Free Dance

[kyla2]

Virtue and Moir

V & M were simply breathtaking. Their choreography was incredible. THAT was a real dance and a classic in my opinion-simply the best. I love B & A but this was not their year. The music for B & A was a killer. They should have picked different music. As for K & N, I thought their "Dance" was awful. It was not a dance but a gymnastics exercise. I don't care where a skater comes from. When you see the best, you know it and if you are a true skating fan, you acknowledge it. V & M showed what a REAL ice dance is all about. I thought I was watching Fred and Ginger for goodness sakes, they were that good.

 

[all that]

Are Virtue and Moir a couple off the ice?

No.

 

[Judy]

Thank you to the person who posted the results of the dance when I arrived earlier (I had 15 min to check results and prepare for a dinner party we were giving after being out longer than expected this afternoon).

V&M's program was just gorgeous. They are in a class all to themselves and I look forward to next year. I also really liked the World Champion dance - will they retire this year? Really nice though.

I was a bit shocked a B&A's result - their FD was I thought wonderful. Despite the fall in the CD what else were they lacking? I think it's a given that they'll have be removed from the V&M environment next year.

 

[Mathman]

Just saw it on ESPN (full screen). Great competition all the way around. I liked Khokhlova and Noviski the best (although the stumbles and indecision in the footwork sections rightly cost them some points.)

My co-favorites -- Virtue and Moir. They totally held my attention from beginning to end.

 

[mycelticblessing]

Ok Ben Agosto, I can tell you what you have to understand "Do not wipe ice with your ***!" As simple as that, in ice dance it is a big NO-NO.

How funny to read again Russian conspiracy theorists even though it is so clear how much this panel of judges tried to push K/N off the podium. Common putting them behind F/S???
LOL. I can wait for chuckm to show up.

I wonder if chuckm's alright.:think:. I can't believe he's not here yet to complain about K/N medalling.. Then again, it's possibly a good thing.. I always get annoyed whenever he criticizes Russian teams just because of their nationality:disapp:.

 

[lutzskate]

Gosh, they are.. Sadly, Russia and Canada are losing a spot.. I'm pretty sure Russia can get 3spots for Vancouver though:agree:, Unfortunately, unless Weaver and Poje improve by leaps and bounds, Canada may only have 2spots for the Olympics..

Remember that Dubreil and Lauzon have not officially retired yet, have they? I believe they are only taking a year off.

 

[Judy]

But D&L will have a hard time getting past V&M now. They may come back for the Olympics but it's hard also to come back in ice dance. V&M are a young team and the potential has yet to be reached. I think it's hard to say that this is really an outstanding dance team. Skate Canada is preparing this team for an Olympic Gold in Vancouver. How will D&L fit in?

 

[mycelticblessing]

Remember that Dubreil and Lauzon have not officially retired yet, have they? I believe they are only taking a year off.

The thing is, nowadays, most skaters don't 'officially retire' anymore. They always say 'I'm taking a year off'. Then they take another year off, and they end up never returning. So, I have my doubts that the two of them will be back.

 

[gold12345]

Watching it in HD tonight, I thought V/M were beautiful and deserved to win the free dance. But I got more emotion from the music than their actual performance. I really do want to like them a lot, but I just can't get into them too much. It's not that I think they are just going through the motions, but there's something missing emotionally for me there.

I'm no ice dance expert by any means, but I thought B/A could have done a little better (their last lift looked funky to me), but then again, I thought D/S's free dance could have been better, too. And the Russians were all gymnastics tricks and not much else. Yeah, Khokhlova can do Caroline Zhang's pearl position in mid-air while rotating in a lift, but nothing they do is pretty. Yet they got (another) personal best to squeak onto the podium. Surprise, surprise! Sorry that I am so cynical when it comes to ice dance. I love to watch it and I want to understand, but I don't.

 

[Mathman]

^ To me, that's what makes ice dance the most enjoyable discipline to watch. You get a full smorgasbord, from the circus tricks of Khoklova/ Novitski to Virtue/Moir's romantic waltz.

I don't envy the judges in having to choose among them.

 

[_Ladybug_]

I actually loved K/N's FD. It's not really my style, I rather look at D/S and V/M with their softness, the romance and the whole theatrical thing. But K/N are so fiesty, so fiery, everything about them is so over the top it ends up being so interesting and fun to watch.

 

[Antilles]

I'm elated for D&S and V&M, but sad for B&A. They looked heart broken. I think the judges continued to penalize them in the OD for their mistake in the CD.

I like K&N, but I can't help but think they wouldn't have received such high scores if Dominina&Shabalin had been there. I think the idea of no Russians medaling in any discipline might have helped propel their scores (even though I think their scores were deserved).

Overall, it was a lovely night of dancing. I enjoyed everyone in the top ten. It's too bad there can only be three medals.

 

[JonnyCoop]

I'm elated for D&S and V&M, but sad for B&A. They looked heart broken. I think the judges continued to penalize them in the OD for their mistake in the CD.

I like K&N, but I can't help but think they wouldn't have received such high scores if Dominina&Shabalin had been there. I think the idea of no Russians medaling in any discipline might have helped propel their scores (even though I think their scores were deserved).

I agree -- up to a point. I'm a huge fan of Khoklova & Novitski and like them much better than I do Domnina & Shabalin, but I really do feel they were overscored in the FD. It's been one of my favorite FD's of the season, but on this occasion they were stiff (if one can EVER refer to Ms. Khoklova as "stiff" ), on the slow side, and Sergei almost hit the wall. I think it was definitely their weakest performance of the season, and they've gotten lower scores in the past for skating MUCH better. I too think that they were bumped up a bit score-wise to compensate for the absence of D & S. Who, by the way, I did not miss AT ALL.

However, I, too, am very thrilled for Isabelle & Oliver, and for Tessa & Scott.

 

[1795]

.... it's not like *they* were responsible for other teams being held down...

who says it was their fault.
i just said that now...they know how it feels to be so close to the podium.

Congrats to Del/Schoe! What a way to cap their careers (if they are indeed retiring). One more season please, at least...

i know....2009 los angeles! AH! 20 mins away form me! AH!

 

[NatachaHatawa]

I'm soo happy for Isabelle and Olivier! They've worked so hard to get here, especially after the Olys where they deserved bronze! Their performance wasn't the best they've given of that program, there wasn't as much emotion as usual, but they were under such stress, so I forgive them!

K/N were great (as usual), although I'd say that they weren't as energetic as usual.

Kerr and Kerr were brilliant. At the Euros I wasn't so keen on their FD, but I loved it this time round.

B/A lacked interpretation. They have style, but need to work more on the artistic part of skating instead of the estetic part.

 

[dancemaster]

V & M were simply breathtaking. Their choreography was incredible. THAT was a real dance and a classic in my opinion-simply the best. I love B & A but this was not their year. The music for B & A was a killer. They should have picked different music. As for K & N, I thought their "Dance" was awful. It was not a dance but a gymnastics exercise. I don't care where a skater comes from. When you see the best, you know it and if you are a true skating fan, you acknowledge it. V & M showed what a REAL ice dance is all about. I thought I was watching Fred and Ginger for goodness sakes, they were that good.

what a JOKE
Dancing as many style and interpretations
and K/N interpretation of that piece of music was a master piece

 

[dancemaster]

^Well, I absolutely think all the federations do all the politicking they can.




However, I do have two questions that are for me thought provoking. No one need actually attempt to answer them on the forum, but it might be useful to seriously consider:

1) Is it fair, as several posters have said, to describe K/N's style as one of big highlights/tricks? Someone even went so far as to say he/she thought that was the trend dance was going to move in now. If that is seen as accurate, that they are more into big highlight moves and less dance-y overall, then:

2) If they were from the US, with the exact same style and having entered the exact same competitions, would they be received the same? Or would they be seen as not really understanding the "dance" in ice dance, of trying to get by on highlight tricks rather than really understanding the nature of ice dance?


!

can you tell me what type of moves you would have a american team do to K/N music??
or should this style of music not be used???

 

[Tigger]

Congratulations to the Medalists!!

Isabelle and Olivier *and* Tessa and Scott had me spellbound. So happy for all four of them. Now that's what Ice Dancing is all about.

What a great event this one was!!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Hi Joe, I don't want to pick on you, but I hope Delobel and Schoenfelder's win this year proved you wrong about them being inferior to Carron/Jost and Pechelat/Bourzat. That was kind of a harsh statement you made back then, and I also think Isabelle and Olivier were spellbinding tonight as well.

cassie - I don't think I ever said Carron/Jost were better than Del/Scho. I've been an admire of them for years. Probably Pech/Borz but after seeing their Flamenco I have changed my mind. Nothing short of magnificent.

Joe

 

[SamuraiKike]

The theorists are getting a bit ridiculous this time, you have a case with the pairs competition but here all the 2nd-4th place teams made mistakes and they paid for them. I'm not saying political bias doesnt exist but its not the answer to every disappointing result of your favorite skater.

On another note, spots for next year :

3: France and USA
2: Canada, Russia, Italy, Great Britan and Israel.

Yay for the Kerrs they finally sliped in the top 10 and gained 2 spots, although theres no one remotely good to make them good company.