Any Sasha updates?

[R.D.]

Maybe she didn't portray "jazzy" or "sassy". However, Sasha could never project the joy or happiness that Michelle could get across. She had the power to move people - even non skating fans.

It depends on who you talk to. Seems like the skating of both skaters seems to have a profound impact on a particular group of people. The two groups may or may not overlap- I guess that's what this thread has turned into :chorus:

As for me, I tend to go for the more joyful, upbeat, happy performances as opposed to the introverted or slow stuff. That's why Kwan or Cohen never really appealed to me...there may be a performance of theirs here and there I find interesting but in general, I prefer the joy and freedom displayed in many of the show performances. The competitive skaters are just connecting a bunch of moves together, going through the motions while forgetting to entertain the audience. That's why Laura Lepisto caught my attention at SC, Alena Leonova at first but I think she overdoes it, and of course, Em Hughes.

 

[janetfan]

Huh? :scratch: Lyra Angelica, Rachmaninov, East of Eden? How was she struggling against some force in those?




I don't get how you don't see how Michelle showed variation. Romanza, Salome, Dream of Desdemona, Taj Mahal, Rachmaninov, Lyra Angelica, Ariane, The Red Violen, etc. etc.

Maybe she didn't portray "jazzy" or "sassy". However, Sasha could never project the joy or happiness that Michelle could get across. She had the power to move people - even non skating fans.

Sasha showed more variety imo - and was a far superior dancer - which is why her range of expression - body and facial shows more variety than most skaters.

Music can be different but the works you listed can all be done with a very similar expression by a skater. By variety , I mean show me something spunky or jazzy, a great set of ballet skills, or something syncopated.

 

[i love to skate]

Sasha showed more variety imo - and was a far superior dancer - which is why her range of expression - body and facial shows more variety than most skaters.

It really is funny how different people can view a skater. In my view, Sasha showed a smaller range of expressions than Michelle. Her Rachmaninov program, Swan Lake, and Nutrcacker are all very similar. The only other program type she did in competition was "fiery". Examples: Carmen, Malaguena, and Dark Eyes.

Music can be different but the works you listed can all be done with a very similar expression by a skater. By variety , I mean show me something spunky or jazzy, a great set of ballet skills, or something syncopated.

Romanza was romantic and then playful, Lyra Angelica was joyful, Salome was serious, Taj Mahal was exotic, East of Eden was inspiring. That's what I see when I watch these programs, I don't seem them being similar expressions at all.

 

[janetfan]

It really is funny how different people can view a skater. In my view, Sasha showed a smaller range of expressions than Michelle. Her Rachmaninov program, Swan Lake, and Nutrcacker are all very similar. The only other program type she did in competition was "fiery". Examples: Carmen, Malaguena, and Dark Eyes.



Romanza was romantic and then playful, Lyra Angelica was joyful, Salome was serious, Taj Mahal was exotic, East of Eden was inspiring. That's what I see when I watch these programs, I don't seem them being similar expressions at all.

Good points and maybe I have made tooo many posts today

 

[Tinymavy15]

Exhibitions are different though. Look at Mao, Caroline. But I dunno...I never truly got a great audience connection from Sasha myself. I always felt she was skating more to draw us into her world. Sorry if that makes no sense! Subjectivity and all...

That said, I think Michelle showed a great deal of variety especially during her peak years. Salome, Lyra, Red Violin, Rach...some of her signature pieces, all had different themes.

I personally preferred Sasha's SP's, I think she took risks there, and let her personality shine through but her LPs were all pretty much the same theme and repetitive. For that reason, I was happy to hear her SP is to Espana Cani, but not happy her LP is to Moonlight Sonata.

But like said before, it is a subjective matter! I don't think you have to compare skaters or put one down to build up another, it's all about what catches your attention most. And yes, I believe they are both unique and special.

Yeah, of course it is all subjective. Personally I feel like Michelle had the ability to touch hearts, to inspire, to make you say "I can do that too." Sasha was the performer, she hit every single note with just the right emotion and made you sit up in your seat and go "whoa I could never do that."

 

[Mathman]

...I feel like Michelle had the ability to touch hearts, to inspire, to make you say "I can do that too."

Sasha was the performer, she hit every single note with just the right emotion and made you sit up in your seat and go "whoa I could never do that."

What a great summary of these two great skaters! I never thought of it that way. but I think you are dead on. :agree:

 

[MKFSfan]

I agree Sasha is a better performer than a competitor and more emotion comes out of her skating then. But I wouldn't say she's a more emotional/passionate skater than Michelle, or even same level. But you are right that Michelle makes it look so easy, as if you can just lace up skates and go out there! And I always buy what she is selling. Sasha...I feel she is a more subtle "Ta-Da!" skater because I feel every program highlights her strengths-the flexy moves she does so well, and she repeats the same ones regardless of the music or theme. But yes, they are impressive moves and I agree she does well to jazzy numbers...I will say I had no use for her DSTM number, but loved DROMP and Hernando's Hideaway best.

I was hoping to see Sasha grow more as a performer on SOI, but I felt she stayed within her comfort zone.

Again, this is just MY opinion. I do enjoy watching Sasha skate. I may not go buy tix just because she'll be there, but I do watch her when she is on TV, or click on the links people share. I wish someone posted a link to Espana Cani, I'm afraid we may never see it, and I really want to see what Lori Nichols gave her. Here's hoping she is at Nats!

 

[Olympia]

I'm glad we're lucky enough to have both of these superb skaters, the way we're fortunate to have both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. I love everything Sasha does, but Michelle's skating affects me in a magical way that is unique. It's partly due to her fluid style and partly that x-factor that can't be taught.

During the Lori Nichol era, she skated largely to lyrical classical pieces, it's true, but they were generally very unusual pieces that no one else used. Even the 1998 Rachmaninoff short program contained sections from I think his cello sonata as well as the section from the more well-known second piano concerto. The 2001 Black Swan program was mostly the last movement of a gorgeous Dvorak chamber trio; the Red Violin program was the movie sound track. I kind of regretted that once Michelle left Frank Carroll and Nichol, she tended to use war horses such as Scheherezade, Tosca, and Ravel's Bolero. (And I love Scheherezade, by the way.) Though Michelle still did a wonderful job of bringing us in to the music, I missed the surprise element of the Nichol choices. To this day, I still sometimes hear an unusual piece and think, "I'd love to see Michelle skate to that."

Tarasova is famous for using warhorse pieces, so Cohen's classical programs from the Tarasova period are all pieces we've heard before and have often seen skated before. (Including Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto!) She had nothing to be ashamed of in her interpretation of them, but I'd love to see her take a road less traveled--like that great waltz she used in her 2002 short program. She interprets all her music wonderfully, though, so it all works out!

 

[hrmsk8ngnutt]

Thanks for posting Sasha's Rahmaninov program.
Somebody mentioned in another thread that listening some music makes you think of Michelle Kwan, for me listening to Rahmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto makes me think of Sasha. She had perfect intropretation of this music and beautiful program made by TT.

IMHO, the best programs to Rach's Piano Concerto #2 are:

Chen Lu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCRaoNfU0r8

Mishkutienok/Dmitriev http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ugffu2RFKs

When I hear this music, these are the programs that come to my mind. I especially like Lulu's program because she used only the second movement. She paid attention to every little detail - there are subtle nuances throughout. M/D are wonderfully dramatic and powerful.

 

[janetfan]

IMHO, the best programs to Rach's Piano Concerto #2 are:

Chen Lu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCRaoNfU0r8

Mishkutienok/Dmitriev http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ugffu2RFKs

When I hear this music, these are the programs that come to my mind. I especially like Lulu's program because she used only the second movement. She paid attention to every little detail - there are subtle nuances throughout. M/D are wonderfully dramatic and powerful.

Thanks for posting both of those clips. They are two of my favorite programs and D/M is my favorite Pairs team of all time. No other team else ever came close for me. It is hard for me to watch most Pairs teams today because they fall so short of the special qualities D/M brought to the ice - and what I felt watching their masterful programs.
Funny how certain skaters can effect us.

 

[Charlotte Elizabeth]

IMHO, the best programs to Rach's Piano Concerto #2 are:

Chen Lu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCRaoNfU0r8

Mishkutienok/Dmitriev http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ugffu2RFKs

When I hear this music, these are the programs that come to my mind. I especially like Lulu's program because she used only the second movement. She paid attention to every little detail - there are subtle nuances throughout. M/D are wonderfully dramatic and powerful.

Thanks for sharing these two beautiful programs.
I like Lu Chen's choreography and seems like she enjoys it. Paying attention to little details really helped!
M/D program was almost perfect from technical point of view, but for me, these skaters were athletic type of skaters who interpret the last part of the program beautifully but when the music is slow and lyrical they seem to overpower it with the speed and athletic moves. Just IMO. I watched G/G program straight after M/D and thought that Katia and Sergey would be memorable and special skating to Rahmaninov. As they were in Vocalise.
But it is of course because I prefer skaters like Sasha and Katia to skaters like Lu Chen and Natalia Mishkutenok. So I'm subjective.
When I watch Sasha skating to Rahmaninov I can sense how she lives and breathes in this program. And I get shivers.
But of course the examples that you gave are exceptional too.

 

[MKFSfan]

Oh, I agree! Lu Chen's Rach is among my faves of all time. It took a perfect Michelle skating after her to beat that. I always felt this was the most perfect Worlds, one of a few times where Gold and Silver could've easily been switched on any given day.

 

[janetfan]

Here is a link to a new article about Sasha with a clip of her skating at Rockefeller Plaza. She appears to be ready for the 2010 version of CoP as she is flapping her arms more than I remember in the past.

She is skating to Sinatra's cover of "Luck Be A Lady."

What a girl!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/sasha-cohen-keeps-her-coo_b_374789.html

 

[inside edge]

hmm...

I really would like to see both of Sasha's programs so I can see how she has progressed since Torino.

Now, Sasha is attending Nationals, ........... right??

ITA

 

[figurejennah]

Here is a link to a new article about Sasha with a clip of her skating at Rockefeller Plaza. She appears to be ready for the 2010 version of CoP as she is flapping her arms more than I remember in the past.

She is skating to Sinatra's cover of "Luck Be A Lady."

What a girl!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-boeke/sasha-cohen-keeps-her-coo_b_374789.html

Thanks for the aritlcle!!!

SC: "It's unfortunate to withdraw, but no one will remember a Grand Prix going into an Olympic year."

... I can't believe Sasha would say such thing, especially after she disappointed her fans so greatly after announcing to withdraw on the Monday of the SA week!!!!!!!!!! She doesn't have to put down the Grand Prix series, just because
she was unprepared to participate. Yes, I said it, I think she is full of excuses. After seeing how Plushenko had trained, there is no way Sasha could have been prepared after training less than 6 months or so.


"EB: So speaking of Korea, who would you say your biggest competition is in both the Nationals and the Olympics?

SC: I would say internationally, Japan has some amazing skaters, like Mao Asada. Of course, there is Canadian skater Joannie Rochette ... and then, yes, there is South Korea."


hmm.... No American ladies mentioned here.

 

[janetfan]

Thanks for the aritlcle!!!

SC: "It's unfortunate to withdraw, but no one will remember a Grand Prix going into an Olympic year."

... I can't believe Sasha would say such thing, especially after she disappointed her fans so greatly after announcing to withdraw on the Monday of the SA week!!!!!!!!!! She doesn't have to put down the Grand Prix series, just because
she was unprepared to participate. Yes, I said it, I think she is full of excuses. After seeing how Plushenko had trained, there is no way Sasha could have been prepared after training less than 6 months or so.


"EB: So speaking of Korea, who would you say your biggest competition is in both the Nationals and the Olympics?

SC: I would say internationally, Japan has some amazing skaters, like Mao Asada. Of course, there is Canadian skater Joannie Rochette ... and then, yes, there is South Korea."


hmm.... No American ladies mentioned here.

I thought Sasha made a few spicy remarks in the interview.
Some fans may not like it - but imo Sasha is 110% correct about the GP events. particularly in an Olympic season.

I also thought Sasha was right in her analysis about the top Lady skaters. They are not from Europe or USA but from Asia and Canada as Sasha correctly pointed out.

 

[Mathman]

^ I think figurejennah's point was that there was no reason for Sasha to flip off her fans who so looked forward to cheering her on in her two Grand Prix events. Back in June whern Sasha announced, with all appropriate hoopla, that she would do the Grand Prix, she certainly made a big deal of it then. And then again when she announced how fit and ready she was for Skate America. Now she is saying, "You fell for that malarky? More fool you."

As for the question about her competiton, I can cut her some slack for not addressing the "Nationals" part of the question, because of the lead-in about Korea. Still, Rachael Flatt has done a seven triple program with a triple-triple this season. Has Sasha?

 

[janetfan]

^ I think figurejennah's point was that there was no reason for Sasha to flip off her fans who so looked forward to cheering her on in her two Grand Prix events. Back in June whern Sasha announced, with all appropriate hoopla, that she would do the Grand Prix, she certainly made a big deal of it then. And then again when she announced how fit and ready she was for Skate America. Now she is saying, "You fell for that malarky? More fool you."

As for the question about her competiton, I can cut her some slack for not addressing the "Nationals" part of the question, because of the lead-in about Korea. Still, Rachael Flatt has done a seven triple program with a triple-triple this season. Has Sasha?

I agree with your comments and also figurejennah.

But it has to be pointed out Sasha really said from the time she announced her comeback that she was looking forward to competing and challenging herself again. She made it clear that her return was about another shot at the Olympics.

She also clearly said before she canceled - that the GP events would be good practice for her. She never at any time indicated that the GP's had any significance to her and in fact downplayed the importance by saying they would be "good practice."

It is not easy - but fans should be allowed to defend Sasha and not just attack her.

 

[Mathman]

It is not easy - but fans should be allowed to defend Sasha...

Quite so. It is not easy. If Sasha would just once say something gracious about someone else, it would be a lot easier.

 

[janetfan]

Quite so. It is not easy. If Sasha would just once say something gracious about someone else, it would be a lot easier.

I think she said something nice about Mao and Korea/Yuna which you just read a few minutes ago.