Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin

[Sandpiper]

Well, I'm (for the most part) illiterate about ice dance tech and don't really understand the scores, so I'll just say I enjoyed their performance because of how much Elena got into it. I'm not completely on board with the program just yet (mainly due to the music cut), but when the skater is having so much fun, the audience can't help but clap along.

 

[Tex]

I’m a little confused with the British Sportscaster when he called Elena and Ruslan “Flamboyant”. Flamboyant, for me, means “pretentious,” and “flashy” which aren’t great adjectives IMO and isn’t how I would describe Elena’s and Ruslan’s performance in the SD or overall style. Maybe it’s just one of those British English versus American English word choice difference He did say that they were effusive which I totally agree with him on that.

Their SD to me is kind of like Cult Classic movies/TV shows (e.g. movies and shows like Arrested Development, Heathers, Harold and Maude, 9 ½ Weeks, Newsies, Veronica Mars, etc.)
1) It’s so different from the norm and very stylized; it’s unique for a waltz in the ice dance world, but quite wonderful in its own way.
2) It steps outside the typical narrative and conventions (e.g. waltz themes like the Grand Ballroom and Prince/Boy meets Princess Girl).
3) It has memorable choreography and potentially memorable characters, once they add more to their performance in the SD. Their choreography in the March section is quite memorable just like scenes and dialogue in a Cult Classic movie. I think it’s going to be an iconic dance and one I want to re-enact.
4) Their SD has a dedicated and passionate fan base who LOVE it and probably have viewed it a million times. Just see Youtube and how much this SD has been viewed at the test skate and the MO competition.
5) It doesn’t appeal to the masses, and that’s okay, but I think the audiences (maybe more so a casual figure skating fan vs. a traditionalist) will love it. It seemed to get the crowd going at CoC.
6) It’s brilliant and has a “before it time” kind of feel. Even the British Sportscasters said this dance would have been unheard of 10 years ago.
7) It’s caused a little controversy in the figure skating world like people saying SBTL is not a waltz and Elena and Ruslan should be deducted for this and that WWRY is not a march. I say to them “Inconceivable!” (Princess Bride reference)
8) Even good cult movies (e.g. Shawshank Redemption) don’t fare well at their original release at the box-office, but find its audience (in our case the judges + viewers) through word-of-mouth and video release that can truly appreciate and value it. I feel like from competition to competition their SD will get better and better and scoring will reflect it.

The use of both Queen songs makes the program cohesive for me, but their costumes don’t do a good job of melding the rock waltz to rock march. It would be nice to see Ruslan wear a black rocker style military jacket like the pictures I posted way back when. The military aspect fits with the traditional prince and princess waltz, but they could make the jacket black and add some leather and modernize it. I like Elena’s dress but not for this SD. For me, she needs a dress with more sparkles/sequins and little bit of rock-n-roll style to fit the march part of the SD. These are some dresses I think she would look gorgeous in (but maybe a little more rock with styling).

 

[MK's Winter]

I’m a little confused with the British Sportscaster when he called Elena and Ruslan “Flamboyant”. Flamboyant, for me, means “pretentious,” and “flashy” which aren’t great adjectives IMO and isn’t how I would describe Elena’s and Ruslan’s performance in the SD or overall style. Maybe it’s just one of those British English versus American English word choice difference He did say that they were effusive which I totally agree with him on that. Their SD to me is kind of like Cult Classic movies/TV shows (e.g. movies and shows like Arrested Development, Heathers, Harold and Maude, 9 ½ Weeks, Newsies, Veronica Mars, etc.) 1) It’s so different from the norm and very stylized; it’s unique for a waltz in the ice dance world, but quite wonderful in its own way. 2) It steps outside the typical narrative and conventions (e.g. waltz themes like the Grand Ballroom and Prince/Boy meets Princess Girl). 3) It has memorable choreography and potentially memorable characters, once they add more to their performance in the SD. Their choreography in the March section is quite memorable just like scenes and dialogue in a Cult Classic movie. I think it’s going to be an iconic dance and one I want to re-enact. 4) Their SD has a dedicated and passionate fan base who LOVE it and probably have viewed it a million times. Just see Youtube and how much this SD has been viewed at the test skate and the MO competition. 5) It doesn’t appeal to the masses, and that’s okay, but I think the audiences (maybe more so a casual figure skating fan vs. a traditionalist) will love it. It seemed to get the crowd going at CoC. 6) It’s brilliant and has a “before it time” kind of feel. Even the British Sportscasters said this dance would have been unheard of 10 years ago. 7) It’s caused a little controversy in the figure skating world like people saying SBTL is not a waltz and Elena and Ruslan should be deducted for this and that WWRY is not a march. I say to them “Inconceivable!” (Princess Bride reference) 8) Even good cult movies (e.g. Shawshank Redemption) don’t fare well at their original release at the box-office, but find its audience (in our case the judges + viewers) through word-of-mouth and video release that can truly appreciate and value it. I feel like from competition to competition their SD will get better and better and scoring will reflect it. The use of both Queen songs makes the program cohesive for me, but their costumes don’t do a good job of melding the rock waltz to rock march. It would be nice to see Ruslan wear a black rocker style military jacket like the pictures I posted way back when. The military aspect fits with the traditional princess and princess waltz, but they could make the jacket black and add some leather and modernize it. I like Elena’s dress but not for this SD. For me, she needs a dress with more sparkles/sequins and little bit of rock-n-roll style to fit the march part of the SD. These are some dresses I think she would look gorgeous in (but maybe a little more rock with styling).

This is a great post. The Eurosport commentators were really digging the program though. I like how they touched on the waltz and how they are making it theirs and that's the key.

 

[LisaM]

The Eurosport guys are of course huge fans of Elena, but I'm glad they are on their side, especially considering how they tore into some of the programs last week haha.

 

[LisaM]

Well, that puts Ruslena as the third Russian couple in the GP list. They will have to hit everything at CoR otherwise I can see some problems in the near future.

 

[Marta25]

They have to work on the levels and GOE in the FD. The PCS were higher than what B/S and S/K got in the FD. Btw, although German Eurosport disliked their SD, they absolutely love their FD.

Hendryk Schamberger, who does commentary for German Eurosport, said that it comes very close to D/S`s version from 2005.

 

[solani]

Somehow they weren't able to draw the audience in today. It's a very intimate routine to me and they seemed nervous. But I'm sure this routine will see better days. :agree2:

 

[uhh]

They lost levels on the curve lift and the second step sequence. They've been working on that lift for a year and a half and it's still not steady, I'd rather they went back to the one from last year. And if the split it into 3 short lifts instead of combo plus short they can maximise GOE.

I just feel like both programs have gone backwards since MO.

 

[tulosai]

I don't personally feel like the programs have gone backwards at all! I felt the FS actually was much better than we've seen it- the connection and intimacy between them was really touching to me, and I feel like the details of the story are being drawn in.

The elements need some work, but I think the program itself is coming along nicely. The real issue is that it seems like this, too, might be too sophisticated for the judges to comprehend.

 

[LisaM]

I mean, to me, 95 isn't such a bad score for what I thought was a mediocre skate. That, and they had 2 points deducted. They'll go over 100 easily at CoR if they don't make silly mistakes. The SD will be better received there too.
Honestly, I'm not worried right now (whaaaat??? I am having an out of body experience), I'd rather wait and see until CoR. I am kinda sad over them probably not qualifying for GPF though. I'm thinking B/S have the best shot right now.

 

[Marta25]

I also liked this outing of Frida much more than at MO or the test skates. The PCS were good. They are already getting the PCS in November, that they received at Worlds for Appassionata. I know that this program should get the PCS that W/P and C/L receive, but I/Z don`t have the reputation yet. It`s sad and shouldn`t be like this, but it is what it is.

 

[katha]

I think the SD isn't convincing choreographically. It has nothing to do with unusual music, IMO the actual movements, transitions and so on don't do the music justice and they also don't do this pair justice who could absolutely do better. Perhaps they could rework it a bit, make it flow better (the transition from waltz to polka is very jarring). So perhaps some of the judges agree with my opinion?

The FD is lovely, though today showed a bit that it has the risk of losing the crowd if they aren't hitting it out of the park performance-wise. But it's a great improvement on the trite nonsense Kustarova had them skate last year.

 

[chameleon]

I didn't feel at all like they have gone backwards? I mean, they did skate better at MO, but I feel like they just weren't quite over their blades today. Their lifts were fine at MO and the test skates, and considering they didn't have their best performance, their PCS was quite good.

 

[Marta25]

I`m going back and forth about the SD. On the one hand I like their Queen SD, on the other hand I don`t want the SD to be a handicap even before they skate. It looks like they won`t qualify for the GPF, this means they will have around 1 month to change the SD. If they want to make the change, they have to do it before Nationals.

 

[LisaM]

Perhaps it did have to do with H/B withdrawing ((() and them suddenly having to go up sooner than they thought.

 

[Marta25]

Perhaps it did have to do with H/B withdrawing ((() and them suddenly having to go up sooner than they thought.

I also think that this wasn`t a perfect situation to be in. They seemed disappointed after the FD.

 

[Totentanz]

I loved what I've seen from them, but they were disappointed then I became sad. I just want to see them happy next time.

 

[LisaM]

I am still waiting for sisinka's analyses Come back!!

 

[Marta25]

I just rewatched their FD. The program is soooo good, the camera work wasn`t. The camera often showed them from the side or showed their feet, right when they were showing some of the highlights of their choreography. I hope the camera work at COR will be better.

 

[bramweld]

It had much better light and shade in MO. It's being skated too fast and I don't know if that's coming from their coaches. Because if that is the case and this wasn't just a bad skate they need to change coaches as obviously they don't understand the nuances involved in great choreography. And why are they tinkering with Najarro's choreography? The move right after the spin was perfect as it was before. The moments right after the twist lift were also changed, why? They also seemed rushed and less into their knees. These changes take away the shine and polish from the program, a program like this must look mellow and unrushed, just the way Najarro intially choreographed it. This program isn't about speed but the finer details. And Ruslan IMHO, did not show up today emtionally. So all things considered the score was fair. I'm hoping Najarro can have a master class with them before they go to Nationals.

Edit: When were I/Z told about H/B withdrawing? It may have also thrown them off their game. Anyways, I hope they listen to the constructive criticisms and go back to what worked in the original choreo.