2025-26 Russian Nationals Free Dance

[CaroLiza_fan]

Olga Fedorova & Pavel Drako (MOB). The less I say about their costumes the better! On it's own, Pavel's costume isn't too bad. But it does not go well with Olga's dress at all. Then again, would anything go with Olga's dress? If it hasn't been nominated already, I'm nominating it!

That said, I like the concept of the programme. We don't get enough "Cabaret" programmes.

Unfortuantely, there were lots of things that didn't go quite right.

They are both so disappointed. Olga was in floods of tears before she even left the ice.

They go into 4th position in both the FD and overall.



CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

This is a very different "Carmen" programme to what we are used to.

I suppose you could describe it as "Carmen: The Rock Opera"

Even the costumes Anna Kolomenskaia & Artem Frolov (MOS) are wearing. How do you describe Anna's dress? It's an olè dress, but it is part grey, part black, part red, part illusion mesh. At least Artem is wearing all black, but with a pattern on the back of his shirt.

Nevertheless, I think I liked the programme.

They go into the lead of both the FD and overall.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[flanker]

Kolomenskaya/Frolov very well done.

 

[flanker]

Kuzmina/Studenikin great ending

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Milana Kuzmina & Dmitri Studenikin (MOS) doing an "Anthony And Cleopatra" programme.

Whilst Dmitri is undoubtedly dressed as a Roman general, Milana's dress doesn't say "Cleopatra" to me.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the programme.

Oh no. Milana looked like she was about to burst into tears when she was hugging Dmitri immediately after they finished.

I didn't spot anything that would prompt that reaction.

They go into the lead of both the FD and overall.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Mathematician]

Lot of the Russian dances this season are highly re-playable. I am not losing excitement to keep watching Zh/B-S.

 

[AlexBreeze]

I'm happy that this dance is finally at nationals after everything.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Varvara Zhdanova & Timur Babaev-Smirnov (MOS).

Varvara is wearing a very pale blue dress. Timut is wearing a white shirt, very pale blue tie to match the dress, black waistcoat, and white suit. I like her outfit, but not his. I'm never a fan of white suits, but the black waistcoat and pale bue tie justt do not go with it.

They were skating to music from the sountrack of "A Cruel Romance". Can't say I know the film (it is Russian and was from the year before I was born), but I looked it up, and suddenly the costumes made sense. They are taken straight from the film:

Anyway, I enjoyed their programme.

They go into 3rd position in both the FD and overall.

The audience are not pleased!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[flanker]

Shichina/Drozd OK, but somehow they never found way into my heart.

 

[Mathematician]

Maybe eyes are close to watering a little. Drozd looks manly & robust but he has such delicate movement and beautiful, flowing arms. Shichina's impeccable extension allows her not to be outshined but Drozd is the star.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I liked the music that Elizaveta Shichina & Pavel Drozd (MOS) were skating to. It was from "Matilda".

But I wasn't fussed on Liza's orange dress.

They go into the lead of both the FS and overall.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[AlexBreeze]

This is much better than I expected considering circumstances. But the mistake on the spin is very very costly.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Are Sofia Leonteva & Daniil Gorelkin (MOS) thinking of switching to France? Because this is the sort of programme I would expect to come from French Ice Dancers!

It was, erm, different.

And in a weird way, I loved it! Well, apart from the heavy breathing and wailing that we had in the middle.

I absolutely loved the costumes!

Oh, I hope this takes the lead.

No. They go into 2nd position in both the FD and overall.

My goodness. Just 0.63 points behind in the FD, and 0.20 points behind overall!

CaroLiza_fan

 

[flanker]

Leonteva/Gorelkin very well done, but finished narrowly behind Shichina/Drozd.

 

[Mathematician]

Looked like Ivan relaxed a little much on the exit.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Very nervy fight for the national team. But this won't help L/G because they are behind Sh/D, too.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

This programme from Ekaterina Rybakova & Ivan Makhnonosov (MOS) is right up my street.

You all know I love Middle Eastern music. So, naturally, I loved this! Mind you, I am not too sure about the final section. A bit too modern for me.

And I love the costumes. Katya with the light blue jumpsuit with sand-coloured pattern. And Vanya with with the dark blue top with golden rope pattern, and black trousers.

And to top it all off, they skated well!

Mmmm. Maybe not as well as I thought.

They go into 6th position in both the FD and overall.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[AlexBreeze]

Congrats to Pavel, back to the national team.

Sad for R/M though, I was sure they were going to be at least in the reserve.

 

[flanker]

Rybakova/Makhnonosov shifted down a lot. Though it's because 5 or 6 best teams have very close score where tenths decide.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Zhenya is looking very smart in her suit today.

CaroLiza_fan