Programs with the best Choreography?

[gkelly]

Of the two Scotvold champions, I'd say Wylie was the superior skater, both technically and in terms of how he projected emotion. So should we add his Henry V long program from the Albertville Olympics to our list? Indeed I often go back to it to admire it and be stirred by it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nLhA7CVIok

By all means.

Other early-90s programs by American skaters I find especially coherent:

Kristi Yamaguchi (choreographer Sandra Bezic)

Mark Mitchell

And another Canadian:
Josee Chouinard (Bezic again)

 

[Cherryy]

I think Hanuy's SP and Mao's FS from this season should also be on the list. They both have a lot of in-betweens, almost no room for bare crossovers. Every detail is carefully planned and both programs go with the music extraordinarily well.

Another choreography and whole performance I truly love is Jeremy Abbott's SP from 2006-7 season - Dead Already from American Beauty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFj1FXhvgj0
Sadly I can't tell you exactly why I think this program is truly exceptional but it really is!

 

[aftertherain]

To focus on a specific part of the choreography, I always found this part particularly striking and powerful. She's not only using her arms to express the music, but her whole body and her face, and the choreography throughout doesn't only match the music, but also the character she's portraying.

Yes! I think that's the part that always draws me in the most. It's so enchanting.

- Elements that are correctly timed to the music, like a spiral or jump at just the right moment, can work wonders for the choreography.
- Aiming for unique movements that match the music, mood, story/character, etc. as much as possible -- rather than simply extending an arm or leg to a certain note. Using the whole body to express the music, not just stroking around and extending the arms.

This! To use Sasha Cohen's R&J program as an example, her first combination spin is exquisite because each change in position is choreographed so that it corresponds to changes in the music. And there are little choreographic passages-- there's a slow guitar solo at one point and Sasha Cohen conveys this sort of wistful and longing by both expression and soft body movement; it goes with the music well.

 

[Mathman]

And here are a handful of less iconic ladies' programs that I happened to rewatch recently and was impressed by their construction:

Kadavy 1987

Wonderful. I think it is how she uses the whole ice surface and how she orders her elements in space and time that makes the program so pleasing.

Re-watching these old programs brings to the fore how much skating has changed in the CoP era. This program features a lot of plain stroking, long gliding edges, and unadorned jump entries (flowing exit edges were valued more). The basic skating was interesting -- a lot of little little S-shaped turns, for instance -- and the music had changes of tempo to allow the skater to bring down the intensity while still maintaining continuity.

She took her time to showcase each element -- Ina Bauer, spread eagles, split jumps, for instance. Her footwork sequence was full without being frenetic.

 

[aftertherain]

And here are a handful of less iconic ladies' programs that I happened to rewatch recently and was impressed by their construction:

Kadavy 1987

Wonderful. I think it is how she uses the whole ice surface and how she orders her elements in space and time that makes the program so pleasing.

Re-watching these old programs brings to the fore how much skating has changed in the CoP era. This program features a lot of plain stroking, long gliding edges, and unadorned jump entries (flowing exit edges were valued more). The basic skating was interesting -- a lot of little little S-shaped turns, for instance -- and the music had changes of tempo to allow the skater to bring down the intensity while still maintaining continuity.

She took her time to showcase each element -- Ina Bauer, spread eagles, split jumps, for instance. Her footwork sequence was full without being frenetic.

I am admittedly a stranger to programs prior to the 1990s, but I found myself agreeing with your last sentence here. A lot of the CoP-era skaters use Ina Bauers and spread eagles as entrances into jumps, just as Kadavy did. However, the difference is that you can tell she was taking her time in highlighting both elements before she jumped; whereas skaters nowadays do the element, but you can see them focused on the following jump throughout it.

 

[MK's Winter]

I think Michelle's Rachmaninov and Lyra Angelica are beautifully done and timeless. I am also very fond of her 1997 Worlds Exhibition to Tori Amos's Winter,, actually it's my favorite exhibition piece.

Lu Chen's Butterfly Lovers and Spring Breeze

Oksana Biaul's Sadness exhibition ( as performed on Fox on Ice)

 

[icedinn]

Stolbova and Klimov have always had excellent choreography. Their sp is by far my favorite of this season.

 

[DianaSelene]

Stolbova and Klimov have always had excellent choreography. Their sp is by far my favorite of this season.

I agree. Every movement goes perfectly with the music.

 

[Olympia]

I am admittedly a stranger to programs prior to the 1990s, but I found myself agreeing with your last sentence here. A lot of the CoP-era skaters use Ina Bauers and spread eagles as entrances into jumps, just as Kadavy did. However, the difference is that you can tell she was taking her time in highlighting both elements before she jumped; whereas skaters nowadays do the element, but you can see them focused on the following jump throughout it.

As I read this comment, I think of the beautiful Ina Bauer Paul Wylie does in his Olympic long program. It is not a bridge to anything else; it is an end in itself.

 

[MiRé]

Although it's exhibition, Yuna's olympic Gala is definitely my favorite!

Except for the poped 3Lz, I think this EX is very sophisticated and choreographed well.

My male's favorite has to be Hanyu's SP Parisian Walkways and his LP Romeo and Juliet

 

[figuristka]

Agree with Jeffrey Buttle's Naqoyqatsi
More Recent for men not just for choreography but for feeling it gives.
Daisuke Takahashi Garden of Souls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziQ253eUi2I Japanese Nationals 2011
Blues for Klook, Pagliacci ( purely for how he skates it with so much passion even though not fav program)
Yuzuru Hanyu Romeo&Juliet
Patrick Chan La Boheme from Rostelecom
Stephane Lambiel ne me quitte pas
Jeremy Abbott Exogenesis

Dance Virtue and Moir Carmen

Ladies Akiko Suzuki Cirque du soleil
Mao Asada Swan lake

 

[snejina]

FDs of Virtue/Moir and Davis/White this season - Carmen and Notre Dame de Paris
Virtue/Moir - Mahler 2010 FD
Davis/White - Samson and Dellilah FD, Fliedermaus
Savchenko/Szolkowi - PINA, Cirque du Soleil FD 2008, Pink Panther FD 2011
Yuna - Tango de Roxane FD
Mao - Swan Lake, Olympics SP, Exhibition this season on Mary Popkins
Pechalat/Bourzat - Chaplin FD 2011 /Zhulin's choreography/
Weaver/Poje - Je suis Malade 2012 FD
Carolina Kostner - Bolero this season and 2012 FD
Akiko - "O", Cirque de Soleil
Wagner - Black Swan
K.Osmond - Carmen this year
Laura Lepisto - 2009 LP and the Exhibition programme with a ribbon (Exquisite! I love this performance!) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6so-IR0xb4
Miki Ando - 2010 Cleopatra FS, Black Swan Exhibition
Plushenko - Tango Roxanne, Tribute to Vaslav Nijinsky http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEJXkfMYTX4, Criminal Peterburgh soundtrack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NzDqmsIEY0

Performances I can watch many, many times:

Denkova/Staviski - 2004 Worlds FS Hendel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjgBf0uRbik, 2007 FD Seven Deadly Sins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQO8bYFgJSo; 2003 FD Worlds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5lNInKe6fg
Oksana Bauil - Swan SP and Exhibition - unique choreography and style
Elena Sokolova - Samson and Delillah SP 2003 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veFDbTmMkoU
Irina Slutzkaya - Toska Olympics 2002 FS
Berezhnaya - Siharulidze - Chaplin LP and Exhibition, Olympics SP 2002
Shen/Zhao - The Nutcracker LP
Grishuk/Platov - 1999 LP "The feeling begins" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5zK32mEFfk (Unique choreography and performance!); 1998 Nagano FD
Krylova-Ovsyannikov - Malaguena and Cleopatra Exhibitions
Annisina-Peizerat - Danse Mon Esmeralda http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQO-od6NcYI (so emotional and romantic), Susanna Exhibitions; 2002 Olympics OD, Malaguena exhibition, Carmina Burana FD
Yukari Nakano - 2007 Worlds SP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5YCi_TwuZo, Giselle LP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLhYkbbt-_0, Harem Exhibition 2009
Sasha Cohen - 2006 Olympics SP, 2003 Swan Lake - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oUIDWF1zRw
Gordeeva - Grinkov - Westside Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qWW-Ok4V0E, Moonlight Sonata FD, Vocalise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dBlQSZQILI; "I Paliagchi" artistic programme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-a8pJ7zjhA
Belbin - Agosto - Amelie FD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqVzf2_kad8, Westside Story FD Belbin Agosto - westside story
Bourne-Kraatz Riverdance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZxdCZUAPjo

 

[WeakAnkles]

10 more that haven't been mentioned for your consideration...

Davis and White - Bollywood OD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnEJAEtp9fo
Chen Lu - The Last Emperor FD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARd8UsQj_Ag
The Duchesnays - Missing FD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgo5-w7smSM
Torvil and Dean - Paso Double OSP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsHt7DRxpxA
Brian Boitano - Lincoln Portrait FD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCu5NNH6Tgc
Bourne and Kraatz - High Society Overture FD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT8Oh-MJj3E
Rahkamo & Kokko - Valse Triste FD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk2LqLNPelc
Rahkamo & Kokko - Quickstep OD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ieH0uk-cks
Angela Nikodinov - Just for You SP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LPg9MN0aJM
Krisztina Czako - The Aadams Family LP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi0FazjCHRQ

 

[Tinymavy15]

Rahkamo & Kokko - Valse Triste FD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk2LqLNPelc

that was beautiful. thanks for posting

 

[lulu]

Two stunningly gorgeous routines:

Mishkutenok & Dmitriev, Liebestraum: http://youtu.be/L9j0jrUADG0

Klimova & Ponomarenko, Air: http://youtu.be/cRNgq4cQIU8

 

[Tinymavy15]

Anything and everything Zueva did for G&G has needs to be on this list.

 

[Olympia]

Oh, golly, that Klimova/Ponomarenko program! I remember watching it during the Olympics, and it remains as sublime today as it was then. Though I was rooting for them to win, I honestly felt that any of the three couples competing could have won and I would have been satisfied. The two rivals, Usova/Zhulin and the Duchesnays, were also splendid. It was one of the best ice dance Olympics ever, in my opinion.

I find it interesting that Sergei and not Marina has a turnout. He often skates in turnout position, even doing a spreadeagle. She never does. She always stands in hold with him and has both feet pointing in the same direction. Their lifts are to die for, especially that one "pendulum" lift where she arches backwards and then spins around an axis like the hands of a clock, at last ending up lying in a straight horizontal position while he balances in an arabesque position, on one leg.

If I had magical powers, I'd love to get all my favorite ice dancers from all eras skating on the same ice, in one program. I don't care about scores or rankings; I'd just like to see them skate, two by two. I guess that's what YouTube is for.

 

[lulu]

I find it interesting that Sergei and not Marina has a turnout. He often skates in turnout position, even doing a spreadeagle. She never does. She always stands in hold with him and has both feet pointing in the same direction. Their lifts are to die for, especially that one "pendulum" lift where she arches backwards and then spins around an axis like the hands of a clock, at last ending up lying in a straight horizontal position while he balances in an arabesque position, on one leg.

In terms of ice dance, is one position more difficult or more correct? I think sublime is a perfect word for their program. As far the 1992 Olympics go, I thought U&Z's "Four Seasons" was brilliant. Perhaps more than any other ice dance team of that era, I can picture U&Z just as comfortable on the stage as the ice. They had a wonderful balletic quality to their skating. I really do like the Duchesnays, but their program that year was not in the same league as K&P or U&Z. Now, had they skated to "Missing" that year, that would be an ice dance event for the ages.

 

[figuristka]

Rahkamo & Kokko - Valse Triste FD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk2LqLNPelc

Thanks for reminding me of this beautiful program.

A beautiful program from Gordeeva and Grinkov http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dBlQSZQILI By Zoueva

 

[gkelly]

I find it interesting that Sergei and not Marina has a turnout. He often skates in turnout position, even doing a spreadeagle. She never does. She always stands in hold with him and has both feet pointing in the same direction.

In terms of ice dance, is one position more difficult or more correct?

I'm not sure what Olympia is referring to -- free leg position, or turnout with both feet on the ice (spread eagles and Ina Bauers), which are kind of novelty moves because not everyone is anatomically equipped to do them -- the turnout needs to be pretty close to 180 degrees, more for outside edges, because of the fact that the blades will only glide along the line of the foot, not an angle..

Good alignment is good alignment, attractive positions are attractive positions, and will be rewarded as such. Good technique per se is mostly about what the blades are doing on the ice.

As far the 1992 Olympics go, I thought U&Z's "Four Seasons" was brilliant. Perhaps more than any other ice dance team of that era, I can picture U&Z just as comfortable on the stage as the ice. They had a wonderful balletic quality to their skating. I really do like the Duchesnays, but their program that year was not in the same league as K&P or U&Z. Now, had they skated to "Missing" that year, that would be an ice dance event for the ages.

I loved all three of the medal-winning programs in 1992. I don't know why I seem to be the only one who liked that West Side Story program from the Duchesnays. I liked Rahkomo & Kokko's free dance that year also.