Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron

[Gotlev]

I'm watching it over and over again (need to go to beeeeeeedddddd), and yes, it is sheer brilliance. It's unbelievably smooth, skilled, complicated, sophisticated and difficult and technical and soft and detailed and marvellously flowing... It's incredibly pushing the bar higher every time. They are so genuinely dancing, in any style. I can clearly see how much more mature, difficult, perfected, intricate this is than Buildahome. BUT I LOVE BUILDAHOME. I WORSHIP ODDUDUA. And I turn down the volume with Sunday Afternoon. It's not even a bad thing, because it makes the moves stand out even better. It's mindblowingly beautiful, it's brilliant. If only the second piece of music was different. But god, are they incredible...

 

[cocotaffy]

I just love the 2nd part so much and that choreographic step sequence or whatever it's called where they move so differently than usual with more abrupt movements is really a departure and was highly appreciated by the judges. I hope we'll see more of that type of movements in the future. The lifts were amazing especially that low one, it might join the rotational lift from Build a home as my favorite lifts of theirs.
I was not too convinced when the music started but by the end of the program, I don't know how they did it, but I was literally clapping in my living room to the amazement of all the inhabitants I surprised myself because it was for the first time since I discovered them at CoC in 2014 I was ready not to like one of their program (mainly due to the choice of music) so this caught me off guard. It's just the quality of their movement and again how the whole program builds till the very end.

 

[Spot]

There really is no other couple or skater who just gives you this sense of floating honestly...even though it's all so intricate and "busy", it just doesn't come across that way at all. Every movement is always given all the time and commitment needed...sigh, we really are privileged to watch them.

 

[Gotlev]

That, and the stationary lift as well for me please Gabi just twisting around his shoulders with seemingly no aide, so airy, completely effortless.... magical.

And so is the whole FD. About the only thing I didn't like are the two new positions in the spin, seem a bit hunched and crowded. However it does NOT feel to me like an exhibition, simply because there is much much much more effort put into this program's composition than of any show program (and that's valid for basically every skater ever... that's why competitions are so much better than galas, all the requirements push the content further).
Of course it will grow, as have all their programs before. Too bad we will only see them so few times this season.

After watching it several times, I agree with you. That was just my first feeling due to the music and the clothes, but the program itself is way too packed with incredible stuff. Everything is just absolutely gorgeous. It's probably the best FD they have made so far, although it is not possible to compare the programs as they are too different in what the 'propos' is. Even though I suppose that people will say that it's more of the same, which I understand from a stylish and more superficial point of view.
But considering the level of dancing, of complexity, of technicality, of skill, this certainly has to be their best so far.
They can only do two things in the coming years: at one point, simply fly around the arena, or have their boots literally touching the ice while skating. Both things are rather similar in fact.

And now seriously good night. I'm falling apart and work starts at 7.15 tomorrow.

 

[oat]

we really are privileged to watch them.

agree
we have 4 years and i suppose that after OG we will cry because I don't think we can see another couple who are floating on the ice and are artist and dancer.

 

[Gotlev]

agree
we have 4 years and i suppose that after OG we will cry because I don't think we can see another couple who are floating on the ice.

Wait a second. They owe it to themselves to go on after OG. This can't just stop like that. NO WAY. They are the gods of ice dance. There's more in it for them. Noblesse oblige. :dev2:

 

[Spot]

agree
we have 4 years and i suppose that after OG we will cry because I don't think we can see another couple who are floating on the ice.

Too true. But let's enjoy the here and now and not look too far ahead .

 

[cocotaffy]

There really is no other couple or skater who just gives you this sense of floating honestly...even though it's all so intricate and "busy", it just doesn't come across that way at all. Every movement is always given all the time and commitment needed...sigh, we really are privileged to watch them.

A great young French pianist was talking about his approach to interpretation as he has such a personal style, deep and sounding so different from everyone else, a bit like P/C in the skating world. He said something close to what you expressed: it is what is between the notes that matters. And P/C fully understand that, nothing is rushed as a result. He also explains how every single note of a score however long and complexe should be interpreted to the fullest. That is also what P/C are doing to yet another level in this FD. They have indeed not peeked. How lucky we are.

 

[Spot]

A great young French pianist was talking about his approach to interpretation as he has such a personal style, deep and sounding so different from everyone else, a bit like P/C in the skating world. He said something close to what you expressed: it is what is between the notes that matters. And P/C fully understand that, nothing is rushed as a result. He also explains how every single note of a score however long and complexe should be interpreted to the fullest. That is also what P/C are doing to yet another level in this FD. They have indeed not peeked. How lucky we are.

Thank you for that! It really is so pronounced with them. Nothing is rushed as you said. And the fact that nothing is rushed makes it feel organic, as if they were simply letting their bodies express the music as they hear it in that given moment, and to be able to do this over and over again without losing that quality is truly unique.

 

[Bcash]

Anyasnake, seriously. I don't fit in this role.
http://www.isuresults.com/results/season1819/gpfra2018/gpfra2018_IceDance_FD_Scores.pdf

Looks like the judges loved the curve lift the most, followed by the choreo lift maybe.

 

[Bcash]

A lot to say now that I've watched it on full screen a couple times. But I agree with what everyone said about the cohesiveness of the program, how everything simply "fits". And another word that came to me is "free", how they truly fulfill (and strive to deepen) the promise of that word in a Free Dance. That they can approach total freedom while more than meeting all the requirements of a competition program is an amazing achievement, and one that they'll continue to enlarge in the future.

 

[IsabelleG]

Hello everyone! I hope it's okay I joined this forum.
I was a bit afraid of the fd for this year but having seen it properly on my laptop, I have to say it's great. I love the Duet; I'm so glad they kept the humming part and combined with soft noises of cello... it's gorgeous to watch.

EDIT: I love the costumes! The only thing I'm not sure about is Guillaume's shirt for the RD. However, it does look good as a whole picture of them both... what a dilemma

 

[floatingworld]

A great young French pianist was talking about his approach to interpretation as he has such a personal style, deep and sounding so different from everyone else, a bit like P/C in the skating world. He said something close to what you expressed: it is what is between the notes that matters. And P/C fully understand that, nothing is rushed as a result. He also explains how every single note of a score however long and complexe should be interpreted to the fullest. That is also what P/C are doing to yet another level in this FD. They have indeed not peeked. How lucky we are.

Are you referring to Lucas Debargue by any chance? He is a favorite pianist of mine.

 

[Spot]

Hello everyone! I hope it's okay I joined this forum.

Welcome !!

 

[TarAncalime]

i love that fd- what to say despite hitting nearly every level (some of us had been concerned, that the gadbois group has issues with the steps- what a relieve...) this is pure contemporary dance. so modern, passionate and soft and fluid and sharp. the lifts fit perfectly into the routine. and i am one of the few who love the music, our dance company choose rachael yamagata for one of their choreographies ("nobody") what was mesmerizing as this routine is for me. i have to admit, i had tears in my eyes. they just dance with such an honesty, i believe them when they dance and i think i understand them. they usually speak directly to my heart and soul, but i don´t know what is different this year, they also connect with my brain - this is a different feeling but a wonderful feeling. i just can say thank you so much gabriella and guillaume for this gift. i am blown away.....

Thought so that this choice of music is something for all the dance nerds out there. Yep, Guillaume is not afraid of being a nerd about dancing...good. Some people won't like that but there you are. There is so much to discover in this FD that the first time won't be enough to see all....like the judges and referees you have to go to all the training as well so that you have a chance to see it several times...;-) Actually, how difficult it is to even imitate P/C a bit was visible with the Parsons....that was quite awkward as a FD.

 

[TarAncalime]

Urgh too many unnecessary and wrongly timed change of camera angles. Guillaume performed the character step sequence with total commitment and confidence of a dancer, but I didn’t see the same from Gabby, unless it's so conceived—that she projects a softer line.

The camera crew was drunk, right? ) Too much French wine or something? Was annoying really. I am looking forward to the Europeans next and hope that there will be a better cam. Wish I could see them live one day.....

 

[yuna13]

First : the rd is stunning, favorite short program by far and favorite tango rd. Gabriella is gorgeous, the music edit is perdect. I’m I love with it.
Gabriella dress is beautiful, I know usually they change the sd costume for the second part of the season but I hope she will keep that dress.

Also meryl words :luv17: I remember her tweet after the sd at the OG, she is so kind, I love her.

Now the free : after watching 5 events and seeing a lot of fd trying to be a a movement style fd :noshake:, well the original is always better than the copy.
I like this fd but I’m not in love with it yet (don’t kill me) also the cameras angle didn’t help.
Obviously we now that they focused on the rd so no worry this routine will be a masterpiece for the Europeans championship, i have no doubt.
Love guillaume fd costume, reminds me of build a home, you really can see how amazing is upper body movements are.

 

[cocotaffy]

Are you referring to Lucas Debargue by any chance? He is a favorite pianist of mine.

Absolutely, I just love him. Such an enthralling talent and for me when I discovered him at the Tchaikovsky competition his truly immersive and personal way of interpretation immediately reminded me of P/C. There are a lot of great interviews of him on YT.

 

[Roast Toast]

Incidentally - thoughts on the changed dance spin? I loved how intimate it is, Gaby is just resting her cheek on Gui for most of it.

 

[buchjager]

you might be right.... i am kind of dance nerd. and i love singer/ songwriter music. and i love purity. so no wonder i love them and especially this fd. for me it is their best ever.