Who do you think excelled at certain moves/elements of skating (spins, spirals, etc)?

[berrycute]

I think that Phoenix meant that what Scheherezade was doing was trying to stay alive by telling a story each night. If you remember, the story was that the Prince married a succession of women and then put each one to death the next day. Scheherezade, his latest wife, started telling stories, leaving the end off so the Prince would keep her alive until the next night. This went on for--you guessed it--a thousand and one nights. By that time, the story goes, the prince had fallen in love with his clever storyteller wife, and he mended his Bluebeard-ish ways.

This is why each movement of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherezade has a different title, such as "The Tale of Prince Kalendar" (the second movement) and "The Tale of the Prince and the Princess" (the third movement). The movements depict different stories that Scheherezade told. Scheherezade is a wonderful amalgam of a symphony (having four movements) and a bit of a violin concerto (the violin soloist conveys the voice of the storyteller). There's a reason this piece is such a "warhorse." It's such a compelling and gorgeous musical work that, like the fictional lady who inspired it, its storytelling skill will always leave listeners asking for more.

Ah ok I understand, Pheonix meant "she" as in Scheherezade and not "she" as in Miki Ando. I still think Scheherezade is supposed to be the temptress, in the ballet I saw with Rimsky-Korsakov's music she is willfully trying to seduce the Prince while telling him the stories.

 

[prettykeys]

My favourite Scheherazade is YuNa, but I didn't want to say so because I haven't seen all the other Scheherazades.

My conception of Scheherazade is not exactly that of a "temptress." She wasn't just trying to trick or lure the Prince into bedding her--he had no problems doing this with her or any other lady of his kingdom. Instead, she is a heroine (apparently by her own will, she volunteered to be the Prince's next bride to try to save her kingdom or the other maidens); had the intelligence to not only outwit the Prince's "game" but also to tell 1000+ stories/teachings/philosophies; and in the end, won his love. Someone who embodies Scheherazade should be beguiling and soulful while also depicting noble intelligence (i.e. not overly emotional ), and fearlessness--unafraid of facing potential death at the whim of someone whose political power is above hers.

Miki did a good job! She was fierce and feminine, and her SP ended triumphantly. But it was short for a story and a masterpiece of music that are so epic. It felt more like a trailer than a movie.

 

[herro]

Nicole Bobek's spirals were absolutely stunning too.

Also, Peggy Flemming's spread eagle into a double axel (then spread eagle coming out as well) was so beautiful in the past. Her double axels had so much height. Her laybacks are breathtaking too. Oh I miss the simple, graceful skating of the past

 

[Olympia]

My favourite Scheherazade is YuNa, but I didn't want to say so because I haven't seen all the other Scheherazades.

My conception of Scheherazade is not exactly that of a "temptress." She wasn't just trying to trick or lure the Prince into bedding her--he had no problems doing this with her or any other lady of his kingdom. Instead, she is a heroine (apparently by her own will, she volunteered to be the Prince's next bride to try to save her kingdom or the other maidens); had the intelligence to not only outwit the Prince's "game" but also to tell 1000+ stories/teachings/philosophies; and in the end, won his love. Someone who embodies Scheherazade should be beguiling and soulful while also depicting noble intelligence (i.e. not overly emotional ), and fearlessness--unafraid of facing potential death at the whim of someone whose political power is above hers.

Miki did a good job! She was fierce and feminine, and her SP ended triumphantly. But it was short for a story and a masterpiece of music that are so epic. It felt more like a trailer than a movie.

That's a lovely description of the character of Scheherezade! And I think the music supports your theory, with its sweep and warmth. It's not the music of a temptress to me, either.

As for my favorite skating rendition of it, I'm not sure I can choose! Michelle Kwan did a lovely job, and I have fond memories of Blumberg and Siebert. John Curry also skated to it--I remember getting gooseflesh while watching, but nothing specific. I'll hunt up the YouTubes of them all and review.

Prettykeys, I know what you mean in your last paragraph. It's so difficult to give a complete narrative shape to a piece of music that has of necessity been cut down so drastically. That's one of the frustrations of seeing skaters use classical music: even the best music is not always expertly cut and tailored into shape.

 

[janetfan]

Here is a program I still remember - Kristi winning Natls in '92.
I like the flow and musicality of her skating, the choreo and the pacing of the program.

If we had a category for "best memories" this would be high on my list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJNs1esR0_Y

 

[Kwanford Wife]

I love these types of threads...

SPINS:
Best Spinner ----- Lucinda Ruh
Best Forward Camel ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Back Camel ----- Sasha Cohen
Best Donut ----- Oksana Baiul
Best Back Sit ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Forward Sit ----- Alissa Czisny
Best Classic Layback ----- Caroline Zhang
Best Catch-Foot Layback ----- Alissa Czisny
Best Bielman ----- Irina
Best “I” Position ----- Sasha Cohen

SPIRALS:
Best Spiraler ----- Nicole Bobeck
Best Classic Spiral ----- Nicole Bobeck
Best Bielman Spiral ----- ?? (but i don't like the bielman spiral...)
Best Charlotte ----- Michelle Kwan
Best “I” Position ----- Alissa Czisny
Best COE Spiral --- Michelle Kwan
Best Spiral from the Boot Down --- Irina
(I always loved watching Sasha do a spiral, but her edges weren't the deepest)

MOVES IN THE FIELD – (other than spirals):
Best Ina Bauer ----- Shizuka Arikawa
Best Spread Eagle ----- Shizuka Arikawa

LEAPS:
Best Falling Split Leap ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Russian Split Leap ----- Sasha Cohen
Best Hydroblading ----- Michelle Kwan

JUMPS:
Best Jumper ----- Irina
Best Height ----- Midori Ito
Best Double Axel ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Triple Axel ----- Tonya Harding w/ Ito a close second (leg wrap)
Best Triple Loop ----- Miki Ando
Best Triple Salchow ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Triple Flip -----
Best Triple Lutz -----
Best Triple Toe Loop ----- Michelle Kwan

OTHER ELEMENTS:
Best Toe Point ----- Naomi Nari Nam
Best Turn Out ----- Sasha Cohen
Best Positions in General ----- Sasha Cohen
Best Straightline Footwork ----- Kwan (Tosca) / Cohen (Tat's Swan Lake)

ARTISTRY:
Best Emotional Interpretation ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Music/Repertoire ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Grace of Movement ----- Ann Patrice McDonough
Best Gentleness ----- Yukina Ota
Best Lyrical Quality ----- Yukina Ota
Best Oozing Quality ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Tension ----- Sasha Cohen
Best Intesity ----- Katarina Witt
Best Exuberance ----- Irina
Best Flow ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Arm Movement ----- Oksana Baiul
Best Balletic Movement ----- Oksana Baiul

CHARACTERS:
Best as Carmen ----- Katarina Witt (do we even count other Carmens?)
Best as Roxie from Chicago ----- Jennifer Kirk
Best as Scheherazade ----- Michelle Kwan / Miki Ando
Best as Ballerina from Swan Lake ----- Oksana Baiul / Sasha Cohen (Tat's Version)
Best as Ballerina from Nutcracker ----- Jennifer Kirk
Best as Tosca --- Michelle Kwan

DRESS/HAIR/MAKEUP:
Best Dressed ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Hair ----- Dorothy Hamell
Best Make Up --- ??

 

[berrycute]

Did Jenny Kirk do the Nutcracker? I would like to see that, what season was it?

And on Carmen, yes I agree Katarina is the definitive Carmen but to my mind Sasha and Michelle did good jobs too (the thing that held Michelle back in my mind was the costume, basic black and a bit boring! But loved that step sequence and high kicks at the end!).

 

[berrycute]

PS Best Step Sequence is a good addition! My vote: Carolina Kostner (2007-8 Riders in the Storm program), peerless! (in my opinion)

 

[Kwanford Wife]

Did Jenny Kirk do the Nutcracker? I would like to see that, what season was it?

And on Carmen, yes I agree Katarina is the definitive Carmen but to my mind Sasha and Michelle did good jobs too (the thing that held Michelle back in my mind was the costume, basic black and a bit boring! But loved that step sequence and high kicks at the end!).

Yes! Her debut season... red sparkly dress... she was still dancing at that point and it showed...

 

[berrycute]

Yes! Her debut season... red sparkly dress... she was still dancing at that point and it showed...

Thanks! I found it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sv0tHeq2vs

She looks very pretty, as always, but I don't think this is as good as the Sasha version. The Pas de Deux is the highlight of the show IMO, but Jenny used a patchwork of other bits of music from the show so it didn't really have the same choreographic flow.

 

[gio]

JUMPS:
Best Jumper ----- Midori Ito (even if with that leg wrap)
Best Height ----- Midori Ito
Best Double Axel ----- Sarah Hughes
Best Triple Axel ----- Tonya Harding
Best Triple Loop ----- Yuka Sato (lovely)
Best Triple Salchow ----- Surya Bonaly (she could add one even after a back flip)
Best Triple Flip ----- not sure if Michelle Kwan or Irina Slutskaya, I'll say Tatyana Malinina
Best Triple Lutz ----- Julia Sebestyen (when she was on)
Best Triple Toe Loop ----- Elaine Zayak

 

[Bartek]

SPINS:
Best Spinner ----- Lucinda Ruh
Best Donut ----- Yukari Nakano
Best Bielman ----- Irina
Best “I” Position ----- Sasha Cohen

SPIRALS:
Best Spiraler ----- Sasha Cohen
Best Classic Spiral ----- Sasha Cohen
Best Bielman Spiral ----- Irina
Best Charlotte ----- Sasha Cohen
Best “I” Position ----- Sasha Cohen
Best COE Spiral --- Michelle Kwan
Best Spiral from the Boot Down --- Irina

MOVES IN THE FIELD – (other than spirals):
Best Ina Bauer ----- Shizuka Arikawa
Best Spread Eagle ----- Shizuka Arikawa

LEAPS:
Best Falling Split Leap ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Russian Split Leap ----- Sasha Cohen
Best Hydroblading ----- Michelle Kwan

JUMPS:
Best Jumper ----- Irina
Best Height ----- Midori Ito
Best Double Axel ----- Yu-Na Kim
Best Triple Axel ----- Mao Asada
Best Triple Loop ----- Irina (with those three-turns)
Best Triple Salchow -----
Best Triple Flip -----
Best Triple Lutz ----- Julia Sebestyen
Best Triple Toe Loop ----- Michelle Kwan

ARTISTRY:
Best Emotional Interpretation ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Music/Repertoire ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Grace of Movement ----- Yu-Na Kim
Best Tension ----- Sasha Cohen
Best Exuberance ----- Irina
Best Flow ----- Michelle Kwan
Best Arm Movement ----- Yu-Na Kim
Best Balletic Movement ----- Oksana Baiul

CHARACTERS:
Best as Carmen ----- Katarina Witt
Best as Scheherazade ----- Yu-Na Kim
Best as Ballerina from Swan Lake ----- Sasha Cohen (Tat's Version)
Best as Tosca --- Irina

DRESS/HAIR/MAKEUP:
Best Dressed ----- Sarah Meier
Best Hair ----- Kiira korpi
Best Make Up --- ??

 

[jenaj]

Here are the ones about which there should be no debate:

Best COE Spiral: Michelle
Best I Spin: Sasha
Best Split Falling Leaf: Michelle
Best Ina Bauer: Shizuka
Best Triple Axel: Midori Ito

 

[ImaginaryPogue]

Would someone be willing to do this for the men?

 

[blasphemy45]

Here's my list for the Men

FOOTWORK:
Best Footworker ----- Alexei Yagudin

SPINS:
Best Spinner ----- Stephane Lambiel
Best Forward Camel ----- Jeffrey Buttle
Best Back Camel ----- Jeffrey Buttle
Best Donut ----- ?
Best Back Sit ----- Evan Lysacek
Best Forward Sit ----- Evan Lysacek
Best Bielman ----- ?
Best “I” Position ----- Shawn Sawyer
Best Back Scratch ----- Stephane Lambiel (especially his headless one)
Best Forward Scratch ----- ?

SPIRALS:
Best Spiraler ----- Shawn Sawyer
Best Classic Spiral ----- Shawn Sawyer
Best Bielman Spiral ----- ?
Best “I” Position ----- Shawn Sawyer

MOVES IN THE FIELD – (other than spirals):
Best Ina Bauer ----- Shawn Sawyer or Jeffrey Buttle
Best Spread Eagler ----- Paul Wylie
Best Spread Eagle (Inside Edge) ----- Jeffrey Buttle
Best Spread Eagle (Outside Edge) ----- Brian Boitano

LEAPS:
Best Falling Split Leap ----- ?
Best Russian Split Leap ----- ?
Best Hydroblading ----- ?

JUMPS:
Best Jumper ----- Brian Joubert or Evgeni Plushenko
Best Height ----- Ryan Bradley
Best Triple Axel ----- Brian Joubert
Best Triple Loop ----- ?
Best Triple Salchow ----- Timothy Goebel
Best Quad Salchow ----- Brian Joubert
Best Triple Flip ----- Evan Lysacek
Best Triple Lutz ----- Brian Joubert
Best Triple Toe Loop ----- ?
Best Quad Toe Loop ----- Brian Joubert

OTHER ELEMENTS:
Best Toe Point ----- ?
Best Turn Out ----- ?
Best Positions in General ----- ?

ARTISTRY:
Best Emotional Interpretation ----- Alexander Abt
Best Expression ----- Fedor Andreev
Best Music/Repertoire ----- Matthew Savoie
Best Lightness ----- Jeffrey Buttle
Best Intesity ----- Emmanuel Sandhu
Best Flow ----- Todd Eldredge

CHARACTERS:
?

DRESS/HAIR/MAKEUP:
Best Dressed ----- Jeffrey Buttle
Best Hair ----- Fedor Andreev
Best Makeup ----- Emmanuel Sandhu

 

[Spun Silver]

Fab!

You left out Best Oozing Quality! How about Johnny for that?

Also, if we added best Shoot the Duck (if that's the right term)? I think I've only ever seen Johnny do it and it was goooorgeous, so I'll give him that one too.

P.S. Kurt Browning & John Curry have to go on the list. Not sure where at the moment, though...

ETA: Just to show my broadmindedness, ITA about Lysacek for sit spins. Overall he's far from a favorite of mine, but I gotta give him credit for that one.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

Fab!

You left out Best Oozing Quality! How about Johnny for that?

Also, if we added best Shoot the Duck (if that's the right term)? I think I've only ever seen Johnny do it and it was goooorgeous, so I'll give him that one too.

P.S. Kurt Browning & John Curry have to go on the list. Not sure where at the moment, though...

Definately give Johnny best ooze... Kurt had great footwork as a pro. And I TOTALLY agree with EMan getting best make-up... he's also high up there for best "I'm not a serial killer, I just play on ice" starting position stare...very intense...

 

[gourry]

Best lutz(men)-Vaughn Chipeur

 

[blasphemy45]

Ryan Jahnke and Ryan Bradley

I can't believe I forgot about Ryan Jahnke and Ryan Bradley.

Best Expressiveness ----- Ryan Jahnke
Best Performer ----- Ryan Bradley

Also:

Best upside down V spin ----- Nobunari Oda

 

[Wicked]

I would add a Best Arm Movements Category and give that to Johnny.