So Yuna debuted her new programs this weekend at Golden Spin in Zagreb: "Send in the Clowns" for SP, and "Adiós Nonino" for her LP.
What are your feelings on her new programs, and do you think any changes are needed?
I'm going to use the YT videos linked on Yuna's approved fb page, for reference.
SEND IN THE CLOWNS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tz4ToEQ_jw&feature=share
I think Yuna and David have done a fantastic job with this program. I feel like it's going to be my favorite SP of hers, ever. The music selection and cut, wow, it's really emotional and appropriate, and lends itself to fantastic interpretation. For me, this program blows the competition out of the water this year, but I still want to give it a quick review.
Music: wistful, nostalgic. I can feel from the first time I watch the program, that this should be about Yuna's farewell, remembering all the times from the past, happy and sad. Someone once wrote that for Yuna to really deliver an A+ performance for Gershwin, she had to become the music notes themselves. I think for "Send in the Clowns", Yuna will have to become the nostalgic emotion as she skates across the ice. I think it's unlike her to become emotional during a competition, particularly during the performance itself, but I think for a full presentation she may have to actually yield to her memories. Even if she held back tears during the skate, as long as it was from the heart and not acting, it would be unbelievably moving.
Story: As Yuna delivers this program, I imagine her journey from little girl first trying on skates, to the beautiful woman and retiring champion that she is now. Any minor changes to the program that I suggest are in that light.
0:34-1:00+: Opening and 3Lz+3T
This all looks lovely to me. I just want to comment on something very subtle that I think is cool...normally when Yuna does her 3+3 it's timed with the change in music, which can sometimes get drowned out by the applause. I love how this time, the rise in the emotional music comes just a few seconds later, around 1:05, after the applause have ended. Very cool to hear all its fullness, and see Yuna with a lovely expression as she looks upward at the same time.
1:05-1:27: 3F
Once again all of this looks beautiful, and Yuna does a really good job between the two big jumps. Often the lesser skaters look like they're just doing jumping drills across the ice, but with this program I think Yuna and David have done an especially good job of making the big jumps look artistic and beautiful, as part of the program.
1:27-1:40+: FCSp4
I love the positions, but I wish they would change the exit ever so slightly. After the spin, Yuna briefly breaks into a run, and it really reminds me of the same thing she did with that bright smile in the middle of Gershwin at the Olympics. Getting back to how I see this program as a remembrance of her career, I wish she would exit the spin and start this move sooner, or hold it a bit longer, or both, match it with the rise in the music, and basically make it look like she's recreating that triumphant moment.
1:45-2:00+: 2A
Lovely transitions and ina bauer entry. As she spreads her arms, I remember her gliding across the ice for her entry into 2A+2T+2Lo during Les Miserables. Can you see it too?
2:05-2:20: LSp3
Good and same as Les Mis last year at worlds, though that one was better. (but at the Olympics I'm sure it will be sublime)
2:20-3:00+: StSq4
For the most part this is wonderful, and I love the brief outside edge spiral and how it matches the music. I know the spiral is so short because of rule changes, and it just adds to the level of the step sequence (as opposed to being its own element), but really I'm not thinking about that when I watch the program -- I'm imagining a young Yuna succeeding at this move for the first time, maybe even not able to hold it that long.
In that light, this part of the program is where I would suggest a whimsical addition. It's really a silly notion on my part. Keeping with the theme of looking back at Yuna's journey from little girl to the champion she is now, I wish that after the spiral, she would add something as trivial as a single jump, or positional jump. Some kind of nod to her younger days. Wouldn't it be beautiful? In fact I think it would be a positive addition to the step sequence, it might carry the pace and emotional momentum at just the right moment.
3:02-3:22: CCoSp4 and ending pose
Perfecto. Yuna really did a good job with this in Zagreb too, I can feel this element more than some of the others for that particular showing. The little hop is perfect (adds points too), and the finishing pose = job well done.
What are your feelings on her new programs, and do you think any changes are needed?
I'm going to use the YT videos linked on Yuna's approved fb page, for reference.
SEND IN THE CLOWNS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tz4ToEQ_jw&feature=share
I think Yuna and David have done a fantastic job with this program. I feel like it's going to be my favorite SP of hers, ever. The music selection and cut, wow, it's really emotional and appropriate, and lends itself to fantastic interpretation. For me, this program blows the competition out of the water this year, but I still want to give it a quick review.
Music: wistful, nostalgic. I can feel from the first time I watch the program, that this should be about Yuna's farewell, remembering all the times from the past, happy and sad. Someone once wrote that for Yuna to really deliver an A+ performance for Gershwin, she had to become the music notes themselves. I think for "Send in the Clowns", Yuna will have to become the nostalgic emotion as she skates across the ice. I think it's unlike her to become emotional during a competition, particularly during the performance itself, but I think for a full presentation she may have to actually yield to her memories. Even if she held back tears during the skate, as long as it was from the heart and not acting, it would be unbelievably moving.
Story: As Yuna delivers this program, I imagine her journey from little girl first trying on skates, to the beautiful woman and retiring champion that she is now. Any minor changes to the program that I suggest are in that light.
0:34-1:00+: Opening and 3Lz+3T
This all looks lovely to me. I just want to comment on something very subtle that I think is cool...normally when Yuna does her 3+3 it's timed with the change in music, which can sometimes get drowned out by the applause. I love how this time, the rise in the emotional music comes just a few seconds later, around 1:05, after the applause have ended. Very cool to hear all its fullness, and see Yuna with a lovely expression as she looks upward at the same time.
1:05-1:27: 3F
Once again all of this looks beautiful, and Yuna does a really good job between the two big jumps. Often the lesser skaters look like they're just doing jumping drills across the ice, but with this program I think Yuna and David have done an especially good job of making the big jumps look artistic and beautiful, as part of the program.
1:27-1:40+: FCSp4
I love the positions, but I wish they would change the exit ever so slightly. After the spin, Yuna briefly breaks into a run, and it really reminds me of the same thing she did with that bright smile in the middle of Gershwin at the Olympics. Getting back to how I see this program as a remembrance of her career, I wish she would exit the spin and start this move sooner, or hold it a bit longer, or both, match it with the rise in the music, and basically make it look like she's recreating that triumphant moment.
1:45-2:00+: 2A
Lovely transitions and ina bauer entry. As she spreads her arms, I remember her gliding across the ice for her entry into 2A+2T+2Lo during Les Miserables. Can you see it too?
2:05-2:20: LSp3
Good and same as Les Mis last year at worlds, though that one was better. (but at the Olympics I'm sure it will be sublime)
2:20-3:00+: StSq4
For the most part this is wonderful, and I love the brief outside edge spiral and how it matches the music. I know the spiral is so short because of rule changes, and it just adds to the level of the step sequence (as opposed to being its own element), but really I'm not thinking about that when I watch the program -- I'm imagining a young Yuna succeeding at this move for the first time, maybe even not able to hold it that long.
In that light, this part of the program is where I would suggest a whimsical addition. It's really a silly notion on my part. Keeping with the theme of looking back at Yuna's journey from little girl to the champion she is now, I wish that after the spiral, she would add something as trivial as a single jump, or positional jump. Some kind of nod to her younger days. Wouldn't it be beautiful? In fact I think it would be a positive addition to the step sequence, it might carry the pace and emotional momentum at just the right moment.
3:02-3:22: CCoSp4 and ending pose
Perfecto. Yuna really did a good job with this in Zagreb too, I can feel this element more than some of the others for that particular showing. The little hop is perfect (adds points too), and the finishing pose = job well done.