Free Dance

[jcoates]

I prefer to listen to skaters and commentators that were skaters. Their opinions mean a little more to me as far as what's going on in the skating world. I respect Kurt Browning a lot and he said after D/W's FD that he totally bought into their expression and romantic feel of their program. I think that says a lot. He and Tracy were definitely pulling for V/M, so I think their comments on D/W were genuine and you could tell that they respected what D/W did out there. Yes, the scores were close, but there was no wuzrobbing for V/M. Kurt said it..they made mistakes at the wrong time..on key elements. Which can't be done if you expect to get the levels. I think their commentating was fair and it was nice (to this D/W fan) that D/W got the respect from the Canadians.

Well said. Kurt is really growing on me. Too bad US TV lost him to CBC. He's quite good and far more restrained than most American commentators. (BTW, he made some very insightful points about the men's free skate that may help to settle debate elsewhere in the forums.) Tracy is excellent and NBC should use her far more than they do now at the Olympics next year. She provides far more substance than Scott and Sandra combined.

The Eurosport team is excellent. I was watching US Nationals on ESPN the other day - I think it was Nancy Kerrigan + someone - and realized how lucky I am to get most of my figure skating coverage from ES. I also understood why people are having such a hard time understanding CoP in the US: nobody was even trying to explain how the elements were being scored and what the skaters were doing to get levels and GOEs.

I agree. I always enjoy hearing their commentary and prefer it to most of the US standard. Any failing of the current judging system as far as audience comprehension should be laid squarely at the feet of the current US broadcasters. From graphic displays for scores to depth of knowledge about how the system works, the vast majority of US TV coverage is sorely lacking.

 

[Nadine]

OMG, now that I have seen the FD in its entirety I have to say that the Canadian couple of Weaver & Poje were my favorites ~ the music of Dr. Zhivago, their costumes, portrayal, lines, expression, were simply exquisite. This is the first time I have ever seen them, let alone their dance. IMHO they belong with the top 3. ***note: her attitude & physical appearance remind me exactly of Haley Mills from the movie "The Trouble With Angels"***

Aha, one week later I finally found the clip from the aforementioned movie wherein Kaitlyn Weaver reminds me exactly of Haley Mills, watch here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OQidaRjmuI&feature=related

EDITED TO ADD: here's a link to W&P FD at 4CC for a comparison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzZqrCv0dmM

 

[dorispulaski]

I definitely prefer W&P to Crone/Poirier, the second place Canadian team.

 

[fan1961]

weaver/poje need to develop their own style instead of trying to copy others... crone and poirier have already done this...

 

[Tonichelle]

I think, had ABC continued showing skating, we'd still have Kurt on American airwaves.

NBC never seemed to give him a second chance after the 1994 World Championships, where he was just a puppy as a commentator and didn't know just how to tactfully say anything lol

 

[dorispulaski]

weaver/poje need to develop their own style instead of trying to copy others......

Welcome to Goldenskate! Congratulations on your first post. Post long, post often!

Whom do you feel W&P are trying to copy? I particularly like the style of their OD, because they got a number of things very right about the era they're supposed to be portraying, that frankly, most teams got wrong.

crone and poirier have already done this

This is true, because for someone (say me) to really dislike someone's style, there first has to be a style there to dislike. Which is why I posted the following.

I definitely prefer W&P to Crone/Poirier, the second place Canadian team.

 

[Tonichelle]

what are you doing up, Doris?? Isn't it something like 3am????

 

[dorispulaski]

The furnace is broken and I'm waiting up to call the furnace repairman.

 

[rosee]

Whom do you feel W&P are trying to copy?

I see a few similarities between W&P's FD and C&J's Nocturne. But by no mean I think it's a copy. It has an entirely different "Atmosphere" to their program which is hypnotising. I too prefer them to C&P.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Someone agree with me

It's not a difficult task to show emotions. It is a difficult task to feel emotions. One should be able to tell the difference between a 'faked' emotion and a real one.

That is why great actors search out sources for showing emotions of characters they are portraying, and get the feelings of those characters. So much can influence a murderer, a gigilo, a terrorist, an unrequited love, politics if you will, etc.

Dancers without the story, often just have what the music brings to them. If they are first rate, one knows what they are feeling, and what they may be tryin to feel.

With D/W, it just comes across as cute for me.

 

[cassieandcheetah]

It's not a difficult task to show emotions. It is a difficult task to feel emotions. One should be able to tell the difference between a 'faked' emotion and a real one.

That is why great actors search out sources for showing emotions of characters they are portraying, and get the feelings of those characters. So much can influence a murderer, a gigilo, a terrorist, an unrequited love, politics if you will, etc.

Dancers without the story, often just have what the music brings to them. If they are first rate, one knows what they are feeling, and what they may be tryin to feel.

With D/W, it just comes across as cute for me.

I see D/W as two up-and-coming youngsters who are trying their best to work on the expressive aspect of their skating, and have succeeded in doing so. Their efforts don't come across to me as "cute" or insincere, like you seem to be suggesting here. With relative lack of life experience, how could that come naturally as it would wiht teams like delobel and schoenfelder? But their improvement over the last 2 years have been astonishing. I think it's better to recognize that than to keep admonishing them for being "cute," which I'm sure wasn't what their S and D was meant for.

 

[dorispulaski]

cassieandcheetah, excellent post

Meryl particularly has done an amazing job this year, and Charlie recognizes that he has more work to do, and at least has gotten as far as staring into Meryl's eyes rather than just hamming it up (cutely) to the audience.

Many teams and skaters have talked about doing this stuff, but few have really shown improvement in so short a space of time. I liked Polovetsian dances; it was a great technical tour de force, but yes, it lacked emotional content. Eleanor's Dream showed improvement, and Samson and Delilah is better yet.

And they can still do cute when it's appropriate as the young college kids going clubbing to dance the Charleston of their OD.

BTW, Dick Button does not agree with you, Joe, about D&W: Did you hear his enthusiastic fondness for their 2008 US Nationals FD?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

.
BTW, Dick Button does not agree with you, Joe, about D&W: Did you hear his enthusiastic fondness for their 2008 US Nationals FD?

Doris, I know I sound like I'm bearing down on D/W. I think it is the bandwagon thing which bothers me. It's not as like Lang and Tcheneychev had to bow out to B/A's new bandwagon.

I do like D/W but just not enough to get on the bandwagon. Similarly I did not get on B/A's either but I do enjoy these teams.

I was a L/T fan and now I am a V/M fan.

 

[dorispulaski]

Well, I loved Lang & Tchernyshev too. Especially some of their OD's. I particularly loved their Carmen OD for the 2002 Olympics.

And I like B&A,too, but not as much as I liked L&T. I like V&M too, but not as much as I like D&W.. If both V&M and B&A beat D&W at worlds, that's OK with me. Most D&W fans don't think D&W are the best in the world. They're just thrilled at how fast they are improving and how well their season is going.

 

[cassieandcheetah]

Most D&W fans don't think D&W are the best in the world. They're just thrilled at how fast they are improving and how well their season is going.

I completely agree with you there Doris.

Yes, Joe, I agree with you too. It's a bit annoying when everyone jumps on the bandwagon, but I hope I made it clear the last time that I recognize D/W's weaknesses too just as much as I love them for their strengths. It's just that I'm so thrilled that they've made such a huge progress this year in terms of artistry and I want to commend them for it.

 

[lmarie086]

Well, I loved Lang & Tchernyshev too. Especially some of their OD's. I particularly loved their Carmen OD for the 2002 Olympics.

I LOVE that OD. When I saw it on youtube I was seriously baffled as to how they didn't score higher.

In the case of L/T vs B/A, Joe I'm on the same page in preferring L/T. Though Lang was not as strong as Tchernyshev, I still think she was excellent and she had wonderful extension and toe point, both which are prized components in a female ice dancer. Overall IMO, the issue was that L/T was the superior team with inferior dances. That combined with a lack of international competition (02/03 season) made it easier for B/A to be pushed ahead of them.

Their waltz OD might be my particular favorite of theirs, on another note. Great character.

And I like B&A,too, but not as much as I liked L&T. I like V&M too, but not as much as I like D&W.. If both V&M and B&A beat D&W at worlds, that's OK with me. Most D&W fans don't think D&W are the best in the world. They're just thrilled at how fast they are improving and how well their season is going.

Exactly. In fact, I've said (on another forum) that while it may bother me at the time, I wouldn't be too mad if D/W missed the world podium in LA. With the wonderful season they've had it would be nice to see them on it, but they have time. I just like watching them improve each season and make new strides in different areas, which is as it should be because they definitely are not perfect/the best in the world.

 

[victoria90]

Most D&W fans don't think D&W are the best in the world. They're just thrilled at how fast they are improving and how well their season is going.

Couldn't have said it better . I'm just so happy with the season they are having and the fact that they are being able to keep the momentum going that I might get too excited sometimes but I know their weaknesses and their strengths and I do defend them when I think they deserve a better score as well as I'm able to recognize if they've been oversored, it's not like I think they are the best in the world and they should just beat everyone and win gold at Worlds.

 

[Nadine]

And, yes, I totally agree that Emily&Evan desperately need a piece of music that will do them justice next year! *hint SNF or Titanic*

After several subsequent viewings of Amazonic, I must now change my previous stance, I now enjoy this esoteric program. The subtleties I missed the first time(s) around I can now see, especially after reading a Q&A session wherein it states Evan is supposed to be an artist & Emily his muse. Now it makes sense to me.

That said, I still think the music of TITANIC (*not* Celine Dion, ugh, but these parts, Irish jig as well ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj8z-wj2OFM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U50hqJS2ock&feature=related ) would make a fabulous program. In fact, I watched the movie the other day & I honestly cannot get over how much Emily looks exactly like Kate Winslet in the movie (e.g. hair, face shape, eyes, mouth, features, skin, somatype, et al). It's uncanny really. And if Evan had his hair straightened he would look very similar to Jack in the movie, especially considering his boyish baby face, complete with dimples. And boy can they both dance!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/...7.us_championships_figure_skating_ohmd129.jpg
http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.y...ures/titanic/_group_photos/kate_winslet11.jpg

 

[Spun Silver]

Interesting. I don't think Emily looks like Kate W at all, but I do think she is just adorable. That little Kewpie doll face kills me.

Excuse my triviality.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Ladies, I am learning what you feel about D/W. I do too, a young couple with -gobs of talent finding their way to the top. It's the 'jumping-the-gun to soon that bothers me. What I read keeps saying Now, now, now! 2014 will show of much better S&D or romantic duo for them, and I will be saying NOW.