- Joined
- Mar 22, 2004
I know the feeling. I'm the say way about French D&S. I know they have their faults but ...
Ice Dance Education
- Thread starter ManyCairns
- Start date
I know the feeling. I'm the say way about French D&S. I know they have their faults but ...
To me G/P was the clear winner in the Golden Waltz.
Also, it seems...
- matching leg lines = leg extension = extended flow (for each kick generating the flow) = deeper edge
- soft knee bends = rhythm & timing
Anyways, it was very interesting to watch this clip. Thanks!
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2003
Having been a figure skater and had to learn the dances and take tests, I can safely say that ice dance is all about knee action. If you listen to Tracy Wilson when she is commentating you will hear her discussing the dancer's knee action.
The judges look for:
Deep edges - correctly done (inside/outside)
Good knee action
Timing
Good flow and speed
musicality - especially for the free dance
Interpretation and expression of both dancers
Dance holds - correctness and closeness
Pretty much the list that was mentioned can be applied to all aspects of ice dance not just the set-pattern dances. Dancing is actually very technical. Often fans don't realize the hours of practice ice dancers spend on perfecting edges and dance steps because they make it look so easy. Some ice dancers like Shae-Lynn Bourne are the best ice skaters on the planet!!
- Just ask Kurt!
The judges look for:
Deep edges - correctly done (inside/outside)
Good knee action
Timing
Good flow and speed
musicality - especially for the free dance
Interpretation and expression of both dancers
Dance holds - correctness and closeness
Pretty much the list that was mentioned can be applied to all aspects of ice dance not just the set-pattern dances. Dancing is actually very technical. Often fans don't realize the hours of practice ice dancers spend on perfecting edges and dance steps because they make it look so easy. Some ice dancers like Shae-Lynn Bourne are the best ice skaters on the planet!!
- Just ask Kurt!
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
whenever I listen to Tracy all I hear is her butchering everyone's names, even teh big names that EVERYONE knows how to say, except her (the way she pronounces Boitano grates on my nerves lol)... it's me being nit picky, but I cant stand to listen to her commentary. And she totally dismissed Melissa and Denis as the Olympics in 06 like they weren't even there, which really annoyed me (but I'm biased on that one)
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2007
I don't think that's picking nits --- she ought to check pronunciations, for goodness sake.
She gets on my nerves completely. Some people say her voice is soothing or whatever. To me she just sounds like she gives EQUAL WEIGHT TO EVERYTHING SHE SAYS AS IF IT'S ALL VERY IMPORTANT AND EARTHSHAKING. She doesn't speak especially loudly, just so earnestly and taking herself far too seriously.
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
well, next to Scott her voice is a lot nicer on the ears (but I love Scotty so I don't mind it too much lol)
and I do prefer Tracy over Sandra, but that's not saying much as Sandra scares me... she just comes across as very cold (which boggles my mind as some of my favorite Kurt programs were thought up by her!)
and I do prefer Tracy over Sandra, but that's not saying much as Sandra scares me... she just comes across as very cold (which boggles my mind as some of my favorite Kurt programs were thought up by her!)
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2007
but I have to say it was easier for DelShoe because they barely lift their legs up (kept them really low to the ground). For some reason Meryl kicks it up as high as she can up in the air....maybe for dramatic effect? But I love the DelShoe YP, especially the part where Olivier does the arm thing and the hat thing....just lovely.
You know what I like about G&P's Golden Waltz- there was so much harmony in their dance hold. They looked like one unit- and had one rhythm. Pasha, for all her diva-hood, knows the secret of ice dance is to let your partner lead you. And Evgeni had precise posture and lead her well.
With B&K, I feel that they have incredibly soft knees but their dance isn't all it should be. They do not have the same rhythm. Shae-lynn holds herself a bit in isolation from Victor and doesn't seem to be "listening" to his lead. He also doesn't really get in there and truly lead her in a really masterful way. While gentle and sensitive. They don't move like one unit.
I love watching side-by-side comparisons.
With B&K, I feel that they have incredibly soft knees but their dance isn't all it should be. They do not have the same rhythm. Shae-lynn holds herself a bit in isolation from Victor and doesn't seem to be "listening" to his lead. He also doesn't really get in there and truly lead her in a really masterful way. While gentle and sensitive. They don't move like one unit.
I love watching side-by-side comparisons.
Actually, that's the secret of any ballroom dance (and it's really not such a secret!). It is interesting though, that I get the sense that most ice dance couples do not have a strong lead-follow relationship. I suppose it's not stressed as much, since they also have to learn skating skills? I have no idea....
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2008
While I like lifts in ice dance, to me, any team that focuses on that just feels like "tricks" to me. My favorite things about ice dance are the true dance-y moves, like footwork and face-to-face holds. I like to see a couple looking at each other, dancing with each other.
Maybe that's why I don't care for teams like B/B (from the 80s)...drama and flinging each other around on the ice just doesn't work for me.
I don't mind a little variety, though, FDs like the Kerrs and P/B are an interesting change when watching multiple teams perform.
The best thing about ice dance, to me, is that couples can be creative if they choose to be. More than any other discipline, they can "tell a story" on the ice. You only have to watch T&D's "Bolero" to feel a range of emotions...from tender love to full-on passion to heartbreaking tragedy, all in 4 minutes. And that dance isn't anything like ballroom but that's the interesting thing about ice dance. You can have both. I love the ballroom style but it's nice to see the story dances as well. I like couples who can do both.
Maybe that's why I don't care for teams like B/B (from the 80s)...drama and flinging each other around on the ice just doesn't work for me.
I don't mind a little variety, though, FDs like the Kerrs and P/B are an interesting change when watching multiple teams perform.
The best thing about ice dance, to me, is that couples can be creative if they choose to be. More than any other discipline, they can "tell a story" on the ice. You only have to watch T&D's "Bolero" to feel a range of emotions...from tender love to full-on passion to heartbreaking tragedy, all in 4 minutes. And that dance isn't anything like ballroom but that's the interesting thing about ice dance. You can have both. I love the ballroom style but it's nice to see the story dances as well. I like couples who can do both.
I don't know much about ice dance and skating skills training, so I have a question concerning above mentioned team. Is it possible that they improve their loud skating or there is little chance for it, as they are already quite 'formed' and mature skaters? Is the technique of their skating so formed that there is no way that they could skate quiet?
I am just curious about such details
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