I hope that Alina recovers and goes to Worlds because I will be very sad if her Olympics performance is the last I see of her Black Swan and Don Quixote in competition.
Her critics who declare that she has no artistry don't back up their opinions with facts, but just give their opinions as if their opinions = facts.
They don't know about DQ's Pas de 2 structural arrangement with the jumps and fouettes at the finale, so they claim her program is "not a program", when in fact, to really bring the essence of DQ, you need to respect the structure of the DQ Pas de 2 ballet, Entree, Adagio in front, (Variations in the middle was omitted I think due to time), and then Coda, the presto grand finale.
Of course DQ was chosen because (1)Kitri is a great character for Alina to portray and (2) it offers that jumps finale music phrasing and structure for Alina to perform the stsq (entree + adagio) in front and feat of jumps like Basilio's jumps and spins at the end (coda) to earn bonus points.
If backloading is ugly then the DQ Pas de 2 ballet is ugly by definition because it is a backloaded structure, with the hardest jumps placed at the back.
Backloading this way may not suit other music, but it is perfect with DQ coda.
Others claim she didn't bring the ballet because her movements and arms are not soft and lyrical, but angular and crooked, actually, she has performed exactly to the right Spanish influenced ballet arms. Truth is, soft and lyrical arms or movements are WRONG for Kitri. To perform Kitri, the ballerina has to learn the Spanish elegant but flamenco-influenced port de bras with crooked wrists and elbows. She is a feisty, joyous, proud Spanish ingenue. She isn't performing Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty which are what most usually associate with the "ballet style".
It is important to state the facts as Alina's strengths (very faithful adaptation of DQ in spirit) have been "spun" by so many into errors/faults/weaknesses in artistry.
Need to set the record straight.
This is Alina's artistry - she portrays both a sweet but feisty, proud young Spanish bride Kitri (not just any ordinary ballet) for FS and the troubled Black Swan from the movie, a more modern, abstract performance.
I don't think I see that descent into madness culminating into technical brilliance at the end in other Black Swans performances, even though they are all good in their own way.:shocked:
These are such totally opposite theatrical characters, and it isn't easy to bring them both to live, especially done mostly with body movements than facial expressions or miming.
I'm glad that the Olympic judges and Dick Button see the same artistry in Alina's performances. There's too much negative talk of Alina's artistry out there than positive, and it's stated almost as if it's a "fact", I feel that justice is not done to justify and back up these negatives.
Even based on logic, it cannot be that judges from so many countries (including Japan, Europe and American judges) at so many competitions all got bribed to go against their better judgment to wrongly award high PCS. Besides, it's Russian 1-2, and there's no need to place Alina as 1st.
Her PCS were awarded as she refines her performances and characters imo. Of course she has weaknesses, eg SS, and she isn't performing ballet on ice, but her strengths outshine them.
If we are fortunate to see her SP and FS again at Worlds, watch for this artistry as she performs.
Med is also brilliant, but hers is closer to the theatrical acting approach, narrating the story. She is still technically brilliant, and I love her presence too. I prefer the body movement style though, eg Kostner, than the miming style, but each skater must play up their strengths to win TES and PCS.
I hope Med will continue to compete fiercely with Alina. :agree:
I don't know which is the next character/piece Alina is going to perform, but I hope it will be a very different one, maybe a Tango or Space Princess or Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
However, if she performs poorly in future I reserve the right to change my mind!
It really makes everyone proud, especially when she comes from such a small town.
