2021 Finlandia Trophy: Free Dance | Page 16 | Golden Skate

2021 Finlandia Trophy: Free Dance

litenkyckling

Final Flight
Joined
Jun 6, 2018
I've only just caught up since I was forced to socialise today!

P/C - Their skating is beautiful but I just don't find this programme compelling. Maybe I find the costumes jarring? Maybe I'm just not artistically intelligent enough to "get" it. I'm glad they changed the rotational lift towards the end but I'd love to see them try the lift that S/K used in their tango RD because that was lovely and would suit this programme I think. Better than last week but the exit of the straight lift is still a bit messy?

C/B - I wanted to love this but I was bored. I wanted more dance and power and it wasn't that for me. Madi's dress while lovely is also a rubbish colour on her imo. The choreo steps were a chance to really sell the story here and they just didn't?

F/G - Other than the one foot steps - which I thought were so creative - and the lifts, this didn't hold my interest. Beautiful dress I suppose? I'm not sure it just felt a bit empty for me.

S/D - This is ok - I think it looked smoother at ACI but I might be remembering wrong. I'd love to see her in a red dress here instead as I find the green a bit insipid (and then instead of red in the RD maybe a burnt orange or cerise?). I like the choreo steps. I think they were judged more fairly than they were yesterday.

H/K - I do like this BUT I think it feels a bit pre-Olympic season for me? Don't ask me why, it just does. I think they got very lucky with the scoring here - as their performance this weekend across both prorgammes was at least 2 points behind S/D for me. I guess the fight will be tight until the end.

T/V - I don't know why it's taken the judges this long to get on board with them? They really are beautiful. Still don't love the music choices but they make it work. I think they're skating better now the pressure is off and they have the Olympic spot secured.

L/L - I'm really glad they kept this - I think this might be the first time I've felt they could keep up with the pace of the music. Also - I think Marjorie has figured out how much to sell this - before it was too much for me but she seems to have tempered it a bit and it works.

C/P - I make it no secret that I really like these two. That being said, this FD is still meh. The part where they seemed to have the most fun is in the choreo steps - so I think a more fun programme would be great for them. I can't help but feel that they should've done the Batman for the FD and done a different more swing-y RD. Theres a lot of storytelling to fit into the RD and I think in a FD it would be much stronger and more interesting. I do think this change was necessary though - their elements do look more creative now and I think in the long run (with more time under a new coaching team and routine) it will be very good for them. Just not quite their day today. Romain, give them fun please. Or maybe Bridgerton or something would suit them idk.

Romain clearly watched a lot of movies during the pandemic, this season he's choreo'd: Mask of Zorro, The Lion King, Rio, Batman, Kill Bill, Men in Black and Cats??

Overall, an ok event but I'm feeling that way like at the end of Christmas day when all the presents are opened. I've seen most of the programmes now (just H/B and S/B to go?) and I feel kind of flat? Anyway, so glad skating is back!
 

GoneWithTheWind

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 7, 2018
Country
United-Kingdom
A few of my brief thoughts on the dance event:

P/C are back. Personally, I prefer their RD to the FD, but I really like both programs. I can't wait to see the RD when it's really polished, their synchronicity is really impressive in the arm movements.

I saw a couple of posters comment that C/B's RD felt really long, and I agree, but I still quite liked it; on the other hand, their FD felt quite short and I think I liked that too! That probably makes zero sense, and I think I need to rewatch both programs before I form a strong opinion on them 🤔 I did really like the first lift in the FD though, that was really impressive.

As I said upthread, F/G have never been my favourites, and unfortunately neither of their new programs have changed that :slink:(sorry F/G fans!) The RD is okay and I think will improve once they get more comfortable with it. I really like The Lion King soundtrack but the FD to me was a bit boring and didn't grab my attention at all, but props to them for trying something different.

I enjoyed S/D's RD and FD. I think recycling the RD was a smart move, and the fact that it uses one piece of music and doesn't have a jarring cut like so many of the RD's this year is a plus. I think the FD is a good vehicle for them too, and I enjoy the sword fighting moments in the choreo, incorporating that into the one-foot step is really clever. I also like both of H/K's programs, although I prefer the FD. I wish both teams could go to the Olympics :cry:

I really enjoy T/V and was surprised (and pleased) to see them get so close to F/G and the 2 Spanish teams in the FD. Considering they didn't even make the FD at Worlds, that's a major achievement. They're beautiful skaters and their lifts always look so effortless.

L/L are gradually making Rio look less frantic and I really enjoy seeing how into the choreo they are. Another wise recycle, I think.

C/P's FD is a bit generic for me until the last section, and, while I don't like the jarring change to the final, upbeat bit of music, they seem into it and to enjoy that section so I would have been interested to see them do a more fun, upbeat FD. I'm not yet sold on the RD, I think I need to watch it a couple more times to 'get' it.

I also wish their were two spots for the German teams at the Olympics. I like M/D's RD, it's really weird but they make it work; I'm not a huge fan of the FD. OTOH, I like JvR/S's FD but am not so keen on the RD.
 

keasus

On the Ice
Joined
Nov 25, 2006
I "get" it, and I have always loved Faure's music, but this was a snooze fest, competently performed, but still underwhelming. Maybe it will grow and make a real statement by the time the Oly's start.
 

keasus

On the Ice
Joined
Nov 25, 2006
C/P's FD is a bit generic for me until the last section, and, while I don't like the jarring change to the final, upbeat bit of music, they seem into it and to enjoy that section so I would have been interested to see them do a more fun, upbeat FD. I'm not yet sold on the RD, I think I need to watch it a couple more times to 'get' it.
I am a big fan of C/P as well. I think the change was good for them, but they haven't really settled in yet. We forget they are still a young team (Anthony is 21 years old, young for a male ice dancer competing on a world level). What excites me about this team is the raw talent, especially Anthony. I know we are supposed to pay more attention to the female in ice dancing, but I find myself watching Anthony a little more.
 

elektra blue

mother of skaters
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 11, 2018
Country
Italy
If it helps The Academy of American Poets defines elegy this way:
The elegy is a form of poetry in which the poet or speaker expresses grief, sadness, or loss.

This program is a statement on our universal losses during the pandemic.
i know what an Elegy is, thank you anyway :LOL: when i said i was uneducated i didn't mean literally
 

Moxiejan

Medalist
Joined
Jan 11, 2014
Country
United-States
Did you check page 1 of this thread? Music listings can always be found here.
The reason I asked is because Page 1 is blank for their music & the ISU bio lists last year’s “Snake Dance” music. I am looking for info on the music used TODAY.
 

labgoat

I have no words
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 3, 2007
Country
United-States
The reason I asked is because Page 1 is blank for their music & the ISU bio lists last year’s “Snake Dance” music. I am looking for info on the music used TODAY.
i will stop trying to help
 

eppen

Medalist
Joined
Mar 28, 2006
Country
Spain
A few weeks ago I tried to watch a couple of RDs from Lombardia and Nebelhorn, but in each case had to stop after less than a minute into it because they were somehow so awful. Realized that street dance styles and ice dance really are not a match made in heaven but rather in the deepest and most horrible circles of Dante's inferno. I basically decided not to watch ice dance this season.

Today, I headed out to Espoo and tried to time my arrival so that the free dance would be over, but must have read the timetable wrong coz I arrived at the rink with the last group in full swing. Sighed, went over to my usual seat and decided to take whatever they would throw at me. Saw the last moments of Fear/Gibson's Lion King and thought that they really should do something about her upper body and arms, which were plain ugly and sloppy. Also wondered why is Lion King such a popular choice this season.

Like the Led Zeppelin songs for Hurtado/Khaliavin, but they did not them any favors in the program. The first part was just way too slow and made them also look slow. The end was just too quick for them and just made them look slow and sluggish again. Sara's stumbles also did no good for the overall impression. She does try to sell the program!

Chock/Bates shocked me my starting their Daft Punk medley with Contact which has been one of my fave songs this summer. Luckily, the way it was used did not mutilate or completely destroy it, but the choreo was just not up to what I would like to see done to that piece of music. The rest consisted of less memorable Daft Punk songs and I rather forget that I ever saw that performance.

I have a lot of FS friends who almost unanimously love Papadakis/Cizeron. I liked them a lot when they first burst into the scene with the lovely Mozart program, but have since gotten somewhat disillusioned. They are great, there is no doubt about that, but they just do the same thing over and over again. The storyline and the characters are always the same, even the style remains mostly the same, despite the interesting play with tango and modern dance vocabulary at times in this free. The first step sequence I kind of liked.

I think this experience was exactly what I needed to continue this season happily without ice dance.

E
 
Top