2025 Cup of China Free Dance

[yuumagical]

Smart/Dieck are a real contrast to Wang/Liu, really a lot of care and intention put into utilizing the various cuts of music in an interesting way.

 

[Weathergal]

We definitely agree. Plus reveal was a bonus and a WTF reveal nominee!

Exactly! I know some people think that costume reveals are gimmicky, but I enjoyed that one and didn't expect it at all!

 

[labgoat]

Exactly! I know some people think that costume reveals are gimmicky, but I enjoyed that one and didn't expect it at all!

It was exceptionally well done, musical and both costumes are lovely.

 

[Weathergal]

Lin / Quan are really wonderful! I wish so much they had just stuck with the instrumental music all the way through the program though. The vocals are distracting to me and aren't needed to carry the story.

 

[yuumagical]

Oh no, you do NOT confuse South Korea with the DPRK, I can't believe Chris just said that

 

[elektra blue]

Ready @elektra blue - are you here or in the replay?

sorry mama, i watched alone i didn't know you were available

 

[labgoat]

I am on group 2 warm-up... want to process what Chock & Bates are wearing

 

[labgoat]

sorry mama, i watched alone i didn't know you were available

we're watching the final group

 

[labgoat]

Lim & Quan are obviously doing our favorite musical - nope Adagio for Strings - the sad sequel to Umbrellas...
Love Loicia's hair and their costumes are cool.
Love LopaBris - blue is the in color
Zing/Kole look very elegant - for a second I thought she was Holly Harris
Good God Madison & Evan - that skirt looks too heavy, his epaulets don't say bulls horns to me. If someone hadn't told me I would not have figured that out. Her bolero jacket does not flatter her frame. The lace on the legs -yes, on the panties - no. Also the V of her pants should point down not up.

 

[labgoat]

Adagio always makes me cry - it is associated with so many world tragedies that we seem to be on the path to repeat these days. Beautifully done and skated very well, I'd give them a boatload of points. This is the Lim/Quan that I love. That final split lift from them is stunning!

 

[yuumagical]

Demougeot/Le Mercier telling a unique story with their music, really appreciate how different it is from your typical slow free dance.

 

[Weathergal]

Lim & Quan are obviously doing our favorite musical.
Love Loicia's hair and their costumes are cool.
Love LopaBris - blue is the in color
Zing/Kole look very elegant - for a second I thought she was Holly Harris
Good God Madison & Evan - that skirt looks too heavy, his epaulets don't say bulls horns to me. If someone hadn't told me I would not have figured that out. Her bolero jacket does not flatter her frame. The lace on the legs -yes, on the panties - no. Also the V of her pants should point down not up.

I love how Loicia commits to the whole costume/hair/makeup experience. She doesn't disappoint!

I thought their program was kind of cool, even though I'm not familiar with the story. They didn't seem to be happy at the end of it although maybe they were just exhausted.

With France only having 2 Olympic spots in Dance - which is just such a bummer! - and the assumption that Fournier Beaudry / Cizeron have 1 of the spots, I originally thought Demougeot / le Mercier would be left out. But with Lopareva / Brissaud's shaky start to the season, could Demougeot / le Mercier overtake them?

 

[labgoat]

Curse of the Sad Mummy for Loicia & Theo
Modern art from the wonderfully different French team.

 

[museksk8r]

I love how Loicia commits to the whole costume/hair/makeup experience. She doesn't disappoint!

I thought their program was kind of cool, even though I'm not familiar with the story. They didn't seem to be happy at the end of it although maybe they were just exhausted.

With France only having 2 Olympic spots in Dance - which is just such a bummer! - and the assumption that Fournier Beaudry / Cizeron have 1 of the spots, I originally thought Demougeot / le Mercier would be left out. But with Lopareva / Brissaud's shaky start to the season, could Demougeot / le Mercier overtake them?

Sadly, I feel D/LM have no chance. With no connection to IAM, I’m afraid they don’t have the political push to make the French Olympic team.

 

[labgoat]

I am now on Lopa/Bris- music from Bjork. This is my first time seeing this program - I worked through it every time and had no chance to rewatch it. I like it. I pairs well with the other French team.

 

[yuumagical]

Although I miss their free dance from last year, this is still a worthy vehicle for Lopareva/Brissaud. Definitely makes me want to listen to Bjork's music.

 

[discodisco]

I think one word that sticks out to me when describing C/B's FD: empty.

There were a couple sections where I almost couldn't believe how little skating there was. About 2/3 of the way through when she was just Fanning her skirt back and forth well skating forward on two feet. Really? And then so many sections were noticeably slow, with very little knee Bend or depth of edge. Those sections looks like a show program when the goal is to impress the audience with flair and drama, where skating skills, and to be honest, sometimes even skating, are not even the prime focus.

I'll be honest, they have never been my favorite team because I have thought their lack of blades-on-ice basics just aren't up to par with some of the competitors, but I have enjoyed some of their programs despite that, due to the creativity of their lifts and the undeniable Charisma that she has. But there was just too little happening in this program, and the fact that the judges scored it lower than the British team from last week, who are renowned for being noticeably weaker in skating skills then choreography and presentation, is telling, and I think they got it Bang on.

 

[Weathergal]

Sadly, I feel D/LM have no chance. With no connection to IAM, I’m afraid they don’t have the political push to make the French Olympic team.

A shame because the Arribert group has a lot of good teams.

 

[labgoat]

I am now on Zingas /Kolesnik. Rather a somber Romeo & Juliet. One that slows them down from their usual frenetic pace. Seems rather ponderous after awhile. I love their skating though and this program emphasizes the real tragedy of two young lovers who die way too early. Don't know if there is any subtext for Vadym being Ukrainian.

 

[yuumagical]

Really like the use of black for a Romeo and Juliet program, totally unconventional but really emphasizes the tragic aspect of the story!