The Best REAL Choreography

[Joesitz (RIP)]

My awards go to Emily Hughes and Stephen Carriere.

I am not speaking about how they skated but just what they had to work with. I think the boys in Massachusettes have a way with dance composition. Everything else looked standard in one way or another.

Joe

 

[npa]

Patric Chan
Takahashi SP
Caroline Zang programs
Carriere

 

[lilybear]

P/B CD
Zhang SP&LP
Takahashi SP

 

[flying camel]

I have to agree with you about Emily. This is the first LP where she looks to have choreography and it was good.

 

[Mathman]

I. too, agree with Emily Hughes. Also Patrick Chan.

 

[astimegoesby]

I also agree about Emily. I can't think of too many women who could pull off "Carmina Burana," but it's a perfect choice for her since she's such a powerful skater. I'm sure the program will be even more powerful once she skates it cleanly.

 

[Hsuhs]

Daisuke's SP.

 

[Mathman]

For choreography, I have to agree with Takahashi's SP. Highly original and well executed.

For interpretation, the program component that I struggle the most with -- I rarely see any at all (?) -- I thought Emily Hughes did a robust and energetic Carmen Burana.

Plus, she had a great costume. You can never go wrong with vertical stripes.

As for Takahashi's "interpretation" in the LP, I could figure out that he was Romeo because he had a big red heart and a dagger painted on the front of his shirt.

Honorable mention in Interpretation.: Caroline Zhang made a reasonable attempt at being "soulful" to Ave Maria. (Pretty much the same degree of soulfulness that she brought last year to Meditation, a completely different piece, in terms of musical structure.)

I agree with posters who said that Steven Carriere reminds them of Matt Savoie (the most underscored American male skater of all time, and perhaps the only one who was ever guilty of "interpretation." ).

 

[yelyoh]

I'll also go with Emily's LP program. Well choreographed and performed despite jump problems. I think by the time US Nats rolls around she's gonna bring the house down. Stephen Carriere's program was good but he held back a bit so difficult to gage what the full impact might have been. Taks SP was great as conceived and executed. Chan made his program look better than it actually was. I love the guys posture and line. I found most of the other programs to be dull. And what was up with Preubert? Suffering from Ennui? Anyway, SO glad the season has started.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Comments on how skaters performed the competition was not exactly in my mind for the topic theme. I was judging the choreography only regardless of who skated to it.

Unfortunately I was not thinking SP, but mentioning Daisuke's choreography would be special. Kimmie also had a decent choreography in her SP. But the LPs were definitely Carriere and Hughes both of whom did not medal and should not have.

In that respect, I felt for Lutai, who is a remarkble skater and had he a better choreographed routine he would be up there challenging. I digressed here.

Joe

 

[emma]

Unfortunately I was not thinking SP, but mentioning Daisuke's choreography would be special. Kimmie also had a decent choreography in her SP. But the LPs were definitely Carriere and Hughes both of whom did not medal and should not have.


Joe

I'm also not clear at all on what interpretation means generally and for the judges specifically - but going with a common sense feeling for the word, I think Hughes embodied it in her LP and I think Daisuke was in the ball park with his SP. In terms of choreo - front loading jumps aside, I really like Daisuke's sp a lot; was very surprised and impressed by Kimmie's choreo for her short program (and just plain have to wait and see for the LP), and haven't seen Carriere's yet but want to as I like his skating a lot. I have to re-watch Chan's programs to think just about choreography, but his performance /execution and skating skills really grabbed me. Finally, Mira Leung struck me as so improved in her skating - and I think her LP is well choreographed to/with the music.

 

[museksk8r]

Dube and Davison and Patrick Chan were the PCS darlings of this event for me. Their performances gave me so much joy and I felt like I was watching real figure skating when they were on the ice. I also loved Diasuke Takahashi's SP! No one really stole the show in the ladies for me, but Caroline Zhang was the least boring to me and if I had to pick a highlight in the ladies, it would be her. Her spirals and spins are captivating!

 

[Tinymavy15]

Daisuke's SP.

Yes agree there. I can't beleive how many people said emily... I thought chreography was non exisitant after the openining, but that's just what I saw.

I thought that Patrick Chan was VERY impressive, he reminds me of Stephane Lambiel. Well chreogaphed and he skates with a lot of musicality for one so young. I hope to see more of him.

I actually thought Miki's Carmen was very good. It was a sloppy performance, the music cuts were good and the chreogaphy was great for her. It has all the potentail to be a winner for her.

Athough they showed zero pairs or dance on tv , I watched the pairs on YouTube and have to say that Dube and Davidsons have two great programs that fit that really well and are beautifully chreographed. es the SP. If you havn't seen it yet, you are in for a treat.

 

[hockeyfan228]

Patrick Chan's.
Patrick Chan's.

Did I mention Patrick Chan's?

 

[Cal Girl]

Didn't get to see the Mens but as for the Ladies.
Emily Hughes was fabulous with her interpretation and representation of the music. Good for her!

 

[Mathman]

Patrick Chan's.
Patrick Chan's.

Did I mention Patrick Chan's?

But then again, that's just where I'm still struggling. Was it the choreography (what he got from the choreographer) that was so great, or was it the presentation (what Patrick did with the choreography)?

I would say,

choreography = Takahashi's SP

interpretation = Emily's LP

presentation = Patrick's LP

 

[amateur]

I must be the only one who actually loved Takahashi's LP more than the SP, I thought it was realy quite great choreographically (though understandably a bit rough a this point in the season).... I found the "frantic" sort of style, characteristic of his skating, was here used to great effect to interpret the sort of darker undercurrent and drive in that music (I'd have to watch it again to put the right words to what I'm trying to say). Very musical interpretation even while crammed full of moves.
By contrast the SP, while good and certainly a whole lot of fun, is a bit overrated and "gimmicky"

Emily Hughes - was a lot of fun to watch! (and I'd usually find her not terribly interesting)... something really works about that music for her, despite the considerable roughness in performance. Made me smile - refreshing. Don't know if it's great choreography or her presence and attack (or a bit of each?)

I thought Miki's Carmen was surprisingly very very good, actually - opened especially strong, has great potential for her.

Kimmie - rather blah... but might be effective if she hits the big-time elements and skates with command in a big clutch-moment type of performance.. it seems to be choreographed for his type of scenario... otherwise not very interesting at all.

Mira Leungs program was really not half bad, will be interesting to see if she manages to loosen up to present it better as the season progressses - While she is typically a bit slow, I don't think I've ever seen her skate that tentatively (the result of her trying very hard to bring more "controlled grace" to her skating at this point, i think)

Chan could skate to anything and look amazing, so I can't say i really noticed the program at all at this point.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I'm also not clear at all on what interpretation means generally and for the judges specifically - but going with a common sense feeling for the word, I think Hughes embodied it in her LP and I think Daisuke was in the ball park with his SP. In terms of choreo - front loading jumps aside, I really like Daisuke's sp a lot; was very surprised and impressed by Kimmie's choreo for her short program (and just plain have to wait and see for the LP), and haven't seen Carriere's yet but want to as I like his skating a lot. I have to re-watch Chan's programs to think just about choreography, but his performance /execution and skating skills really grabbed me. Finally, Mira Leung struck me as so improved in her skating - and I think her LP is well choreographed to/with the music.

I'm not sure why interpretation comes into the topic. Interpretation relates to the skater, and I was speaking of choreographers. There is no doubt that Patrick skated the most entertaining routine, and deserved his placement. But the choreography, for me, was standard and that is not negating Patrick's performance. No one actually says Patrick had the best correography.

Carriere, who did not skate his best, but his choreographers did give him an exceptional routine. His less than stellar skate was his problem. Both he and Hughes have something if they work on it, imo. Not saying they will, just they have one very important factor under their belts.

As for Mira, it was the best I ever saw her and it didn't matter her choreography.

Joe

 

[Tinymavy15]

I agree with almost everything amateur said!

:yes::thumbsup:

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Chan's short program and Carriere's short program had the best choreography, imo. Carriere's long program was great, and Chan's was strong too (though at times Lambiel's wonderful program to this music does creep into my mind).