I'm not sure it's as simple as this. FP&M always had a good speed. Perhaps had she compromised and gone for slower skating style, he would have been able to exhibit better technique. As it was, I don't think there was much he could do.JonnyCoop said:What I always found rather odd about the disparity of their individual dance abilities is this: Barbara does not strike me as being the type of woman who tolerates any kind of BS. ANY kind. Seems to me that at some point she would have FORCED Maurizio to pick up his skills to match hers. But, given the fact that I've always suspected that their elevation to the top of the podium was an extremely political maneuver, maybe she figured it didn't really matter.
Regardless of todays' sexism, I am most comfortable watching a couple where the male partner has the lead. I can not imagine anyone taking the lead away from Barbara. Too bad, because she ruined her dance, made him look like a wimp, and made every man watching to know that this is someone they would never marry.Ptichka said:I'm not sure it's as simple as this. FP&M always had a good speed. Perhaps had she compromised and gone for slower skating style, he would have been able to exhibit better technique. As it was, I don't think there was much he could do.
JonnyCoop said:All well and good (and not especially surprising), but all I gotta say is, their free dance better be a heck of a lot better than that cheesy disco thing they had the nerve to show up and present at SLC. Having them around, though, is going to make the Dance competition even MORE interesting....
So would the men who don't like domination but do enjoy sharing.hockeyfan228 said:I know several men who would have married her in an instant precisely because she takes the lead, and they'd be laughing all the way home at anyone's criticism that they were wimps.
The topic is chit chat because they're back!JonnyCoop said:I don't think this is an issue of "Barbara taking the lead" or of "sharing"; Barbara is a considerably better SKATER than Maurizio. Period.
Interesting. Traditional ice dance is one where the male partner is basically there to present his partner; audience is actually supposed to watch her more. Personally, I've always prefered the style championed by Bestemianova & Bukin, where partners are far more equal.Joesitz said:Regardless of todays' sexism, I am most comfortable watching a couple where the male partner has the lead.
That's exactly what I am saying - he takes the lead in showing her off!! In classical ballet he is called a Danseur Noble.Ptichka said:Interesting. Traditional ice dance is one where the male partner is basically there to present his partner; audience is actually supposed to watch her more. Personally, I've always prefered the style championed by Bestemianova & Bukin, where partners are far more equal.
Joesitz said:That's exactly what I am saying - he takes the lead in showing her off!! In classical ballet he is called a Danseur Noble.
It's just that in the team we are talking about I didn't see him showing her off. She was too busy showing herself off, and yes when you get a good lead partner together with a good follow partner, you have the equality needed to make beautiful music. (I think it is more than JMO.)
Joe
SkateFan4Life said:Exactly. Barbara spends most of her time showing herself off to the judges and the audiences so that her partner has little opportunity to do his traditional job of showing her off! I just don't like the way she performs - just a personal choice, of course. IMHO, she is overly aggressive, emotes far, far too much, and just acts as if the whole thing is HER show. :scratch: