Rachael Flatt's New SP

[Blades of Passion]

Are you sure they are common? Are more than two or three skaters done a 2A-2A sequence this year?

The 2A/2A sequence is very commonly used in pairs, especially if the pair can only do one of the triple jumps; less so in singles.

Singles skaters who have used the 2A-2A sequence so far this season (even with the base value being decreased this season and the maximum number of 2A attempts limited to 2):

Amelie Lacoste
Fumie Suguri
Viktoria Helgesson
Kevin Van Der Perren
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva
Rosa Sheveleva
Artur Gachinski
Artem Grigoriev
Samuel Morais
Andrei Rogozine
Abzal Rakimgaliev
Bingwa Geng
Vanessa Lam
Karen Kemanai
Yuki Nishino
Patricia Glescic
Rebecka Emanuelsson
Lindsay Davis
Samantha Cesario
Kevin Alves
(there are probably more I'm missing from various Nationals competitions)

Last season, off the top of my head, I know that Alissa Czisny, Yukari Nakano, Akiko Suzuki, and Amanda Dobbs did the 2Axel-2Axel as well.

 

[aftertherain]

Singles skaters who have used the 2A-2A sequence so far this season (even with the base value being decreased this season and the maximum number of 2A attempts limited to 2):
Blah blah blah

Didn't Joannie do that sequence as well?

 

[Blades of Passion]

Oh yeah forgot about Joannie. That should have sprung to mind immediately because she's been attempting the 2A-2A sequence in her LP ever since 2007 (not consistent with it, though, always trying it late in the program).

 

[siberia82]

Singles skaters who have used the 2A-2A sequence so far this season (even with the base value being decreased this season and the maximum number of 2A attempts limited to 2):

(there are probably more I'm missing from various Nationals competitions)

Just to add to your list, Kristoffer Berntsson performed a 2A-2A-SEQ in his LP at the Swedish Nationals.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I'm all for repeated defined jumps in competition. It can make a program look more choreographically interesting if done with music.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Perhaps she can interpret "St. James Infirmary."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z4zz0zskPc

Interpreting Blues music takes a lot of maturity. Do you think these teenagers can manage that? (Facial grimacing wont do.)

 

[blue dog]

Interpreting Blues music takes a lot of maturity. Do you think these teenagers can manage that? (Facial grimacing wont do.)

I think so, Joe. She needs to first leave Tom Z. Go to another choreographer who will bring the music to life, and give her an understanding of what the song is communicating. Not necessarily the lyrics of the song, but the mood of the song. Maybe Marina would be willing to work with her.
Besides, the interpretations I've seen of St. James Infirmary haven't been too satisfactory. Grischuk/Platov made it look like spousal abuse, and Maria Butyrskaya's short didn't convey blues, it looked more like Carmen set to blues (she was trying to be a seductive temptress).
[/B]

 

[ibauer]

I'd like to see her try it, if only for a change of pace.

 

[jenaj]

Here is a tape of her skate to the Bartok (The Miraculous Mandarin, not Mandolin, by the way):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWarys9kuzM

I can't imagine many other ladies trying music like this, and I give credit to Michelle for taking it on. Some of the footwork is really innovative, and the movements all work exceedingly well with the rather hectic music. But if she had done this instead of Song of the Black Swan at Worlds, it would have been our loss. I like Blades of Passion's idea of its maybe taking the place of the 2005 Bolero program. I've never found Bolero to be a really interesting piece. (Exception: when Torvill and Dean skated to it!) There's a lot of other Ravel music that's way more compelling. In terms of music expressing passion, I'll take the Liebestod from Wagner's opera Tristan and Isolde or the balcony scene from Prokofiev's ballet Romeo and Juliet over Bolero every time. At least the Bartok would have given Kwan originality and intricacy for her program.

I can't say I'm a fan of this music, but Michelle's interpretation was very interesting. She looked absolutely beautiful and it brought out a whole new side to her--mature, and sexy!

 

[jenaj]

Here is the CoP written form as well:

2Axel+2Axel, SEQ
3Flip+2Toe+2Loop
3Lutz+2Toe
FUSp2
CCoSp2
3Flip x
3Sal x
SpSq3
3Lutz x
SlSt2
3Toe x
FCoSp2
CCoSp2

Base Value - 60.28 (this is higher than both Slutskaya and Cohen at Worlds that year)

Effect on our hearts, minds, and souls - Infinite

Did Michelle ever do the 3F in combination? I can't recall it. What about a 3Lutz-2loop like she did in her Bolero at Campbell's in '04? I think Michelle did a 2A-2A in her Rondo Capriciosso program--at Nationals as I recall. Can't remember if she did it at Worlds (or if RC was the program).

ETA--I just say your post, Blades, about Michelle's 3F combo at '05 Worlds. Will have to check that out.

 

[Serious Business]

Interpreting Blues music takes a lot of maturity. Do you think these teenagers can manage that? (Facial grimacing wont do.)

Her current SP, Summertime, starts as a blues number. Gershwin's aria is, at heart, a blues song. Does she pull it off? Nope.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Her current SP, Summertime, starts as a blues number. Gershwin's aria is, at heart, a blues song. Does she pull it off? Nope.

Indeed Summertime is a Blues but she didn't grasp the essence of that music. She did skate well to it, but there was nothing about the resignation-of-life that the music demands. Not her fault. I don't believe anyskater today could do a real New Orleans Blues number.

 

[ibauer]

"Summertime" is actually an aria. It does not fit the classic 12-bar blues format.

 

[Nadine]

Earlier this evening I had the pleasure of watching Rachael's latest interview on IN, what a treat (btw I have to say her speaking ability is incredible, totally self-possessed & articulate)!!!! :thumbsup:

As always, she sounds confident, relaxed, and eager to show off her two new planned elements ~ a 2A/3T combo. & a 3L/3R combo. ~ her enthusiasm has me excited as well, can't believe Nationals starts in a few days, with the highlight being the Mens & Ladies programs starting in one week! arty:

Lol, this brings me back in a way to how I felt when Sarah Hughes changed some of her music at the last minute before the 2002 Olympics ~ to debut it at the Olympics took a lot of guts & total self-confidence in one's ability, and now I see those same qualities in Rachael. ^)

 

[Tonichelle]

Indeed Summertime is a Blues but she didn't grasp the essence of that music. She did skate well to it, but there was nothing about the resignation-of-life that the music demands. Not her fault. I don't believe anyskater today could do a real New Orleans Blues number.

hmmm... well... my favorite program to the song Summertime also doesn't give me that feel... but, then, I don't think that's what Sasha Zhulin's choreography called for

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=froSWG-VX8I

one of Kurt's best... and it's not a litteral interp of the song, but it completely follows the flow of the music... me likes.

 

[Olympia]

Mmmm! That Browning program is one of the greats. You're right, it's not a beaten-down-by-life version. One of the great things about Gershwin, and this song in particular, is that the music is so rich that it can go in many directions and convey many moods. What a treat to watch!

 

[Tonichelle]

Mmmm! That Browning program is one of the greats. You're right, it's not a beaten-down-by-life version. One of the great things about Gershwin, and this song in particular, is that the music is so rich that it can go in many directions and convey many moods. What a treat to watch!

glad you liked watching the clip... this program is actually one of the first ones I remember as being Kurt's (though the first one I ever remember watching was Rocket Man...)

 

[Blades of Passion]

Rachael's program wasn't trying to be a beaten-down-by-life version either. The ridicule for the very fitting "taking off my clothes" pantomime, although a separate issue from what you're talking about, was also misplaced. The program was about a carefree young woman's growth into a more developed and confident individual (including sexually). "Summertime and the living is easy". Rachael just graduated High School and was normally supposed to be starting college as a freshman this year. She didn't, which for the first time in her life meant she wasn't thinking about SCHOOL during the summer. With her newfound maturity as a high school graduate, she probably went on dates and had fun when not training during the summer.

It was a nice program; had an interesting viewpoint. She should have kept it. Her Long Program is what needs to be ditched. Totally boring. Such a big mistake to spend time trying to train the 3Lutz-3Loop as well. I feel that she will fail to pull off "East of Eden" not because she doesn't have the ability potentially, but because she clearly is making all the wrong decisions this season and not paying attention to the things she needs to improve on that would allow her to make "East of Eden" an inspirational performance.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

"Summertime" is actually an aria. It does not fit the classic 12-bar blues format.

Good news, Ibauer. I didn't know a Blues was formatted into 12 bars.

By calling it an Aria, you are not saying that it is a separate type of differentiating music, but an Opera specific form like Visi D'Arte. I think there are different types of Arias in Opera. Certainly in Carmen, alone, there are several different rythyms. One can not call them all Arias musically.

 

[Mathman]

Did Michelle ever do the 3F in combination?

Besides Bolero, the original version of Aranjuez had a 3F/2T combination. She did it at 2002 Skate America and I think at Cambell's that year.