I checked out M/G at the recent Russian event. And I'll be watching Rostelecom this weekend. I would agree with @CanadianSkaterGuy, as I said in my prior post, that M/G are looking much better this season. And as you mention, they still have some things to clean up. But their programs are more exciting, with Moskvina trying to pull out their personalities. They basically skated like robots in previous seasons, technically wonderful for the most part, but no personality or connection. So, this is a promising start under Moskvina's tutelage.
I like that both M/G and Evgenia/Vlad are skating to Russian themes for their sps. More skaters should pull from their cultural backgrounds in developing programs with a bit more freshness and personality. Aside from Vlad's beard and overlong hair though, there's not a lot new that I saw with Ev/Vlad. They have all the goods, but whatever is going on with them, they aren't connecting too well on the ice, and they still need to lay down more consistency. As usual. the judges will be itching to throw points at them, without much effort on their parts, since they are seen as great technicians. The thing about it is that they have the skill, but they've always lacked the ability to choose material which might enhance who they are and help them to grow and define their partnership. That is still a work-in-progress for them, even after all their years together. They need more oomph, connection and confidence. Plus, I think in their fp that the lifts and tricks, while some are very eye-catching, the juxtapositions tend to be over-busy and the construction a bit frenetic and lacking in creating a seamless whole with the music.
Occasionally, I will tune into TSL, but I always have to fast-forward to find something interesting about skating. I'm not into their random, OTT chit-chat shtick. And some of their opinions are grating and snarky, but in the mix, there is sometimes interesting news and insights. In their recent broadcast, I disagree with Jonathan's knee-jerk notion that somehow the Russian pairs are showing us something so exquisite. From what I've seen so far this season, the Russian teams are simply trying to 'keep up' with the new trends, while adapting and building on creative moves and difficult lift positions, entries and exits, just as we've been seeing over the past several years from a number of pairs teams across-the-board. This is an overall evolution that has been happening for awhile and it's not unusual. Of course, Moskvina brings her unique vision, creativity, and wealth of experience, but even she is building upon a number of exciting trends in pairs that have been percolating for awhile.
A lot of innovation and excitement in pairs stems from the superb programs of James/Cipres that they crafted with their coaches and with ice dance choreographers over their final three seasons. Every one of their programs from 2016-2019 are memorable, with innovative moves, difficult transitions, and interesting music. In addition, the technical strengths of Duhamel/Radford, the choreo of Julie Marcotte, and as well, the collaborations of Savchenko/Szolkowy (and later Sav/Massot) with their choreographers and coaches have pushed the pairs discipline forward, just as the exciting twists and throws of the Chinese pairs impacted the discipline in the 90s and 2000s.
Meanwhile, Jonathan is so wrong in trying to look down on U.S. pairs teams. He and Dave both need to stop with their nose-in-the-air condescension toward U.S. teams. Jonathan was marveling over how beautiful the lift positions are of the Russian pairs. IMO, the Russian pairs as usual have great desire and superb technical abilities. But they do not have a monopoly on creative innovation on lifts or lift positions. They are obviously attempting to incorporate the innovation that has been coming from other directions, while relying on their own rich balletic traditions and great technical strengths. U.S. teams in fact have been contributing to some of the pairs lift and movement innovations in recent years. Brandon & Haven always excelled on lifts. They were one of the first teams to show the circus-type lift during their 2013 Junior Worlds win. A few seasons ago, it was Brandon & Haven who beautifully debuted the exciting one-hand carry lift, where the lady looks like she's flying freely. Last season, with John Zimmerman and Renee Roca, B&H had an energetic revamp of their Lion King program in which they built to an exciting climax with three unique lifts all coming at the end of their program. It was a great program which helped them win two bronze medals on the GP.
As well, the now split partnership of Luba & Charlie developed an exciting upside down vertical lift, that I believe may have been inspired by the upside down carry lift move James/Cipres displayed in one of their programs. J/C's Sound of Silence program also debuted an exciting horizontal lift in a unique sideways position, which spurred a lot of adaptations and inspiration to explore further creative positions in the air on overhead lifts. In addition, Calalang/Johnson had wonderful costumes, superb lifts and lovely death spirals last season, with Jessica displaying graceful, gorgeous positions. She also had a death spiral move that has been copied by other teams. This season the top U.S. pairs teams in the ISP virtual challenge displayed difficult transitions, and a number of newly inventive entrances and exits to a variety of lifts. So what the Russian teams are doing is not new or necessarily original with them. In addition, it was two U.S. pairs teams who landed the first throw 3-axel and the first throw quad-salchow in competition (Inoue/Baldwin 2006; Vise/Trent 2007, respectively).
Figure skating evolves from athletes, coaches and choreographers gaining inspiration from what they see others doing. A lot of adapting, building and thinking outside-the-box is what pushes the discipline forward. Still, I don't think a whole bunch of difficult entrances and exits and busy transitions and cramming lifts at the end of programs just for effect makes for good programs. There has to be good music selection, and thoughtful pacing of choreographic moves to the music. Plus, there should be an overall concept and goal, or a theme that involves weaving a story. Character-driven choreography is rare these days but when it fits just right for a team, that kind of approach can be groundbreaking. Pairs is such a unique and difficult enterprise, and developing a successful partnership is a long haul. I'm excited to continue witnessing further creative explorations and breakthroughs from all quarters.
While Russian pairs continue to have an edge based on great technique, aesthetic traditions, and legacy rep, I do get tired of all the knee-jerk over-adulation. Where the Russian teams do not always excel is in partnership chemistry, connection, music selection, personality and projecting to audiences. I can certainly see the new young Russian teams attempting to improve in those areas. Still, Russian teams too often are thrown extra points on PCS that they do not necessarily deserve simply because they generally have good technical chops. At the moment, the young Russian teams still need to smooth out their rough edges, develop experience and consistency, and work on projecting more personality. Of the current young Russian teams, I think Boikova/Koslovskii display more chemistry and connection. At this point, there doesn't seem to be any momentum for Ev/Vlad in improving their connection or their music selection. But yes, they still look good on the ice and they have all the tools that just haven't come together on a solid, consistent basis.
I like that both M/G and Evgenia/Vlad are skating to Russian themes for their sps. More skaters should pull from their cultural backgrounds in developing programs with a bit more freshness and personality. Aside from Vlad's beard and overlong hair though, there's not a lot new that I saw with Ev/Vlad. They have all the goods, but whatever is going on with them, they aren't connecting too well on the ice, and they still need to lay down more consistency. As usual. the judges will be itching to throw points at them, without much effort on their parts, since they are seen as great technicians. The thing about it is that they have the skill, but they've always lacked the ability to choose material which might enhance who they are and help them to grow and define their partnership. That is still a work-in-progress for them, even after all their years together. They need more oomph, connection and confidence. Plus, I think in their fp that the lifts and tricks, while some are very eye-catching, the juxtapositions tend to be over-busy and the construction a bit frenetic and lacking in creating a seamless whole with the music.
Occasionally, I will tune into TSL, but I always have to fast-forward to find something interesting about skating. I'm not into their random, OTT chit-chat shtick. And some of their opinions are grating and snarky, but in the mix, there is sometimes interesting news and insights. In their recent broadcast, I disagree with Jonathan's knee-jerk notion that somehow the Russian pairs are showing us something so exquisite. From what I've seen so far this season, the Russian teams are simply trying to 'keep up' with the new trends, while adapting and building on creative moves and difficult lift positions, entries and exits, just as we've been seeing over the past several years from a number of pairs teams across-the-board. This is an overall evolution that has been happening for awhile and it's not unusual. Of course, Moskvina brings her unique vision, creativity, and wealth of experience, but even she is building upon a number of exciting trends in pairs that have been percolating for awhile.
A lot of innovation and excitement in pairs stems from the superb programs of James/Cipres that they crafted with their coaches and with ice dance choreographers over their final three seasons. Every one of their programs from 2016-2019 are memorable, with innovative moves, difficult transitions, and interesting music. In addition, the technical strengths of Duhamel/Radford, the choreo of Julie Marcotte, and as well, the collaborations of Savchenko/Szolkowy (and later Sav/Massot) with their choreographers and coaches have pushed the pairs discipline forward, just as the exciting twists and throws of the Chinese pairs impacted the discipline in the 90s and 2000s.
Meanwhile, Jonathan is so wrong in trying to look down on U.S. pairs teams. He and Dave both need to stop with their nose-in-the-air condescension toward U.S. teams. Jonathan was marveling over how beautiful the lift positions are of the Russian pairs. IMO, the Russian pairs as usual have great desire and superb technical abilities. But they do not have a monopoly on creative innovation on lifts or lift positions. They are obviously attempting to incorporate the innovation that has been coming from other directions, while relying on their own rich balletic traditions and great technical strengths. U.S. teams in fact have been contributing to some of the pairs lift and movement innovations in recent years. Brandon & Haven always excelled on lifts. They were one of the first teams to show the circus-type lift during their 2013 Junior Worlds win. A few seasons ago, it was Brandon & Haven who beautifully debuted the exciting one-hand carry lift, where the lady looks like she's flying freely. Last season, with John Zimmerman and Renee Roca, B&H had an energetic revamp of their Lion King program in which they built to an exciting climax with three unique lifts all coming at the end of their program. It was a great program which helped them win two bronze medals on the GP.
As well, the now split partnership of Luba & Charlie developed an exciting upside down vertical lift, that I believe may have been inspired by the upside down carry lift move James/Cipres displayed in one of their programs. J/C's Sound of Silence program also debuted an exciting horizontal lift in a unique sideways position, which spurred a lot of adaptations and inspiration to explore further creative positions in the air on overhead lifts. In addition, Calalang/Johnson had wonderful costumes, superb lifts and lovely death spirals last season, with Jessica displaying graceful, gorgeous positions. She also had a death spiral move that has been copied by other teams. This season the top U.S. pairs teams in the ISP virtual challenge displayed difficult transitions, and a number of newly inventive entrances and exits to a variety of lifts. So what the Russian teams are doing is not new or necessarily original with them. In addition, it was two U.S. pairs teams who landed the first throw 3-axel and the first throw quad-salchow in competition (Inoue/Baldwin 2006; Vise/Trent 2007, respectively).
Figure skating evolves from athletes, coaches and choreographers gaining inspiration from what they see others doing. A lot of adapting, building and thinking outside-the-box is what pushes the discipline forward. Still, I don't think a whole bunch of difficult entrances and exits and busy transitions and cramming lifts at the end of programs just for effect makes for good programs. There has to be good music selection, and thoughtful pacing of choreographic moves to the music. Plus, there should be an overall concept and goal, or a theme that involves weaving a story. Character-driven choreography is rare these days but when it fits just right for a team, that kind of approach can be groundbreaking. Pairs is such a unique and difficult enterprise, and developing a successful partnership is a long haul. I'm excited to continue witnessing further creative explorations and breakthroughs from all quarters.
While Russian pairs continue to have an edge based on great technique, aesthetic traditions, and legacy rep, I do get tired of all the knee-jerk over-adulation. Where the Russian teams do not always excel is in partnership chemistry, connection, music selection, personality and projecting to audiences. I can certainly see the new young Russian teams attempting to improve in those areas. Still, Russian teams too often are thrown extra points on PCS that they do not necessarily deserve simply because they generally have good technical chops. At the moment, the young Russian teams still need to smooth out their rough edges, develop experience and consistency, and work on projecting more personality. Of the current young Russian teams, I think Boikova/Koslovskii display more chemistry and connection. At this point, there doesn't seem to be any momentum for Ev/Vlad in improving their connection or their music selection. But yes, they still look good on the ice and they have all the tools that just haven't come together on a solid, consistent basis.
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