Watching the videos of V/M and D/W again back to back, in the SAME event, confirms how much better V/M are in their edgework, presentation and interpretation. No other team, in both tech and artistic, is even close to V/M's best. I don't like the last 2 lifts though, especially the final one, too simple. Hopefully they get even more comfortable with the programs, up the mileage near the end of the program, and peak in Sochi. Here's hoping, even if the US judge says otherwise...
D/W are running, not skating most of the time. I hate how most of their transitions, especially near the second half of the program are running on more flats than skating and gliding on edges. This is ice dance, not pairs. When they aren't running, and need to skate on edges (step sequences) they either skate far apart (circ. step) or when they try to skate close together they don't extend their positions all the way in the free leg. It was still the case here at GPF.
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You have some point here imo. Watching two best ice dance coupes at the same event give a lot of look for not only their programs themselves but also way that they're skated them. Choreography, program, music, costumes - this is one thing, the other is how dancers will use it by their skills, connection and feelings and when we add this two things together we get a complex performance which we like or not. I'm writing this in advance, because I don't want to be misunderstood - my upper statement means that performances in ice dance are composed by many features and in addiction these features are judging by people with different perceptions or tastes so all of us can see each performance in a different way, from many points of view.
I rewatched canadians and americans three times (each of them, one after another) - overall, by a concept/music/costumes americans might be better, why - music is more familiar, costumes are "rich" and express the lineup of the story telling in music, concept is more visible for spectators, because the Scheherezade's story is (mostly) known. In canadian's case these features are more "complicated" - music is not-so-known, costumes are quite unmatched in my opinion (I wish Tessa has some other dress but now, personally I have no idea how it should look like...) and the idea behind the music choice/choreo of that FD is not easy for everyone. As I wrote in previous GP ice dance threads, there is always more risky to choose some rarely used music and built a fresh concept for the dance to it. At first I had almost no enthusiasm about Tessa and Scott's FD - maybe just because it wasn't executed well. But today's performance was a proof for me that that FD is unique and attention-worthly. They created their little world by that music and their movements to show everyone their story. I'd be a liar if I say that I wasn't paying attention on their tech elements - I was but they were incorporated here just naturally, without cutting the breathing, flow and fluidity of their movement so I could focus myself on reception some emotions which they wanted to give. In Davis/White case...I don't like to repeat myself, but for me transistions in that FD are mostly inexistent - I'm sorry but constant "hoops" and twists not help to built complex choreography and emphasise the story and the music moments...They have very strong tech elements indeed, but between them there is so much empty, awkward moments which could be used beautifully to accent music/connection. They worked with Alex Wong on that FD - I suppose it was for adding some balletic style, but I don't see it at all - many positions are not fully extended, arms are not finished and fluid from one pose to another etc. There is a documentary on YT about russian ballerinas ( "Ballerina") and there is a short glimpse of Scheherezade ballet where Ulyana Lopatkina danced lead role - Americans should watch it and see what fluidity of movement between tech elements should look like by that music.
In case of PCS - as I said earlier different people have different preferences and tastes, but I can't understand a gap between these two couples in skating skills area - as You said this is DANCING, not pairs skating, couples have to execute certain elements but during the dance - for me it means using edges, close dancing holds and matching these features to the rhythm of the music. Virtue/Moir used edges better and more frequently while Davis and White tried to look fast with (very) distracting hops and twists instead of using edges as much as Virtue/Moir. I realise that "edge dancing" may be not as fast/exciting as free holds or making twists/hops/turns/whatever but that "edge dancing" is essential for me and should be marked properly to its difficulty.
I am happy that they only had two weeks to come back from their last competition. They probably slowed down training and will pick up where they left to come out swinging in Boston. It will be thrilling and they will likely break world records. This has the opportunity to supersede their 118+ at nationals and I am going to love every minute, I just hope my biggest fears remain just unfounded dribble and that they do not some how lose at the Olympics.
