2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[Spirals for Miles]

I’m curious, why do Gubanova and Tarusina have a higher chance at the GP than the other girls I listed? Do they have a higher season’s best?

I think it's because of their SB from last season. Both Gubanova and Tarusina are comfortably within the top 24, each with a SB of 198+ (Tarusina is slightly higher but that's OT). So, they're guaranteed a GP spot as long as they're submitted, and, imo at least, they're likely to be, both being from CSKA and performing well at nationals. However, Guliakova, Tarakanova, and Vasilieva's SBs place them out of the top 24, so they are guaranteed no spots. With so many strong ladies, even skaters guaranteed spots will only get 1 when they would usually get 2 (say, if they skated for another country with less skaters competing for spots), or some will not be submitted at all. So, there's not really "room" for these three girls on the GP this year, as long as Russia only has 18 spots. And Talalaikina didn't compete internationally at all last year, so she doesn't have an ISU SB at all.

 

[LiamForeman]

In all honesty, not that many people get the whole popping cork reference tbh, especially if english is not your native language. I admit I didn’t understand it and I myself am english educated and more or less fluent in the language. Popping your cork is also a Colloquialism in itself, like where I am popping your cork means to flip someone off or to yell at someone, I didn’t even think about the other implication until multiple members of this forum made it into a big deal.

Me too. Popping your cork I thought meant something like losing your head over a guy. I can see it being obviously sexual if a man says it, but a girl? And anyway it's an over the top song, just meant to be fun. I was concentrating on her skating and wasn't even focused on the lyrics.

 

[dunffvanstorn]

LOL. I thought Oksana Baiul gave definitive performances of Swan Lake and The Dying Swan. The next seasons I can't even count how many girls became swans!

I have to be honest, I never enjoyed Alina's POTO and Carmen, just because she looked like a nervous wreck the whole time. And for me none of the choreography was memorable either. Hopefully they'll stay away from any warhorses this coming season.

Agree with everything. Don Quixote and Swan Lake were memorable programs, POTO and Carmen not really... and don’t get me wrong, I really like Alina, I just don’t like the programs. Specially in Carmen, she seems so stiff and robotic.

 

[esteticlove]

It's interesting though that the most memorable programs of their team were mainly Eteri's own work - Shindler's List (together with Averbukh), Valieva's SP from this season and maybe for me Evgenia's WE FS (which was also made together with Averbukh). People seem to like bright ideas and not really recycling something old over and over again. I think that Alina's DQ and Swan Lake were also a hit mainly because of the idea to put the skater in a tutu and do modern ballet on the ice, which on itself is also something not so common. Here I still give Daniil a huge credit though, in my personal opinion, Swan Lake was really the program of his life so far and it's the one after which I can't imagine anyone skating to it anymore.

 

[VenusHalley]

I only saw this...

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByFK_iLIVWc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Daniil Gleichengauz's comment about the music choices for Alina Zagitova's 2018-19 programs: "About Alina and her two programs, here we went from the fact that she is able to skate to these hits better than anyone else, who already has skated to 'Phantom of the Opera' and 'Carmen'. That (choice) was my wish, because I have never choreographed to these pieces before. The goal was to create such programs for her that for the next 3-4 years no one would take this music, understanding that they won't be able to perform it better than Zagitova."

OMG.

The music cuts in POTO were so cringey, so even if she skated it well... I could never enjoy it. I wonder if her terrified face at the begging of performing this piece was in fact "oh no, here it comes again, I'll have to hear this again and pretend I enjoy it... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MAKE IT STOP".

And her Carmen........ I never liked her interpretation, or rather her teams. It was too rushed and you cannot be sultry while rushing around like a maniac and waving all your limbs to get in all those levels and transitions score. When she skated it well... it was a manic pixie dream girl in pretty dress (that would look good on Eurovision stage or in a club too)... skating to Carmen.

Witt has done it better, imho.

 

[voolfee]

For me, Alina's POTO was the best in history among all POTO programs because of the music cuts. Carmen was also one of the best in history. And of course, in the next 3-4 years it will be difficult to perform POTO and Carmen programs better than Alina.

 

[VenusHalley]

A part of Billie’s appeal is that her style is unique as is her personality. Everyone has a clothing preference. But the point is it’s not just classical girly sparkly outfits that are beautiful. Her style showcases her individuality, and I’m not even her fan. So I’m here for Alina wearing whatever she wants even if it’s that yellow outfit I don’t particularly enjoy. There are enough typical sparkly girly dresses in FS (not that there’s anything wrong with that, either).

The thing is... there are clothes that are flattering... and then some that are not. You don't have to be either sexy or dressed in totally unflattering clothes. No one would call the UAE skater Lara Zahri sexy, but her pants and hijab are still flattering and look good.

So i hope they don't put Alina in something of unflattering shape and color for the sake of being DIFFERENT!!111 and unique and kwirkee! In fact, there is so much ugly clothes (and some are very expensive too) around... that it's no longer unique and original.

Billie wearing purposedly ugly and unflattering outfits it's just another way of drawing attention to herself. If she did not care for attention to herself and how she looks, she'd throw in some jeans and tshirt or tunic... The whole "not like other girls" thing is becoming a cliche of its own.

(not that there is anything wrong in wanting to attract attention as an artist... but don't pretend you are not doing it).

 

[NoviceFan]

Amount of venom here is simply amazing.

Yes, Alina was the highlight of the show among all ladies, magnificent performance. Zhenya's program after Alina looked even more unattractive with this terrible choreography and dress.

 

[andromache]

Different people have very different tastes in programs. I think Alina's styling this year - dresses and hair - were amazing. I think her music cuts were bad, and at times the choreography was just too jam-packed.

Why are people getting so upset over a difference of opinion? Not everyone has to love Daniil's choreography. I'm not really a fan of his style - though I think his programs for Kostornaia/Trusova/Shcherbakova have all been far better than his programs for Alina. I'd love to see Alina with choreography where she holds beautiful positions/edges for a longer amount of time, and I think she's more than capable of it.

As for his interview, I think it's pretty arrogant to say that you're going to create programs that are so iconic that no one will use the music for years - especially when the music is SOOOO overused. But that's my perspective. Maybe it's a cultural difference. What sounds arrogant to me might sound confident and positive to someone else.

 

[Lunalovesskating]

Interesting that Daniil mentioned that he will never do programs for other ladies and men. He will only do programs for Pair skaters and Ice dancers if they ask him.
I think a part of developing as a choreographer is to work with different skaters all over the world, not only so that skaters learn from choreographers, but also choreographers learn from skaters. Tom Dickson and David Wilson are great examples for that, they work with skaters all over the world, not just the skaters from their rink.

 

[Reddi]

And her Carmen........ I never liked her interpretation, or rather her teams. It was too rushed and you cannot be sultry while rushing around like a maniac and waving all your limbs to get in all those levels and transitions score. When she skated it well... it was a manic pixie dream girl in pretty dress (that would look good on Eurovision stage or in a club too)... skating to Carmen.

Witt has done it better, imho.

Words can't describe how happy I was to see a youthful, chaotic and random Carmen from the Prosper Mérimée's novel for once in a long long time. The very same that has been described as sassy and rowdy. The one who talked about love with snide and disdain, the one who played with people's feelings and emptied hearts and pockets. They followed Plisetskaya's footsteps while creating this program (hence all the homage movements in choreography). Look at Plisetskaya's face during the Carmen Suite - she has a legit troll face sometimes Her Carmen is arrogant and is high on her power over people and feeling of invincibility.
It's sad that Alina hasn't always been able to recreate this feeling to its full potential because of all her struggles although I saw glimpses of that when Alina was in okay condition. But I love their take nevertheless. God, I'm so damn tired of all the cliche sultry seductresses I've been seen most of the times.

 

[voolfee]

Wow, don't you see the difference? I didn't write any insulting comments, but wrote what is, just my opinion.

 

[Alex65]

Some people here insult Daniel without even realizing what he said. Literally, he said that the goal was to make such programs for Alina. It is surprising that for the strongest skater of the planet to strive to put the best programs. Is not it?

 

[andromache]

Interesting that Daniil mentioned that he will never do programs for other ladies and men. He will only do programs for Pair skaters and Ice dancers if they ask him.
I think a part of developing as a choreographer is to work with different skaters all over the world, not only so that skaters learn from choreographers, but also choreographers learn from skaters. Tom Dickson and David Wilson are great examples for that, they work with skaters all over the world, not just the skaters from their rink.

It seems like he does not want to "assist" any skaters who will be competing against his and Eteri's.

 

[Autumn Leaves]

Interesting that Daniil mentioned that he will never do programs for other ladies and men. He will only do programs for Pair skaters and Ice dancers if they ask him.
I think a part of developing as a choreographer is to work with different skaters all over the world, not only so that skaters learn from choreographers, but also choreographers learn from skaters. Tom Dickson and David Wilson are great examples for that, they work with skaters all over the world, not just the skaters from their rink.

But he does have plenty of skaters to develop programs for. I don't know if any other choreographer has the chance to work on so many programs for elite skaters of different ages, skill and personality. I haven't seen the statistics, but diversity he has. If anything bothers me, it is that the programs are just too many, and there is the risk of repetition or occasionally dropping the ball, not the lack of breadth.

 

[MMisMis]

Words can't describe how happy I was to see a youthful, chaotic and random Carmen from the Prosper Mérimée's novel for once in a long long time. The very same that has been described as sassy and rowdy. The one who talked about love with snide and disdain, the one who played with people's feelings and emptied hearts and pockets. They followed Plisetskaya's footsteps while creating this program (hence all the homage movements in choreography). Look at Plisetskaya's face during the Carmen Suite - she has a legit troll face sometimes Her Carmen is arrogant and is high on her power over people and feeling of invincibility.
It's sad that Alina hasn't always been able to recreate this feeling to its full potential because of all her struggles although I saw glimpses of that when Alina was in okay condition. But I love their take nevertheless. God, I'm so damn tired of all the cliche sultry seductresses I've been seen most of the times.

I totally agree. Carmen performed by Alina at the same time very ballet, but it is surprisingly close to the book - bright, wayward, passionate.
"Plisetskaya's face during the Carmen Suite" :смеяться::отвратительное существо:
I like most of Daniel's choreographies. His moonlight Sonata for Lisa Tursynbaeva just gorgeous.

 

[voolfee]

Why are people getting so upset over a difference of opinion?

Is it only difference of opinion?

Poor thing. Is he really that dellusional? Or just dumb?

I never enjoyed Alina's POTO and Carmen, just because she looked like a nervous wreck the whole time.

I wonder if her terrified face at the begging of performing this piece was in fact "oh no, here it comes again, I'll have to hear this again and pretend I enjoy it... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE MAKE IT STOP".

It was too rushed and you cannot be sultry while rushing around like a maniac and waving all your limbs to get in all those levels and transitions score. When she skated it well... it was a manic pixie dream girl in pretty dress (that would look good on Eurovision stage or in a club too)

 

[VenusHalley]

Well, I am somewhat snarky in my commentaries... but I simply cannot bring myself to gush over these two pieces for the reasons I said (obnoxious music cuts and rushed choreography, which imho does not go well with Carmen. It was alright with Black Swan, since she was supposed to be going insane in the program and in Don Quixote, it worked well with the music (although the program was somewhat unbalance with the backloading... but at the same time impressive to see her do all the jumping in such fast pace. It had a wow factor).

My problem with the current system is that you sometimes see a move and you see it is done for the points. Blade grab, leg kick, milisecond spiral... it does not make sense within in the program, just within the way programs are scored. It's not just problem with the Russian ladies.

 

[el henry]

Daniil cannot be thinking straight if he thinks that skaters are not going to skate to Carmen or POTO in the future because Alina skated to it.

If he said that, it is a silly thing to say because 1) just try to stop POTO and Carmen programs, not happening and 2) Alina's programs are not so wonderful and fantastic that skaters are going to be discouraged just contemplating her performance.

I mean, I believe coaches and choreographers should support their skater, but that particular comment just makes no sense.

 

[voolfee]

Or the commentators didn't understand what Daniil meant, or don't want to understand. This commentator is absolutely right. Daniil set as a goal to put such programs that were better than all previous ones for this music and that other figure skaters wouldn't want to take it for 3-4 years for their programs. It was a goal and he didn't say that he considered it that way.

Some people here insult Daniel without even realizing what he said. Literally, he said that the goal was to make such programs for Alina. It is surprising that for the strongest skater of the planet to strive to put the best programs. Is not it?