring nostrils and ridiculous non-dance related drama (and I especially loathe the second russian team that seems to specialize in non-dance, non-footwork acrobatics.... )

 

[scs]

For the nay sayers of D/L...Rosaleen thought that they may have made a slight error. All other media reports that I have read on line today (not just Canadian) have stated that they were flawless.
Had to add this as I am tired of the conspiracy/they are in first but don't deserve it comments.

 

[pista04]

Od

The OD has started...do you think Rosaleen will start a thread soon?

 

[cloudkicker09]

I started a thread if it helps.....

 

[iloveaxel]

The OD has started...do you think Rosaleen will start a thread soon?

It's on CCTV5 live now!

 

[DaveT]

For the nay sayers of D/L...Rosaleen thought that they may have made a slight error. All other media reports that I have read on line today (not just Canadian) have stated that they were flawless.
Had to add this as I am tired of the conspiracy/they are in first but don't deserve it comments.

Perhaps they will retain first place as a B&K parting gift now that the judges have realized that they didn't understand the silver medal and just go away, but then the Bulgarians didn't understand their parting gift either.

 

[DaveT]

Bitter viewers whose favs aren't at the top. I think that it has been fairly judged, comparatively to other years. I don't think there's a conspiracy and those who do think so are just complaining because they have nothing else to complain about.

Is there going to be an uproar every year and shouts of 'conspiracy' and 'alliances' when a group of ice fans' dance couple isn't placed where 'they' the untrained eye who for the most part, aren't even there to see it live, want their couple to be placed? Give me a break!

Oh and I know, I am saying all of this just because I'm from Canada.

*rolls eyes*

Actually I am and I like Dubruiel and Lauzon to a point. I'm not convinced they are excellent by far. To be honest I never really was a big fan of them. I admired their ability to come up with unique lifts, but for the most part I could see why they weren't necessarily at the top of the podium the last several years. So don't say that I'm defending it because of that. Because really I don't care for D&L.

However, after watching the CDs of the top contenders, I'd have to say they skated it the best out of all of the other skaters. Whether they deserved the almost 1 1/2 lead I don't know. That's where the judges come in. And I refuse to be that skeptical about all of these judges 'in on a big conspiracy'. It's a sad excuse for ice dance couples who are better than that. They can see the intricacies and possibilities of where they could have improved compared to those who received higher scores. They don't whine and shout conspiracy everytime they don't like their marks.

I think when a legitimate reason for conspiracy such as the 02 Olympics come around again, then it is reasonable. But right now from where I sit, it is anyone's game. And for any viewers to devalue and well piss on these hard working athlete's world experience by chocking it up to a competition that has already been won and lost, is sad.

I believe that the best skaters will rise to the top. And even though someone's opinion may not be reflected in the standings, it may very well be that there is someone else in the world who believes those athletes deserved it.

*steps down from soapbox*

Or perhaps the judges are hoping for a Torino repeat, tie everyone in the CD and fall themselves into place in the OD.

I have read other opinions like yours though that state there really is nothing to warrant a conspiracy cry, in fact I would say majority, I haven't seen it, but read a respected iceskate fan on another board who had them placed pretty tight as well, though in slightly different order, with the poorest edging in the choctaws being Shab/Dom skating the entire length on flats, behind the other top teams. He has the Canadians on top though. Says they were lovely.

 

[wishicouldskate]

15 Tanith BELBIN / Benjamin AGOSTO USA
Her in mostly white with with pink & big ruffle skirt, him in white shirt & black pants
It felt a little cautious to me - like they were being very careful about getting the steps right and not really dancing it like they should have - also a little slow. Not that it wasn't good but I'm trying to find anything I can that will help separate the top teams /
PB 44.00 TES 18.52 PCS 18.65 Tot 37.17 currently 2nd

Tanith does not look healthy, she's so thin, you can see her ribs and breastbone.