Madison Chock & Evan Bates | Page 28 | Golden Skate

Madison Chock & Evan Bates

Astrid56 said:
I share your view regarding choreographers _ I thought Mark Ballas would be great because he purposely learned to figure skate when he choreographed for Evan Lysacek and, yes, Derek's a very good Ballroom choreographer, too. I am thinking also Karina Smirnoff _ once the #2 Ballroom dancer in the world _ she's very good with lifts (ballet and gymnastic background) and is a very good Rumba dancer. She would also be great with helping them develop their FD. Their Rachmaninoff was well received but they need a real talented dancer to help choreograph a great FD. I haven't stopped admiring them as I see great potential. They should stick to dancing that cleverly blends ice-dance elements, lifts, fresh movements/forms (beautifully balletic), and step-sequences. Enjoyed their first FD to Chopin - they should return to that style. I've noticed Evan's a great dancer and Madison's so flexible and graceful _ they should focus on highlighting these skills/talents. The Olympic year/season is not the time for experimentation_ it's the right time to utilize to the fullest those wonderful skills and talents. Anyway, they should either solicit help from Mark Ballas (maybe for their FD _ if they choose something like their 2011-12 FD) or Karina Smirnoff for their SD (she performed great Rumbas with her former Ukranian partner).

Of course, it helps if they can solidify their dances early rather than making continual improvements _ use their precious rehearsal time to fine tune execution ... ensuring mastery of the different segments of the programs. If they can confidently perform their programs, they will be less prone to mistakes ... unwanted mishaps.
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Agree with you 100%, Astrid56. I have nothing to disagree here. I didn't know that Karina Smirnoff has such an extensive background. Yes, I remember Karina has some smoking hot Rhumbas from what I saw following Dancing with the Stars, and am following the current Season 24 at the moment. Mark Ballas' Tango with Paige van Zant, Oh my, totally speechless. I also didn't know that Mark Ballas learnt figure skating and helped Evan with his Tango.

I also agree with solidifying their program early. Sui/Han's programs are not complicated but yet oozes with sophistication, class and sass. They also make sure where technical elements are concerned, they are level 4 material. Yes, a fresh blend of ice dance elements, movements, lifts, shapes and forms. Rhumba is classic Latin, anyone of those top pros from DWTS would help immensely. Agree, Olympic year is NOT experimentation year. One needs to continue to cement a good reputation and impression on the judges.
 
icekiwi said:
... One needs to continue to cement a good reputation and impression on the judges.
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They really need to do that - so important even though judges are supposed to 'ignore' past triumphs but this, like or not, has a way of influencing scores (think V/M). Anyway back to Karina, even though Derek won, I think, 6 DWTS championships, Karina, in the World dancing arena (in comparison to other DWTS professionals) is the most accomplished. She’s “a five-time U.S. National Champion, World Trophy Champion, and Asian Open Champion. Smirnoff has won the title at the UK Open, is a three-time champion at the US Open, two-time champion at the Asian Open, five-time champion at the Dutch Open, and five-time US National Professional Champion. She has taken second at the British Open Blackpool Dance Festival and she is the first woman to also ever make the "British Professional Final" with three different partners.” [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karina_Smirnoff ]. With former partner Slavik Kryklyvyy – she was ranked #2 in the world (#1 belongs, I think, to German born professional dancer Carmen Vincelj who with Bryan Watson won the WDC World Latin Dance Championships in the professional category nine times [1999–2007]). So Karina is a very successful dancer and a successful dance instructor.
 
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. When they first chose 'Under Pressure', I was nervous. It might be fun for Christopher Dean to choreograph to, but Ice Dancing has completely revolutionalised. Next year SD is Rhumba, stick to the really tradional Rhumba, get someone like Mark Ballas (someone mentioned this in the forum and I totally agree 100%) or Derek Hough (Davies & white had Derek to help with their Olympic Quickstep SP). They are already a HOT couple, so just focus on the dance. For the FD, something lyrical/classical, their Rachmaninov was well received by the judges. They are capable of much more than needing to use over the top loud vocal music.
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I hope you know that Torvill and Dean skated the best rumba in the history of figure skating and nobody even came close. It was pure dance. So I guess Christopher Dean knows what rumba is :scratch2:. Though as far as I know he is going to choreograph rumba for Coomes and Buckland, so it's quite possibly your wish will be granted and Chock and Bates will have hire somebody else.
 
Torvill and Dean skated the best rumba in the history of figure skating and nobody even came close. It was pure dance. So I guess Christopher Dean knows what rumba is . Though as far as I know he is going to choreograph rumba for Coomes and Buckland, so it's quite possibly your wish will be granted and Chock and Bates will have hire somebody else.
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I saw their performance but i think it would be nice to receive input from an acclaimed performer _ one who knows the 'soul' of the dance (not implying Dean doesn't have it). One of Karina's well-known Rumba performances with Slavik Kryklyvyy is this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alWwTX5bKHQ . Beautiful music plus beautiful Rumba movements and lifts (well-suited to ice-dancing and I can imagine Madison's flexibility to work for her). Karina and partner performed again the very same program in 2014 (with little changes) and it still looked fresh. Here's the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCszIfVPdtM
 
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First about Worlds. I was so proud of their performance in the Short, it was just fantastic and I'm so happy they got a personal best score for that. The lack of level 4's I'm sure is a big frustration for them all season since I think they haven't had a L4 on the mid line sequence since Skate Canada even though it's been a big focus. But still, an awesome performance and I loved it. They sure looked happy afterward.

The FD was SUCH a heartbreak. They were perfectly set up & on their way to the bronze medal but for the twizzle disaster. Such a shame. Three years in a row on the world podium would have been a huge boost heading into the Olympic season but alas, it was not to be. I'm sure Evan was distraught afterward, he always seems to take any mistakes he makes incredibly hard.

So, I was really happy to see all their happy, smiling faces from the banquet - by the way, Evan posted about 5 or 6 photos on his instagram, just swipe to the left and you'll see the rest of them. There is a super cute picture with Dylan and Lubov along with Madi who is in all the pictures.

And now, on to the present. I thought they would be sleeping and resting but Madi posted on IG a picture of them on their way to Colorado Springs, which I assume means they'll be at the Olympic training center for a few days. They looked so happy. I'm not sure if this is SOI rehearsal (Jeremy tweeted he was leaving for SOI rehearsals on Friday), or if they are starting on new choreo for an exhibition program for SOI, their SD, or FD. Both Rohene and Chris Dean are based in Colorado.

I also wonder if they are going so soon because they are competing at WTT later this month? I don't think anything has been announced but team entries are due by Friday. I believe the individual skaters/teams are picked based on world rankings, and Madi & Evan still have the #1 ranking internationally over the last 3 seasons. (Not for this season but I believe the 3-year ranking is used). So - they may be going or they may pass it up because of preparation for SOI and of course the new season. Anyway, they're not wasting any time and are already working on next year apparently.

Last thing. They are still my favorites even though loving this team can be an emotional roller coaster ride. I think Tanith & Ben said it perfectly during the SD coverage on NBC Sports when they said they go at it so hard in their performances that it can sometimes lead to mistakes. I agree completely and I'm sure it's something they talk about (I think Evan even said in a recent interview that they talk all the time about bringing the energy but needing to balance that with calmness to execute precisely).

OK one more thing! It's been a real pleasure as a big fan of theirs to see their partnership change this year into an obvious romantic relationship. I don't think I've ever seen the two of them seem so happy to be around each other. They are just so smiley around each other all the time. It's been nice to see and I hope they continue to be so happy personally because it sure does show.
 
Loved reading Madi's blog entries. She seems very grounded and resilient. Good thing Ashley was able to come to Alexa's rescue and fix her dress! :biggrin:
 
Last note of her blog says they are now returning to Colorado Springs to begin the creative process with their choreographer, Christopher Dean... !!! :yahoo:. :clap:
 
Apparently CB performed a new show piece last night at Stars on Ice - a tango that reportedly is pretty hot. Ha. I'll be looking forward to seeing it, hopefully at the WTT gala.
 
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