Impressions: Bolero

[Matt]

OK, now that, after many murmurings and discussions here on the forum pages of GoldenSkate, we've actually seen MK's "Bolero" FP (and for those that haven't, it's up on the 2004 section of www.cruelladekwan.com) in an actual competition (cheesefest comments aside ), I figure it's about time we get a thread going to let everybody get their two-cents worth in.

Here are my impressions from watching the Campbell's clip:

1. Peggy's comment of "she's moving differently", I think, is well founded. She is working with an actual choreographer this time in Christopher Dean (obviously a good choice, considering the music) and there is a more marked presence of the choreography than in either "Tosca" or "Aranjuez" (it's actually probably about the same as "Aranjuez"). It's not the rich choreography from the Lori Nichol days and it's still fairly minimalistic, but it's an improvement

2. I can definitely start to see Arutunian's influence coming into play with her skating. Both 3lutzes looked solid, plus the addition of the 3toe-2loop leaves the door open for the possibility of a triple-triple combo at the opening (I'm curious to know why she didn't do a solo 3loop later in the programme). Arutunian has also picked up the difficulty in her spins (they've brought back the y-spin, and IIRC, both sit spins were out of a death drop and a butterfly respectively; does that factor in under CoP?)

3. MK's back injury was a factor. She came out of the layback early and didn't hold several of the positions in her spiral sequence or was completely stretched out in some of the sit spin positions

4. They've tried to do more with her spiral sequence, adding more positions like the "Sasha wobble" and the heel stretch (the former I think works, the latter doesn't, idk, I don't think it looks all that flattering. She could change the way she holds her leg in that position or pick a position that better demonstrates her flexibility, like a catch foot or a Charlotte)

5. The fall in the straight-line footwork sequence was a fluke; not an issue

6. Completely random, but isn't that the same costume she wore for "Tosca" at last year's Campbell's? I don't doubt that it will change several times before Nats and Worlds (Vera Wang makes a mint off that girl )

Sorry if I seem over-analytical; those are just my impressions. Anyone else?

 

[Antilles]

I still can't see anyone but T&D doing Bolero, and Michelle should lose the purple costume (another reminder of T&D), but I do like the program. The choreagraphy at the start and end is very promising. I think she could put more throughout the program. The spins and the spirals are nice. I'm sure they'll be even better when Michelle is feeling 100%. I think the program has a lot of potential.

 

[hockeyfan228]

The dress was the first Tosca dress, but is a placeholder for a new costume.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Bolero always conjures up for me, a Radio City Music Hall Extravaganza. A stage full of dancers, singers, and specialty acts all carrying on to this, imo, monotanous music. The extravaganza was great. When T&D skated to it, I was surprised that I liked it as a dance for two. I will wait till Worlds (if she makes it) for Michelle to make me like it as a solo.

Nutracker Pas de Deux conures up for me, the numerous ballets of the same name. The dance is quite bravura, and I see it as a dance for two. It worked on skates with S&Z. For Sasha who will have two GPs under her belt, I will wait till Nats to make me like it as a solo.

Joe

 

[jesslily]

I think Michelle's Bolero is good, but not outstanding. A lot of the skaters like to put jumps one after another, and then have the footwork last. That structure isn't great, the footwork would look better placed after 3/5th of the program, and then do 2 more jumps.

 

[Lucy25]

I think the Bolero we saw at Campbell's is a very promising beginning of a program. It is obvious she is trying some new things. I take the program for what Michelle says it is: a beginning program, one that will be built upon. I haven't been this pleased with a new program in a few years from her.

 

[Ladskater]

Bolero always conjures up for me, a Radio City Music Hall Extravaganza. A stage full of dancers, singers, and specialty acts all carrying on to this, imo, monotanous music. The extravaganza was great. When T&D skated to it, I was surprised that I liked it as a dance for two. I will wait till Worlds (if she makes it) for Michelle to make me like it as a solo.

Nutracker Pas de Deux conures up for me, the numerous ballets of the same name. The dance is quite bravura, and I see it as a dance for two. It worked on skates with S&Z. For Sasha who will have two GPs under her belt, I will wait till Nats to make me like it as a solo.

Joe

I quite like Michelle's Bolero program. Actually, the original Bolero dance was choreographed for one dancer - Ida Rubinstein. So it does work as a solo for a single skater. With the brilliant choreograpy of Chris Dean, who knows the music well, how could it not be great? I think Michelle looks classy and look forward to seeing her program again.

http://www.fact-index.com/b/bo/bolero__ravel_.html

 

[Eeyora]

I definitely think the debut of Bolero was Michelle's best debut of a program since Lyra.

 

[Longhornliz]

I just downloaded it from the cruelladekwan site (not that I hadnt watched it off of the DVR a few billion times) but now I can procrastinate when i should be doing school work on my laptop.

I really like her program, and I was appreciative of the commentators being quiet for the most part in the mid section of the program.

I wish they would streamline her arm movements with less finger movements (it has more of an exotic feel in my opinion). I think they are trying to have it stand out as different from the T&D routine.. but there's was so modern and minimal that it matched the feel of the monotonous music.

All in all.... Like it a lot.

 

[Taan]

its has potential. right now on a scale of 1 to 10 i would rate it a 6. I would give her Salome program from 1996 a 10.

Michelle has never had a program, or performance as great as her 1996 worlds performance of Salome. She peaked in 1996.

Bolero could be wonderful though. She needs more "imbetweens" , transitions, something like a ina bauer into her 3sal, or spread eagle into her triple toe.

She needs a dress with a bold color. Red or Black. No Pastels.

If she is going to skate to Bolero it is imperative she skate it with "FIRE" - this means none of her usual kwanderful perkiness and kwan "smirals" = she needs to seethe white hot intensity and nothing less. Or else the program ** will ** flop.


Can't wait to see what she does with this!

 

[Mathman]

To me, as great as Michelle's Salome program was, she has continued to grow in artistic maturity ever since. What makes me hopeful about Bolero is that this may be the first musical selection, except for show programs like Fields of Gold, that Michelle made entirely herself and has given her full commitment to from the beginning.

Mathman

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I quite like Michelle's Bolero program. Actually, the original Bolero dance was choreographed for one dancer - Ida Rubinstein. So it does work as a solo for a single skater. With the brilliant choreograpy of Chris Dean, who knows the music well, how could it not be great? I think Michelle looks classy and look forward to seeing her program again.

Lad - From what I know about the original ballet called Bolero was that it was a full ballet set in a Spanish taberna with a cast of dancers. Ida Rubenstein was the 'star' as she commissioned Ravel to compose the score. I believe it was after she left the Diaglev Ballet Russe. She was a very beautiful woman with lots of money, but her dancing was not at the level of a prima ballerina. Her love for ballet though, was very strong and she commissioned many other ballets for her own company.

Yes, Michelle's Bolero is a work in progress, and she is a class act. It can only get better.

Joe

 

[Linny]

Details

Both the first time I watched and in subsequent viewings, I found the minor details to be mesmorizing. After the beginning sequence, she does several cross-overs, then extends her right arm and gestures with her hand... that simple moment is my favorite. A minor detail, I suppose, but one that appeals to me viscerally.
Linny

 

[gezando]

I think Michelle's Bolero is good, but not outstanding. A lot of the skaters like to put jumps one after another, and then have the footwork last. That structure isn't great, the footwork would look better placed after 3/5th of the program, and then do 2 more jumps.

That is still better than seven jumping passes in the first 2 minutes of some other program. Frontloading programs like that is nuts or crackers?

 

[BravesSkateFan]

2. I can definitely start to see Arutunian's influence coming into play with her skating. Both 3lutzes looked solid, plus the addition of the 3toe-2loop leaves the door open for the possibility of a triple-triple combo at the opening (I'm curious to know why she didn't do a solo 3loop later in the programme). Arutunian has also picked up the difficulty in her spins (they've brought back the y-spin, and IIRC, both sit spins were out of a death drop and a butterfly respectively; does that factor in under CoP?)

Michelle didnt do a solo 3l because under the CoP you can only have 7 Jumping passes. If she added a solo loop she would have 8 passes.

What do you mean by "they brought back" the Y-spin. I never knew it left. She did it in Aranjuez. I don't consider not doing an element for one year, bringing it back...but maybe I'm misunderstanding you

 

[Mathman]

Both the first time I watched and in subsequent viewings, I found the minor details to be mesmorizing. After the beginning sequence, she does several cross-overs, then extends her right arm and gestures with her hand... that simple moment is my favorite. A minor detail, I suppose, but one that appeals to me viscerally.
Linny

Now, that's what I'm talking about, Linny!!! :agree: Those little details just take my breath away. Actually, the whole first minute has one thrilling moment after another.

Actually, I don't agree with the suggestion that it would be better to move the footwork sequence up and put some jumps afterwards. I think the reason the footwork sequence is so effective is that it is our celebration -- our reward, so to speak -- for having just landed our last jump, oh so perfectly, now here we go -- yay, ta-da!!!

Um, I mean, it is Michelle who landed her last jump, not so much me...

Mathman

 

[Matt]

Michelle didnt do a solo 3l because under the CoP you can only have 7 Jumping passes. If she added a solo loop she would have 8 passes.

What do you mean by "they brought back" the Y-spin. I never knew it left. She did it in Aranjuez. I don't consider not doing an element for one year, bringing it back...but maybe I'm misunderstanding you

I didn't know that about only 7 jumping passes allowed under CoP (or maybe I did and I'd forgotten); thanks BravesSkateFan

What I meant by "they brought back the Y-spin" was that it was included in her competitive programme again (it wasn't performed in either "Tosca" or "TFB" and the only time I ever saw her do it in "Aranjuez" was at Worlds that year). It never did "go away" (she performed it in "Fallin", IIRC), but Arutunian had said in an article just after Nats last year that one of the things he wanted to work on w/ MK in future was the difficulty of her spins, so I was mentioning putting the Y-spin back into the programme again as one of the ways they were doing that.

 

[BronzeisGolden]

I've watched "Bolero" many times so far and I like it more with every viewing. The opening segment of the program (up until the 3t/2l) is extremely effective and includes some of the best choreography Michelle has had in years, IMHO. From that point, there are small segments of similiarly effective movements...but I think there needs to be more. The section right after the 3lz/2t up until the 3s seems a bit sparse (very much like "Tosca" and "Aranjuez"). I have a feeling they will be adding more and more choreography to this part of the program. And, if it is anything like the brilliant choreography at the beginning and end of this program, I say it is going to be spectacular!

I also think Dick was right in saying the speed "will come". It was a great opening effort, but this program isn't second nature to her yet. She wasn't as fast as she will be in January-March. She also didn't seem quite secure with the entire spiral sequence and the spins. But again, I have no doubt that come January Michelle will bring a very complete and confident "Bolero" to Portland. I think this is her most mature and interesting effort since "The Red Violin" the 99-00. So, if we are rating on a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 7. I am very excited about what Michelle is doing. So many of us have been saying we'd like to see her head in this direction for 2 years now...it looks like she is finally doing it! It isn't revolutionary (and I don't think it needs to be...she is great), but it is has the potential to be her best work in recent memory (especially over the last 4-5 years). :agree: