2019-20 Russian Ladies' Figure Skating

[zounger]

People struggled but at the end realized that there will be skaters that will continue to skate to POTO and Carmen. Genius!!!

 

[VenusHalley]

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.

And even if they were... skaters are not going to say "oh Alina already did it, I shall not try".

It's not like skaters stopped skating to Carmen, Swan lake, Bolero and whatnot after others had memorable produced memorable programs of these. The music does not belong to skaters, everybody can come and try. They may not do great job of it... but it is still their prerogative.

 

[andromache]

Is it only difference of opinion?

Just because someone's criticism isn't nice doesn't mean it is a malicious insult. People frequently make negative comments about skaters' expressions while they skate. I believe you referred to Evgenia's programs and dresses as unattractive and terrible. You're welcome to say so.

 

[voolfee]

I believe you referred to Evgenia's programs and dresses as unattractive and terrible.

No need to misinterpret my words. I wrote that only Zhenya's EX program on the show after Alina looked even more unattractive with this terrible choreography and dress. This is just an opinion, I haven't insulted anyone

 

[zounger]

This thread reminds me of the "Broken telephone game"

 

[Alex65]

How is it all the same difficult to communicate when thinking in different languages.

 

[VenusHalley]

No need to misinterpret my words. I wrote that only Zhenya's EX program on the show after Alina looked even more unattractive with this terrible choreography and dress. This is just an opinion, I haven't insulted anyone

But others may feel the same about your favorite skater...

(and yeah, that dress... is not flattering, sorry).

 

[el henry]

I am using Moriel's translation in the "Interview with Daniil" thread (thank you Moriel for these translations ) as a basis for my comments:

[and I am hopeless at linking threads, please go visit it]

"As for Alina and her two programs, here we worked from the fact that she is able to skate to these hits better than all the others who previously skated to Phantom of the Opera and Carmen. It was my desire, because I never choreographed to this music. The goal was to make her such programs, that for another three or four years no one would take this music, knowing that they would not perform them better than Zagitova did."

I can't speak for others, but my opinion has nothing to do with anyone else's comments. It is based on Daniil's own words.

What he said there was silly. Maybe he didn't mean it that way, but it came out that way. It is not a fact that Alina has skated Carmen and POTO better than all previous skaters, I mean, really? :noshake: and her skates will not inhibit or make other skaters afraid to take that music.

I really can't see where that [ETA: thinking that the comment from Daniil was just, I don't know how else to say it, silly] is such an outrageous opinion

 

[j00mla]

I think when Daniil said about skaters who will not skate programs of the same themes he meant the most top ladies who can be somehow compared with Alina and can really compete with her. Not so many names, guys. I guess he don't care about skaters who compete at level of "pump house championship".
By the way, in terms of Russian fans competitions like Canadian Nationals is "pump house championship" too

 

[voolfee]

I am using Moriel's translation in the "Interview with Daniil" thread:

"As for Alina and her two programs, here we worked from the fact that she is able to skate to these hits better than all the others who previously skated to Phantom of the Opera and Carmen. It was my desire, because I never choreographed to this music. The goal was to make her such programs, that for another three or four years no one would take this music, knowing that they would not perform them better than Zagitova did."

Yes, translation isn't correct. Daniil said that they proceeded from the fact that Alina is capable to skate to these hits better than all the others who previously skated to Phantom of the Opera and Carmen.

 

[lappo]

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.

I think one problem is that Wilson and Dickson (and other choreographers) are indipendent contractors, so they are free to pick work wherever it is...I don't know who exactly pays Daniil (I guess Sambo school? or state funds?) but I can totally see why he would prefer to just stick to the skaters from his country.

 

[zounger]

Alina's SP was my best SP from last season. Second best was Eunsoo Lim's. At the beginning of the season, I said that I prefer a concrete continuous piece of music and it still stands. But I can see the novelty of what they tried. It was a full attack to all the PCS components especially the CO. Tal kind of attack and it worked.

 

[fabienne1996]

at what planet or in what alternative reality, I wonder?

Again i read many comments abouj that. And it is likely true. Again phantom was right in zhenyas specialties corner. I never connected alina to this program all season long.

 

[MMisMis]

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.

And in my opinion not a bit silly. What's wrong with wanting to be a perfect Carmen for a few years? So how was Katarina Witt? Ambitious? Certainly. But they are athletes and obsessed with victory

This thread reminds me of the "Broken telephone game"

In my case it is Yandex-translator :sarcasm:

 

[fabienne1996]

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.

Not really . For example i would bet that alena k. Could skate phantom better than alina . But thats my opinon.While alina is a great skater i did not find any of her two programms last season that special. And i personally hate the music cuts

 

[Fool]

Again i read many comments abouj that. And it is likely true. Again phantom was right in zhenyas specialties corner. I never connected alina to this program all season long.

You read many comments, by who?

 

[melgirl25]

No need to misinterpret my words. I wrote that only Zhenya's EX program on the show after Alina looked even more unattractive with this terrible choreography and dress. This is just an opinion, I haven't insulted anyone

Well, it sounds a little insulting to be honest but you are entitled to your opinion.

 

[voolfee]

Not really . For example i would bet that alena k. Could skate phantom better than alina .

I totally disagree. Alina is a much more versatile artist than Alena.

 

[fabienne1996]

I totally disagree. Alina is a much more versatile artist than Alena.

Again that is my own opinion about this. While alina is great she is simply not my favorite. So since i love alena k. I also like her skating much more than alinas. I just cant connect to alinas programms like i do with alenas. Annas and zhenyas

 

[Finley]

I can't fault Daniil for speaking from his heart no matter how it may look in print or be perceived when taken out of context of the interview as a whole. He tried to give Alina the best of what he is capable of. He hoped his best would be beyond memorable. Whether he succeeded or not is for other people to say.

Alina chose Carmen. Daniil had the difficult task of making a very overused piece of music look unique and fresh. Whatever anyone's opinion of his vision of Carmen, the routine did its job this season when it counted the most. As did POTO.

He had to follow Black Swan and DQ. He created two programs that were memorable, talked about, critiqued, praised, broke scoring records, and ultimately made her World Champion. 'To be the best you have to beat the best' is a cliche for a reason. Before you can beat the best you have to bring the absolute best version of yourself to the game. Daniil managed to give her that. If you have to top yourself every season, the only way to do that is set your goals impossibly high.

He put into words what that looks like to him in his mind. He had to create a program like no other. Again, everyone gets to decide for themselves whether or not the program worked for them personally. It certainly worked for Alina.