I think she already resumed it - in her latest performances one can see a very strong influence of ballet in the moves she executes. Also, I heard that in her newest commercial she plays a ballerina.
Dick Button, the most stupid commentator in FS history. He kept on ranting how poorly Lambiel skated his long program, and how he could not understand why Lambiel pumped his fist for such a 'poor' performance. Even Kurt Browning had to politely remind him it's 'not such a bad performance'. When the scores came up, it just made poor Dick look even more silly.
I am a card carrying admirerer of Stephane, I thought that Flamenco was one of the best eligible routines I have ever seen in CoP competitions. It was, for me, BRILLIANT to combine and sustain throughout the skate, the 'gitano' dance with the requisite skating tricks.
"... Esattamente. Questo flamenco - il libero, con coreografia di Antonio Najarro - è una sfida sacrosanta. Un ballo di sala su ghiaccio con dei salti (in particolare due quadrupli). È una danza con molto carattere, esige un grandissimo temperamento, degli atteggiamenti, dei gesti. Bisogna impregnarsene, mettersi nei panni dell'andaluso. Questo flamenco mi ha regalato vita, desideri, energia. Mi ha aiutato a ottenere una marcia in più nel momento in cui mi mancava."
"Questo programma indroduce delle novità. Io amo rinnovarmi, sono sempre in cerca di innovazioni. Il flamenco faceva parte di un progetto sul quale mi sono concentrato. Mi ha aperto una strada piena di belle cose. A Tokyo, gli spettatori hanno capito che cosa era successo sul ghiaccio. Ho avuto una standing ovation. Non è poco. Ho anche capito quel che avevo realizzato, che le mie attese personali si erano appena compiute. Per me, è stato enorme. Il risultato di un grande lavoro. Da qui le mie parole."
As for commentators, I do not want cheerleaders. I want someone with a trained eye help me see things I might not catch because I'm not a skater. I've learned loads from Dick Button over the years, and, for that matter, so have the skaters.
If you were to look at layback spins 15 years ago, you would see that, in general, the positions are dreadful. Dick began harping on the poor quality of the the positions, particularly the free leg, and lo and behold-- they began improving. Also 15 years ago, spirals were a throwaway move, something skaters seemed to do to rest between jump passes. In fact, I recall Kristi Yamaguchi doing a program in which the choreography called for her to look at her watch during her spiral sequence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYzzIwcIvgE
Be sure to listen to Scott Hamilton's feelings about spirals in the replays at the end. Dick began criticizing the stretch and positions in spiral sequences, and the next thing you know, we have Kwan and Cohen making spirals the showcase of their programs. AND Dick Button isn't all gloom and doom-- his compliments are frequent as well-- and if a skater receives them, he or she can be sure they're well-earned. Now all we can hope is that Dick's complaining about the overuse of the Biellmann position will result in some changes. Susie Wynne is very similar in that respect, which is why she's another of my favorite commentators. The commentary I find most annoying is gush, gush, gush with no substance. If gushing is all a commentator is going to do, I could do without!
Then, this past year, he commented that "Circular footwork is much harder than either Serpentine or Straight line in my book" (I hope I come upon that video on Youtube again). He changes his words based upon the situation so that the skater he favors looks better.
Actually, I agree with Button on that. Kimmie's is the only fan spiral that I am not embarrassed to watch.I love Uncle Dick, but I can't get over his praising Kimmie's fan spiral and even inventing a principle to explain why hers is so great (shouldn't be more than 90 degrees, or something like that) - after all his denigration of far better ones.
I think it was during Bebe's short at NationalI clearly recall him stating this. Maybe it was during Carolina Kostner's skate?
Actually, I agree with Button on that. Kimmie's is the only fan spiral that I am not embarrassed to watch.
I somewhat agree. When I watch most other ladies' fan spirals, I feel like i'm invading their comfort zones. NEVERTHELESS, I wouldn't call Kimmie's fan spiral the best just because she fails to create an embarassing situation.Actually, I agree with Button on that. Kimmie's is the only fan spiral that I am not embarrassed to watch.