- Joined
- Mar 28, 2005
I forgive them since its their 1st time out
Yeah sure, it is just so rare for them but I doubt you will see that later in the year.
Free Dance
- Thread starter SailorGalaxia518
- Start date
Yeah sure, it is just so rare for them but I doubt you will see that later in the year.
From what I have seen Tanith and Ben have come up with another bore of a program, the music is very bland and the program has no spark. The Russians and French I feel are going to be much stronger then Tanith and Ben and are producing much stronger programs then both the boring American teams.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2005
Pretty good score for Belbin/Agosto considering they were clearly not their best. An easy win as expected.
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
1 Tanith BELBIN / Benjamin AGOSTO USA 97.68 50.40 47.28 7.90 7.40 8.15 8.05 8.25 0.00 #10
2 Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT FRA 90.33 46.50 43.83 7.20 7.10 7.40 7.45 7.55 0.00 #9
3 Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI ITA 86.29 47.20 40.09 6.50 6.55 6.85 6.80 6.85 1.00 #8
4 Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE USA 85.79 46.70 39.09 6.60 6.25 6.70 6.55 6.65 0.00 #7
5 Kristin FRASER / Igor LUKANIN AZE 85.38 45.80 39.58 6.55 6.45 6.65 6.65 6.80 0.00 #6
6 Kimberly NAVARRO / Brent BOMMENTRE USA 80.90 45.20 35.70 5.85 5.65 6.10 6.00 6.40 0.00 #5
7 Ekaterina RUBLEVA / Ivan SHEFER RUS 79.17 45.00 34.17 5.65 5.55 5.75 5.75 5.90 0.00 #3
8 Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI ISR 78.93 43.10 35.83 6.00 5.70 6.05 6.15 6.15 0.00 #4
9 Cathy REED / Chris REED JPN 72.37 41.00 31.37 5.25 4.95 5.20 5.50 5.45 0.00 #2
10 Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG CHN 69.96 42.50 27.46 4.65 4.20 4.75 4.80 4.75 0.00 #1
Overall:
1 Tanith BELBIN / Benjamin AGOSTO
USA
192.95 1 1 1
2 Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT
FRA
181.84 2 2 2
3 Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI
ITA
172.28 3 3 3
4 Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE
USA
168.79 5 4 4
5 Kristin FRASER / Igor LUKANIN
AZE
167.80 4 5 5
6 Kimberly NAVARRO / Brent BOMMENTRE
USA
159.93 6 6 6
7 Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI
ISR
157.85 7 7 8
8 Ekaterina RUBLEVA / Ivan SHEFER
RUS
151.58 8 8 7
9 Cathy REED / Chris REED
JPN
142.63 9 9 9
10 Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG
CHN
135.29 10 10 10
2 Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT FRA 90.33 46.50 43.83 7.20 7.10 7.40 7.45 7.55 0.00 #9
3 Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI ITA 86.29 47.20 40.09 6.50 6.55 6.85 6.80 6.85 1.00 #8
4 Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE USA 85.79 46.70 39.09 6.60 6.25 6.70 6.55 6.65 0.00 #7
5 Kristin FRASER / Igor LUKANIN AZE 85.38 45.80 39.58 6.55 6.45 6.65 6.65 6.80 0.00 #6
6 Kimberly NAVARRO / Brent BOMMENTRE USA 80.90 45.20 35.70 5.85 5.65 6.10 6.00 6.40 0.00 #5
7 Ekaterina RUBLEVA / Ivan SHEFER RUS 79.17 45.00 34.17 5.65 5.55 5.75 5.75 5.90 0.00 #3
8 Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI ISR 78.93 43.10 35.83 6.00 5.70 6.05 6.15 6.15 0.00 #4
9 Cathy REED / Chris REED JPN 72.37 41.00 31.37 5.25 4.95 5.20 5.50 5.45 0.00 #2
10 Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG CHN 69.96 42.50 27.46 4.65 4.20 4.75 4.80 4.75 0.00 #1
Overall:
1 Tanith BELBIN / Benjamin AGOSTO
USA
192.95 1 1 1
2 Nathalie PECHALAT / Fabian BOURZAT
FRA
181.84 2 2 2
3 Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI
ITA
172.28 3 3 3
4 Meryl DAVIS / Charlie WHITE
USA
168.79 5 4 4
5 Kristin FRASER / Igor LUKANIN
AZE
167.80 4 5 5
6 Kimberly NAVARRO / Brent BOMMENTRE
USA
159.93 6 6 6
7 Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI
ISR
157.85 7 7 8
8 Ekaterina RUBLEVA / Ivan SHEFER
RUS
151.58 8 8 7
9 Cathy REED / Chris REED
JPN
142.63 9 9 9
10 Xiaoyang YU / Chen WANG
CHN
135.29 10 10 10
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2005
Davis/White were so robbed. 
Especialy with the Italians falling, the Italians should definitely have dropped behind them, yet they even were scored higher in the free dance, and gifted with a TES higher then either the French or Americans despite the fall and that slow and boring program with very slow footwork.
Did anyone else think the Italians score was a joke today? The Americans was also a joke, barely higher then that Azerbajan team they skated right after and were so blatantly better by a wide margin too I thought.
Especialy with the Italians falling, the Italians should definitely have dropped behind them, yet they even were scored higher in the free dance, and gifted with a TES higher then either the French or Americans despite the fall and that slow and boring program with very slow footwork.Did anyone else think the Italians score was a joke today? The Americans was also a joke, barely higher then that Azerbajan team they skated right after and were so blatantly better by a wide margin too I thought.
As much as I LOVE Davis/White, I don't love this program ... lots of angst and arm-flailing signifying little. And I hate to say it, but if the top teams are going to pull tricks, Charlie and Meryl are going to need some too.
I liked the Italians program- not sure about the scoring. but I like the program. I'm usually so-so on B&A, but I REALLY like their program.
I liked the Italians program- not sure about the scoring. but I like the program. I'm usually so-so on B&A, but I REALLY like their program.
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2005
Well we pretty much disagree about everything. I guess that is the beauty of ice dancing isnt it.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
I really expected Davis and White to move up as well. I guess the judges are being hard on the new kids today. congrats to Ben and Tanith, but the victory was an easy one.
funny how few replies there are on this thread compared to the pairs, men or esp the ladies!
My impressions...thank goodness for Youtube or I wouldn't get to see half of the performances.
Really like B/A's new FD. It's gorgeous, with lots of interesting moves throughout, and not just lifts. The music isn't a real grabber as skating pieces go, but the program is a winner. They still looked pretty ragged on their straightline footwork, but for early in the season I thought they looked really well-trained. They didn't lose speed at all near the end.
P/B...yeah, this one didn't do it for me, and I was really hoping since I loved their OD. Hated the repetitive industrial kind of music. It was dull, and after awhile, annoying. Good highlight lifts, but not much of interest in between. All in all, I have very little desire to see it again, which is not a good sign.
D/W: I liked it, but didn't love it. Some really nice lifts, which it looked like they were still thinking through, but that's okay at this point in the year. Good skating, but I just didn't think the piece was a standout.
Really like B/A's new FD. It's gorgeous, with lots of interesting moves throughout, and not just lifts. The music isn't a real grabber as skating pieces go, but the program is a winner. They still looked pretty ragged on their straightline footwork, but for early in the season I thought they looked really well-trained. They didn't lose speed at all near the end.
P/B...yeah, this one didn't do it for me, and I was really hoping since I loved their OD. Hated the repetitive industrial kind of music. It was dull, and after awhile, annoying. Good highlight lifts, but not much of interest in between. All in all, I have very little desire to see it again, which is not a good sign.
D/W: I liked it, but didn't love it. Some really nice lifts, which it looked like they were still thinking through, but that's okay at this point in the year. Good skating, but I just didn't think the piece was a standout.
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2007
Oh gosh, I wish I could love D and W's free dance, but I don't. I just don't get the music, and maybe it's my lack of knowledge of the Beatles, but it just doesn't help with their musicality....
Last edited:
I really don't think D&W were robbed -- I think they were scored correctly. You can see that D&W are not quite comfortable with their programs yet -- unison errors, thinking through movements, lifts not smooth, etc. As the season goes on, they should improve.
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2006
Seeing the free dance live and in person here are my thoughts on this.
I love D/W. However, I did not like their free dance. I agree with the poster who said that there was a great deal of arm flailing! I think with time this program will improve. I don't think that they were robbed in the scores. There were 4th going into the free which is where I think that they belonged. There program is not filled with many unique moves or the crispness that you get with Tanith and Ben or even Denkova and Staviski. In addition, Davis and White are at least in my opinion the third dance team behind Tanith and Ben and Melissa and Denis. But after seeing Navarro and Bommentre (who had the best original dance of the competition), if Davis and White don't think of something they might be the 4th best US team. Again, this is just my opinion so please don't kill me here!!
Tanith and Ben's program was a big departure for them, at least in my opinion. They usually do some sort of program where they are both characters and this program was not that. I am sure that this will also improve over time. I did like this program but have to admit that I like their character programs!
The French team did something different with ther crazyness program. Yes, it's called crazyness. I think that they are trying to stand out and make themselves be different from Dolebel and Shoenfelder (sp?). It was not one of my favorite programs but it's different and it made alot more sense once I knew what the name of the program was. In practice I was just not getting it. To be honest I am not sure if I really liked this program or not.
The Faiella and Scali did a great job. The fall was a stupid fall during a transition and not really doing a move of any sort. So yes they should not have lost much for that. Was the Yentil music the best? Not really but the program has some unique lifts and moves which I am sure gets them some extra points. I guess that's the key.
I spent 4 days watching the AZE team of Fraser and Lukanin practicing. I was like...there are not really that good. Maybe it was because for most of the practice they skated seperately from each other. But I have to say that in person watching thier free dance, I was very impressed.
I think the placements at Skate America for dance were correct.
Now I wait for someone to ream me for saying all this!! LOL
I love D/W. However, I did not like their free dance. I agree with the poster who said that there was a great deal of arm flailing! I think with time this program will improve. I don't think that they were robbed in the scores. There were 4th going into the free which is where I think that they belonged. There program is not filled with many unique moves or the crispness that you get with Tanith and Ben or even Denkova and Staviski. In addition, Davis and White are at least in my opinion the third dance team behind Tanith and Ben and Melissa and Denis. But after seeing Navarro and Bommentre (who had the best original dance of the competition), if Davis and White don't think of something they might be the 4th best US team. Again, this is just my opinion so please don't kill me here!!
Tanith and Ben's program was a big departure for them, at least in my opinion. They usually do some sort of program where they are both characters and this program was not that. I am sure that this will also improve over time. I did like this program but have to admit that I like their character programs!
The French team did something different with ther crazyness program. Yes, it's called crazyness. I think that they are trying to stand out and make themselves be different from Dolebel and Shoenfelder (sp?). It was not one of my favorite programs but it's different and it made alot more sense once I knew what the name of the program was. In practice I was just not getting it. To be honest I am not sure if I really liked this program or not.
The Faiella and Scali did a great job. The fall was a stupid fall during a transition and not really doing a move of any sort. So yes they should not have lost much for that. Was the Yentil music the best? Not really but the program has some unique lifts and moves which I am sure gets them some extra points. I guess that's the key.
I spent 4 days watching the AZE team of Fraser and Lukanin practicing. I was like...there are not really that good. Maybe it was because for most of the practice they skated seperately from each other. But I have to say that in person watching thier free dance, I was very impressed.
I think the placements at Skate America for dance were correct.
Now I wait for someone to ream me for saying all this!! LOL
Time for me to weigh in:
Belbin/Agosto: I am not a fan (well mostly of Tanith, I like Ben) but I really like this FD. I confess that part of it is because not only is it Chopin but it starts with Prelude in C Minor and I have a bit of a thing for that piece of music. They simply interpret the music, no over perkiness and I like that. It works for them and Ben dressed like an arthouse priest wins at life.
P/B: The craziness thing is a little out there but I liked it. It needs some work but it will get there. I'm just afraid that audiences won't get it. Honestly I wasn't sure what they had on when I first saw them at practice. I remember thinking they were wearing restraints like the ones we use for combative patients at work and then I thought "no..can't be" but yes it was!
F/S: I'm not sure what butterflies have to do with Yentl but they skated well and I love the costumes. Even with the fall, they do some neat stuff and I think this will get better as the season goes on.
D/W: I love them but this dance isn't nearly as good as last year's. It needs work, they don't seem to be feeling it and I hope they either make improvements or change it otherwise I can see NavBoms beating them in St. Paul.
NavBoms: The most undermarked team of the comp IMO. Their OD was fabulous and their free dance was hot! They simply sparkled out there and should have been ahead of F/L.
F/L: Skating to "Time To Say Goodbye" was appropriate because I think it is.
Zaretskis: I don't know if it's out there on youtube but folks you have to see this. Go Down Moses and Sing Sing Sing in a medley! It's so bizarre that it actually works.
Belbin/Agosto: I am not a fan (well mostly of Tanith, I like Ben) but I really like this FD. I confess that part of it is because not only is it Chopin but it starts with Prelude in C Minor and I have a bit of a thing for that piece of music.
They simply interpret the music, no over perkiness and I like that. It works for them and Ben dressed like an arthouse priest wins at life.P/B: The craziness thing is a little out there but I liked it. It needs some work but it will get there. I'm just afraid that audiences won't get it. Honestly I wasn't sure what they had on when I first saw them at practice. I remember thinking they were wearing restraints like the ones we use for combative patients at work and then I thought "no..can't be" but yes it was!
F/S: I'm not sure what butterflies have to do with Yentl but they skated well and I love the costumes. Even with the fall, they do some neat stuff and I think this will get better as the season goes on.
D/W: I love them but this dance isn't nearly as good as last year's. It needs work, they don't seem to be feeling it and I hope they either make improvements or change it otherwise I can see NavBoms beating them in St. Paul.
NavBoms: The most undermarked team of the comp IMO. Their OD was fabulous and their free dance was hot! They simply sparkled out there and should have been ahead of F/L.
F/L: Skating to "Time To Say Goodbye" was appropriate because I think it is.
Zaretskis: I don't know if it's out there on youtube but folks you have to see this. Go Down Moses and Sing Sing Sing in a medley! It's so bizarre that it actually works.
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2006
The Zaterski's music was crazy but it really worked for them.
Of course my favorite dance moment was the chinese pair team skating to the Hava Nagila (sp?) That in an of itself is just bizaar!!
Of course my favorite dance moment was the chinese pair team skating to the Hava Nagila (sp?) That in an of itself is just bizaar!!
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
I wouldn't say either team is moving backward.
In the case of Belbin and Adosto, I think the learning curve caught up with them. They made such a rapid climb up the ranks when they first came on the scene that further progress can only come in tiny increments.
As for Davis and White, last year they were the new kids on the block and everyone praised their potential. Now the honeymoon is over, and they will be held to a stricter standard.
I agree -- B/A aren't moving backward, it's just that their forward movement isn't as rapid as it was in the past. Additionally, I think they young ones coming up are beginning to present more of a challenge. B/A will really need to step things up if they want to remain the dominant team for a long time.
Once dance teams get to the top echelons, the point growth slows down. If you look at DelShoes points over the past three years, they haven't 'grown' at all. The same thing happened to DomShabs at Worlds. Their points had escalated rapidly once they became Russia #1, but when they faced all the top teams in the World, they found their plateau.
Davis/White lost a month of practice this summer because Charlie White had first an ankle injury, then a groin injury. Skate America is a very early competition, and understandably, they were not quite ready. I don't think they'll have any problem defending their position at Nationals, and think by then it will be Gregory/Petukhov who may lose theirs---to D/W.
Davis/White lost a month of practice this summer because Charlie White had first an ankle injury, then a groin injury. Skate America is a very early competition, and understandably, they were not quite ready. I don't think they'll have any problem defending their position at Nationals, and think by then it will be Gregory/Petukhov who may lose theirs---to D/W.
Similar threads
