Natalie d’Alessandro & Bruce Waddell

[BillNeal]

Natalie d’Alessandro (born June 16, 2004 in Toronto, Ontario) and Bruce Waddell (born November 28, 2001 in Toronto, Ontario) represent Canada in ice dance at the junior level. They are the 2022 World Junior silver medalists, the 2021 JGP Kosice champions and the 2021 JGP Ljubljana bronze medalists, and qualified for the 2021-22 Grand Prix Final. They are also the 2022 National Junior Champions, the 2017 National Novice Champions and the 2019 National Junior bronze medalists. They train at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club with Andrew Hallam and Siobhan Karam.

I saw them at the North York Summer Skate and enjoyed their RD, especially their showmanship during the quickstep section (their closing lift was the ‘wow’ moment of the competition for me). Looking forward to their free dance debut at the JGP Riga Cup.

Biographical Info:

ISU Bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00103180.htm

Wikipedia:
Natalie: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_D'Alessandro
Bruce: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Waddell

Ice-dance.com profile: https://www.ice-dance.com/site/profile-natalie-dalessandro-bruce-waddell/

Rinkresults:
Natalie: http://www.rinkresults.com/skater?skater_id=20585
Bruce: http://www.rinkresults.com/skater?skater_id=20583

Social Media:

Their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natnbruce/

Personal Bests
http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_pb_00103180.htm​

Personal Best Total Score 163.04 04.09.2021 ISU JGP Kosice 2021 Personal Best Score Rhythm Dance 64.00 04.09.2021 World Junior Championships 2022 Personal Best Score Free Dance 98.56 04.09.2021 ISU JGP Kosice 2021

Programs​

2021-2022
RD: Blues: "Son Of A Preacher Man" (from "Pulp Fiction" soundtrack) by Dusty Springfield; "Hitting the Fan" (from "The Good Wife" soundtrack) by David Buckley; "Pump It' by Black Eyed Peas
FD: "Black Swan: Perfection" by Clint Mansell; "Swan Lake Compilation, Op. 20, Act 1: No, 2 Valse in A-Flat Major" by Petr I. Tchaikovski; "Swan Lake Compilation, Op. 20, Act 2: No. 14 Moderato" by Peter I. Tchaikovski; choreo by Romain Haguenauer

2021 JGP Ljubljana
RD: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfkp8Yg4CxE
FD: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2dMrT3qPj5A

2021 JGP Kosice
RD: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Imntp6Q4o84
FD: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sI_SXsXJps8

2021 NextGen Camp
RD: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oY6_nSBhXyg

2020-2021
RD: Foxtrot: "He Loves and She Loves" by George Gershwin (Funny Face);
Quickstep: "Le Jazz Hot" by Henry Mancini (Victor/Victoria)
FD: "Swan Lake" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; choreo. by Romain Haguenauer

2021 Skate Canada Challenge
RD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAzaNzQYcl8
FD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-cB5NkXbm8

2020 Ontario Sectionals RD
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CXastENiyUU

2019-2020

RD: Foxtrot: "He Loves and She Loves" by George Gershwin (Funny Face);
Quickstep: "Le Jazz Hot" by Henry Mancini (Victor/Victoria)
FD: "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Jim Steinman performed by Meatloaf

2020 Junior World Championships RD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdViVSQYRmU
2020 Junior World Championships FD
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OYG3RujdT78

2020 Bavarian Open RD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhpKdnWBG20
2020 Bavarian Open FD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiU71nza5hY

2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games
RD (720p): https://youtu.be/Vqw7Ov-b5_g
RD (1080p): https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7qeqgq
FD (Individual Event): https://youtu.be/Hx8kkFifE8g
FD (Team Event): https://youtu.be/U-V7qIjX0lo

2020 Skate Canada Challenge FD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Ltf40maHQ

2019 Egna-Neumarkt RD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VONCYfWE48Q
2019 Egna-Neumarkt FD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8H2bXdF6oA

2019 JGP Riga RD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzGk5yOxpAk
2019 JGP Riga FD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o84ctNKyFfw

2019 North York Summer Skate RD
https://youtu.be/V3-ZxE-hch0
https://youtu.be/3-sYk6U8JRI (fancam)

2018-2019

RD: “Querer” and “Toreado” by Rene Dupere (Cirque du Soleil)
FD: “Malaguena” by Ernesto Lecuona; Carmen Suite by Rodion Shchedrich

2018 JGP Linz
RD: https://youtu.be/P0056yIlHBM
FD: https://youtu.be/1Rn3ahJB958

2018 JGP Richmond
RD: https://youtu.be/hy2Wy02WKPY
FD: https://youtu.be/SCbuB9UoU-M

2017-2018

SD: “I Need to Know” by Marc Anthony; “Let’s Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez
FD: “Your Song” from Moulin Rouge; “A Wonderful Love” by Karl Hugo

2017 JGP Brisbane
RD: https://youtu.be/nFnvzhhzUqA
FD: https://youtu.be/WeWllP5d7iM


2016-17
FD: "Monde Inversé" and "Pearl" by Cirque du Soleil

Aug 2016 COS Novice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTIuO_y2kMc

Competitive History ​

Competition	Level	PD or SD/RD	FD	Final
2021-2022
World Junior Championships 2022	Junior	2 (64.00)	3 (98.56)	2 (162.56)
2022 Egna Dance Trophy	Junior	2 (62.62)	2 (97.09)	2 (159.71)
2022 Canadian Nationals	Junior	1 (70.79)	1 (104.24)	1 (175.03)
2021 Cup of Austria-Non ISU	Junior	2 (60.61)	2 (93.01)	1 (153.66)
2021 JGP Ljubljana Cup	Junior	2 (64.26)	3 (97.53)	3 (161.79)
2021 JGP Kosice	Junior	2 (64.48)	1 (98.56)	1 (163.04)
Season 2020-2021​
2021 Skate Canada Challenge	Junior	1 (68.08)	1 (101.79)	1 (169.87)
2021 Ontario Sectionals	Junior	2 (64.09)	WD	7 (64.09)
Season 2019-2020​
2020 World Junior Championships	Junior	9 (61.63)	12 (90.16)	11 (151.79)
2020 Bavarian Open (Jr)	Junior	3 (61.48)	3 (93.57)	3 (155.05)
2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games	Junior	3 (59.61)	5 (91.91)	4 (151.52)
2020 Skate Canada Challenge	Junior	1 (69.79)	1 (104.53)	1 (183.71)
2020 Ontario Sectionals	Junior	1 (64.13)	1 (102.67	1 (166.80)
2019 JGP Egna Neumarkt	Junior	2 (63.25)	3 (89.51)	2 (152.76)
2019 JGP Riga Cup	Junior	3 (61.68)	4 (90.44)	4 (152.12)
Season 2018-2019​
2019 Canadian Nationals	Junior	6 (58.75)	2 (97.04)	3 (155.79)
2019 Skate Canada Challenge (Jr)	Junior	5 (58.14)	6 (88.70)	7 (146.84)
2019 Ontario Sectionals (Jr)	Junior	1 (59.07)	1 (96.33)	1 (155.40)
2018 JGP Linz	Junior	5 (50.45)	3 (84.97)	4 (135.42)
2018 JGP Richmond	Junior	7 (52.94)	4 (85.19)	6 (138.13)
Season 2017-2018​
2018 Canadian Nationals	Novice	2 (13.60/12.35)	1 (64.54)	1 (90.49)
2018 Skate Canada Challenge	Junior	11 (44.90)	7 (67.92)	10 (112.82)
2018 Ontario Sectionals	Junior	4 (52.36)	3 (67.82)	4 (120.18)
2017 JGP Brisbane	Junior	6 (47.70)	6 (65.55)	6 (113.25)
Season 2016-2017​
2017 Canadian Nationals	Novice	2 (13.60/12.35)	1 (64.54)	1 (90.49)
2017 Skate Canada Challenge (Nov)	Novice	4 (12.04/14.33)	2 (61.56)	1 (87.91)
Season 2015-2016​
2016 Skate Canada Challenge (Pre-Nov)	Pre Novice	1 (13.75/14.43)	1 (48.80)	1 (76.98)

 

[Colonel Green]

It's remarkable to thing that Natalie is going into her third JGP season and she's only 15. That's quite unusual for a dancer, at least one representing a big fed.

 

[Colonel Green]

JGP Riga RD: I quite love this program. The RD was always their weaker point last year, but their pattern scores are pretty good, especially given how strict this panel is. There were some levels lost elsewhere (this event has a strict panel), but a good third place score; hopefully they can stay where they are tomorrow, lest they be yet another recipient of the dreaded pewter medal.

 

[Colonel Green]

Belated followup, they did end up in fourth place in Riga due to Natalie's twizzles (and some other minor level issues).

But today's another day: JGP Egna RD, with a new personal best RD score of 63.25, the best score for a Canadian junior team this season. And they're four points clear of third place.

 

[siberia82]

I've uploaded Natalie & Bruce's RD at 59 frames per second (the one on YouTube is at 29 fps), in case some of you like the smoother graphics that come from the higher frame rate:

2019 D'Alessandro & Waddell JGP Egna-Neumarkt RD (1080p, 59 fps): https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7m4l0d


Ditto for their JGP Riga RD:

2019 D'Alessandro & Waddell JGP Riga RD (1080p, 59 fps): https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7m4d0m


I wasn't able to do the same for their Riga FD, unfortunately, because I can't seem to find the link for the full Free Dance of that competition (so either Ted Barton didn't upload it, or most likely something along the lines of "This video contains content from WMG, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds" prevents me from accessing the file).

 

[siberia82]

Woo hoo, Natalie & Bruce won the silver medal, their first JGP podium finish! :yes2: :hap57: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8H2bXdF6oA

I can't access the full JGP Egna-Neumarkt Free Dance video, so there's no chance for me to upload a 59 frames per second version of their performance.

2019 JGP Egna-Neumarkt Ice Dance medal ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQSZopFX0bU

 

[Jeanie19]

I really like their free dance. Congratulations on the silver. :thumbsup:

 

[siberia82]

Natalie & Bruce won the Ontario Sectionals yesterday! :medal"

I've isolated their gold-medal performances from Skate Ontario's archived livestreams (I've tried to upload these on Dailymotion, but they were rejected, so Streamable will have to do).

RD (720p): https://streamable.com/v6ne1

FD (720p): https://streamable.com/pb2rk

 

[BillNeal]

Congrats to Natalie and Bruce, who decisively won Skate Canada Challenge today!

Their winning FD: https://youtu.be/j9Ltf40maHQ

 

[siberia82]

Their SC Challenge RD (1080p): https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7oncfo Their score was so high that they would've placed 2nd in the Senior Rhythm Dance!

Their winning FD: https://youtu.be/j9Ltf40maHQ

Thanks so much for providing this video, BillNeal , as I haven't been able to download the archived livestream for the Junior Free Dance yesterday despite numerous attempts (probably because the file is too large; the Junior Rhythm Dance was over 9 GB :eeking: , and it took so long for the download to be completed.) I will keep on trying today, since it's always nice to have 1080p videos, but perhaps that's not possible for me in this instance.

 

[siberia82]

I was finally able to download the Junior Free Dance today! :yes2: (The file is nearly 10 GB.)

Here's their FD (1080p): https://streamable.com/2lg99


I can't find the Junior Dance Medal Ceremony , but here's their interview with Ted Barton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1vhv7TUuac

 

[BillNeal]

Natalie and Bruce's RD from the YOG: https://youtu.be/Vqw7Ov-b5_g

They were thrilled with their performance, even though the score was not what they were looking for. They are in podium position and have a great shot of winning a medal on Monday.

 

[siberia82]

I have their YOG RD in 1080p (BillNeal's vid is 720p): https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7qeqgq

 

[BillNeal]

Natalie and Bruce's FD from the YOG: https://youtu.be/Hx8kkFifE8g

They finished in 4th place, less than a point off the podium. They received level 3's on both their lifts and some lower levels on several other elements.

D'A/W and their coach are taking this result in stride, per their interview in today's CBC article:

"It's been amazing. Being a Canadian at the Youth Olympics is awesome. I feel honoured to represent our great country," D'Alessandro said.

Waddell echoed his partner's comments, proud of what they accomplished on such a grand athletic stage.

"The whole experience has been incredible for us," he said. "To be able to represent Canada has been amazing. Today we had a blast out there on the ice. There were some technical errors, but we still gave it our all today for Canada."

...

"You can prep them for the crowd but getting here is a different thing. I think they did pretty well, today especially," Hallam said, adding he'll review the technical aspects of D'Alessandro and Waddell's program with them.

They have another chance in the team event on Wednesday.

 

[Colonel Green]

Well, perhaps fittingly, they've now exactly replicated Marjorie & Zach's 2016 Youth Olympics experience - fourth place in the individual and then a team event bronze.

I look forward to their Junior World championship a few seasons hence.

 

[BillNeal]

Congrats to Natalie and Bruce on their team bronze medal!

Their team event FD: https://youtu.be/U-V7qIjX0lo

They received higher levels and a new PB in their free dance.

CBC's interview with them after receiving their medals: https://twitter.com/Devin_Heroux/status/1217520836116209670

Great job and well spoken! Pretty sure they have earned a ticket to JWC and looking forward to seeing their progress there.

 

[siberia82]

They have been assigned to the Bavarian Open: https://www.bev-eissport.de/download/BO2020Entries_0.pdf

 

[gsk8]

 

[Gourlie]

Congratulations to their first JGP victory. I was really rooting for them yesterday. They caught my eye two years ago with their FD and I´m so happy that they made big progress since than.

 

[Lulu39]

Congratulations to their first JGP victory. I was really rooting for them yesterday. They caught my eye two years ago with their FD and I´m so happy that they made big progress since than.

They did a great job!