Watched this new 'Roxanne' documentary yesterday - and I have to say that the way they describe this whole process of getting the idea of 'Moulin Rouge' program into reality makes me respect them even more. It was never about making everybody to love it, it was more about make people to understand it, the choice, decision and what came with all of it next.
The most important thing that grew up in my perception of this FS, now confirmed by them in the documentary, is an equal amount of passion, dedication and conviction represented both by the program choice and the execution of it; to be honest, I have never seen them like this in their entire career, never in Olympic season for sure, this... comfortable and in control of EVERY aspect of their work, radiating this kind of ownership, understanding, compassion for each other and responsibility of making this program as closest to their own vision as they can. There is just such a difference this time around, comparing to pre-Sochi time - and that's for me mainly due to this sticking to themselves, 'owning' the idea, having this renewed purpose, boundary to surpass in their own perspective. What's interesting for me is this 'acceptance' unspoken got from them about the risk factor of choosing 'Moulin Rouge' - they were fully aware that the music was use a lot in figure skating and that this was not an idea backed by their team, yet they stood by it, trusting themselves. And I think that they succeeded in a form of making the music and theme submit to their own way they wanted to tell it - as the aim was definitely not to make everybody happy all around; I feel that this was more about distancing from all their previous work done and experience acquired to pursue more personal/individual route competition-wise in terms of giving a chance to the concept they believed in and evolving, growing it, mastering to the point of getting out the intensity and passion level they envisioned.
Moreover, the whole design of the dance really mirrors Scott's words that when he listens to 'Moulin Rouge', he thinks of Tessa - and he really means it by every single move and gesture. I think that feelings they have for each other are perfectly displayed by the program - there is a variety of emotions shown and they are both very engaged into showing it to the world, but to each other, too. They are really not afraid to make this as a physical, provocative and bold experience in both dramatic and lyrical aesthetics - I very much like this impression of self-establishing the sense of performance decorum for this FD each time they perform it, this decisive stamp put over the music, movement and expression's integration saying that they chose it and this is their responsibility to rule above the weight of the music and theme, to take a chance of it regardless of any response. Based on their words said in documentary, I sense that it is the goal now not to exactly/only see a beauty or a beauty defined in certain way personified by the program, but to experience it in other sense, not literal or obvious; it is also about digging deeper into perception, connecting, operating in a high intensity levels of personal involvement into material, not exactly equating into universal appeal, collective applause.
Is this their best work ever? I don't know. What I feel though us that material in this very season seems quite different from what they're done, yet feels custom made and powerful fueled mostly by their personal belief and input into it. It never ceases to amaze me that a team with 20 plus years of being together still has a desire to develop and try something new, to risk things in the eye of the public, pushing through ideas against your own coaches. The programs this season will stay under debate, considered mostly as too much and not worth the risk - it is important though to understand that the 'risk' was taken consciously and with ownership to follow, which then is confirmed by the documentary. They were aware by making those choices that they won't get public appraisal, so they focused on getting it in their own perspective on the first place, which in my opinion led them to the evolution journey with 'Moulin Rouge' FD, pushing it to the new grounds.
I'm also rooting for T&S for them big time.
and they look fierce in that rhumba pattern!
