Compulsory Dance (merged threads)

[Fredegunda]

I don't know -- won't C&P be skating as seniors next year? I think they may be the new #2.

I was wondering about that, especially since they did so well at Nats. I loved their FD. They draw me in a lot more than H-McC/C, so I wouldn't mind them being #2 tooooo much, I guess ;-) And then if they can place high enough at worlds, if W/P are Canada 3, then I'll get to see them anyway...

Anyway, now with the CD over, it looks good for Scott and Tessa.

Btw, now it occurs to me, the fight for gold is not really between B/A and D/S. What are D/S's chances against K/N, F/S, and V/M?

 

[all that]

Well, V&M beat D&S during the OD and FD at NHK, but D&S beat V&M during the OD and FD at GPF, so it's hard to say.

D&S and V&M have beaten K&N at every meeting.

F&S hasn't beaten any of the top three.

 

[nadster]

I don't know -- won't C&P be skating as seniors next year? I think they may be the new #2.

Crone/Poirier should be on senior GP next year. Paul as well will get JGP assignments in the mens event.

Only the CD kept C/P from finishing 2nd at this years Canadians. ( they were 2nd in the FD even though they finished 4th overall). Crone/Poirier were doing the junior dances all season so that would explain their lower CD marks.

With some more seasoning in the CD's , I don't see why C/P won't pass both Hann-McCurdy/Coreno and Weaver/Poje next season.

 

[Coach]

B&A are lucky to be as high as they are with such a fall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VIKtCHbqdc

 

[Coach]

B&A are lucky to be as high as they are with such a fall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VIKtCHbqdc

 

[Sackie]

This is seeming like the old days with Can, Fr, It and Rus sitting in the top 4 spots. Hopefully things go better for Can than it did back then.
I wonder if Davies/White are also paying for B/A's mistake by having to be placed behind them. I'm sure both will move up.
The world judges do not like Can W/P - they are even lower then last year. For a team that showed so much promise last year I see them slipping fast! They just could end up 4 or even 5th ranked in Can next year. Wonder if Skate Canada are not sorry they didn't send C/P to Sr worlds? That's what they did with W/P last year. I really don't see W/P moving up too much now. They are being overlooked by the judges and I think it will stay that way. H-M/C seem to be on the up swing though and might be able to move up a couple places although it's hard to say since it is 2 Rus teams just ahead of them.
It also looks like Rus will not have 3 teams for next year. Looks like the only ones that will gat 3 teams for next year will be Fr and US.

 

[Tinymavy15]

B&A are lucky to be as high as they are with such a fall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VIKtCHbqdc

crazy that their SB was only one point higher. But that might be because they have been doing the polka for most of the season, and the tango is much more tier dance. It was just beautiful until the fall. I am so mad. How can they win now?

 

[Mafke]

I love that as well. But it is not only FD and not only her flexibility that are good in this couple, as some people say.

I never said her flexibility is good, I hate their bendobatics.
I despised their non-tango OD last year so much I still don't like them and find them cheap and vulgar, everything done for shock value and to goose the audience into applause. No, maybe that's not fair but it's pretty much what I think.

 

[Mafke]

On the positive side (to work off some of the negative energy of my last rant). I'm glad that French D/S are in a commanding lead. A good 4/5 of the time over the last several years I've enjoyed their programs more than any others (I like that they're a little aloof toward either other). Best dancers to not yet win a WC. I really hope this is their year.

 

[Medusa]

I never said her flexibility is good, I hate their bendobatics.
I despised their non-tango OD last year so much I still don't like them and find them cheap and vulgar, everything done for shock value and to goose the audience into applause. No, maybe that's not fair but it's pretty much what I think.

Now I gotta watch them... Cheap and vulgar?

But I loved B/A's tango, it was great! Too bad about the fall, but I don't think it disturbed the overall performance too much.

*off to youtube now*

 

[MarieM]

Ahem.

Ice dance isn't only about technical elements.
It's about dancing. Dancing to a choreograhy that has a meaning and a purpose. Something you may like or not depending on what you like.

All of Shpilband teams have tremendous skating skills but the shell around them is empty.
They don't feel what they are skating to, they pick a music and do the tricks.
Which is something that drives me crazy when you see those kids skating in galas, doing stuffs they understand and want to do.
Buy them a choreograher with a vision. And quick please. Let's not let this coach waste any other of his teams.

If that's what ice dance is becoming, they'll soon loose all the european audiences.

I'd rather have Khklova / Novitsky on the podium because at least they are trying to sell a vision that you may disaprove. But the vision is there and it has a meaning.

You can as well go for the theatrics like the russians, but you can also choose the path of the minimalism like what Del/Schoen are doing this year.
But you need a choreographer that can make understand what they are doing there.

 

[npa]

Delobel-Sholfender was the best - its good, that D/S wasnt there and this team can take gold at least. Go, Isa and Oly!
Tanith had a beast dress - she looked, like a champion.
Its bad, that she fall
Kh/N was really greate!
V/M - they was so emotional and skate so close together.... But i amd there fan - what can i say
I really lile Meril and Charlie CD - she was really IN - she was really emotional.
I like all Shpilbands tangos

 

[jcoates]

I never said her flexibility is good, I hate their bendobatics.
I despised their non-tango OD last year so much I still don't like them and find them cheap and vulgar, everything done for shock value and to goose the audience into applause. No, maybe that's not fair but it's pretty much what I think.

While I would not be quite as harsh , I generally agree with you. I think I posted a comment on a youtube video of their Euros FD about them reminding me of a modern version of Bestemianova and Bukin. Lots of dramatic flair and highlights and relatively less dancing (i.e. connecting steps in hold) except where required under the rules. That being said, I have to say I found this CD far better skated than their yankee polka (aside from the overly dramatic lift at the opening). We'll see if they have filled out their OD and FD with more in-between content since Euros.

 

[lmarie086]

B&A are lucky to be as high as they are with such a fall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VIKtCHbqdc

What a shame. They were doing a lovely job up until that. Now they'll have to fight for the podium.
Could someone please tell me how D/W and V/M did?

 

[Mafke]

I think I posted a comment on a youtube video of their Euros FD about them reminding me of a modern version of Bestemianova and Bukin.

They wish.

I have a soft spot for B&B that survives my better judgement. Despite all the fun to be had at their expense about their hair, costumes and .... everything else, they marched to the beat of their own drummer and were genuinely weird. I got no truck with weird. Now if K&N seemed half as eccentric (as opposed to calculating and grandstanding) as B&B I'd love them.

 

[sillylionlove]

Sorry to see Tanith and Ben have a fall. I can't pick up you tube from where i am but what did they fall on. That's not like them. I sure hope they come come back!!

 

[lmarie086]

Not to completely disrupt the above conversation, but here's a link to the CDs if anyone wants them.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=2008+Worlds+CD&search_sort=video_date_uploaded

I was so mad that I had to be at school during this...I was checking the forum while in study hall lol.
It couldn't be any closer between P/B and D/W could it? These WCh keep on getting crazier.

 

[Tinymavy15]

But I loved B/A's tango, it was great! Too bad about the fall, but I don't think it disturbed the overall performance too much.

yeah, i like how they got right back into character and even hid their disappointment during the bows. True champions. It was a beautiful dance...I hope it is not over for them.

 

[jcoates]

Ahem.

Ice dance isn't only about technical elements.
It's about dancing. Dancing to a choreograhy that has a meaning and a purpose. Something you may like or not depending on what you like.

I agree to a point. Championship level ice dancing should have both techinal content and emotional impact or choreographic vision. The team with the greatest balance of the two should win.

However, the problem I have with K/N is that while they excel in lifts and spins and have very good speed outside the required step sequences, they noticeably slow down once they enter into any sort of dance hold (at least in the FD). To me that is not true ice dancing but more show skating, regardless of the emotion or vision involved.

Also, I think it's a bit dismissive to say that all Schilband teams have not emotional connection to the music or each other. Like them or not, Virtue and Moir certainly have an emotional connection in all areas including the audience. Davis and White have improved in the area of relating to each other, especially this season. B/A have also shown more depth of expression this year.

 

[MarieM]

Davis and White are the most talented of all these teams. He is the best partner and the best male dancer since ... Dean.
The problem with Igor is that he lacks a vision, and all his teams are just doing the same old **** from one year to the other.
And with those two, I am going to bite. There is so much to exploit, from her face that looks like a mischivious elf to his angel like quality. Any good choreographer could use this. Instead of doing a generic blah program that has no meaning and no purpose than to deliver the tricks. They, nonetheless, tend to give more connection than any of his other team just because these kids think.

Virtue and Moir are excellent junior skaters that still have to move one notch to the top. Get them a decent choreographer.

I will agree with you on one thing :K&N need to work more their basic skating skills, more exactly, they have to show them in their programs. They are better skaters all around, they just are in the classic russian situation where you state : "hey look at what we can do and bring". I just hope they don't stay in that phase like Domnina Shabalin did.