Who is "unconventional"?

[Landing]

I am definitely not a figure skating fan, but I guess I need fans' help this time. I have noticed a performace of Enigma's remix by Kerr duo at this year's Worlds that seemed to me rather unconventional for figure skating. All I want is to ask those who are watching figure skating for years: could you name skaters and performances that could be also described as "unconventional"?

 

[iluvtodd]

I would say Gary Beacom, Ilia Klimkin, & the current French dance team Pechelat & Bourzat.

 

[gio]

I'll say Laetitia Hubert "prostitute on crack" program was pretty unconventional.

 

[MarieM]

The Kerrs would be unconventionnal had Gritshuk and Platov not done this same program in 1992

 

[gkelly]

It wasn't the same program. The only similarities I can see are the costumes.


In addition to those mentioned above, others to check out if you can find video:

Isabelle & Paul Duchesnay (Canadian/French ice dancers, late 80s-early 90s)

Allen Schramm (US, early 80s)
Norbert Schramm (West Germany, early 80s)
Dmitri Dmitrenko (Ukraine, 1990s; esp. ca. 1995-97)
Laurent Tobel (France, late 90s)
Stanick Jeannette (France, late 90s-early 2000s)
Alban Preaubert (France, current)
(seems to be a trend with French guys, although they each have their own brands of unconventionality)

Olga Markova (Russia; esp. her 1994 programs)
Vanessa Gusmeroli (France; circus long program, 1996 and '97)
Krisztina Czako (Hungary, mid-late 1990s)

 

[MarieM]

It wasn't the same program. The only similarities I can see are the costumes.

Same idea, same choreography althought the elements required disturbed it a bit The music was chosen to be a lot more actual and TADA ! Same program It didn't matter for me since it was one of G&P's best program IMO.

You forgot the Finns Rakkhamo / Kokko whose choreographer was amazing (he worked with DelSchoen this year on the Piano FD).
D. Deniaud / Martial Jaffreido (with Marotel) were unconventionnal.
Martial is now the choreographer of Blanc / Bouquet.

Petr Barna CZE was also a good example of very good choreography.

 

[gkelly]

Same idea, same choreography

I'll have to watch both programs again together, but I don't remember any similar much less same choreography -- the most memorable portions of the Kerrs' program are lifts and characters that I don't remember having seen before in any program, much less that specific program. And the music is definitely different.

You forgot the Finns Rakkhamo / Kokko whose choreographer was amazing (he worked with DelSchoen this year on the Piano FD).

Yes, I did forget them. Another of my favorite teams. Thanks for the reminder -- and the info about the choreographer.

Petr Barna CZE was also a good example of very good choreography.

Well, sure. One of a number skaters over the years who had very good choreography, but not especially "unconventional." So maybe we need a separate thread, or a branch of this thread, just for good choreography in general?

 

[bondgirl]

Phillippe Candelero.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTI7gU8FnuA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5QzSh0HIAE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrTNZyuPJVY

French. Olympic bronze medalist. Competed during the80s/early90s. Very cute!! (sigh) Always original. Anyways, he was an amazing showman as well as a great skater. (Think they based the Will Farrell character in Blades of Glory partly on him.)
The really cool thing about him is that he didn't "turn off" and go dry for the competitions. Even then, he was able to get his personality into the routines.

 

[Mathman]

What about Toller Cranston?

Do exhibitions count? I would say Plushenko's "Sex Bomb" and "Big Head" were pretty unconventional!

 

[Landing]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! It'll take weeks to check it all. That's what I like so you are welcome to add some more!

Special thanks to bondgirl for video links. It's great to see at once what you mean!

Besides, MarieM and gkelly, are you talking about this program:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRlNzp_V35A

in compare with that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HicC203oUEY

?

 

[Landing]

Do exhibitions count?

YES they does!

 

[Dee4707]

Phillippe Candelero.

First person who came to my mind!!!

Dee

 

[Mathman]

Here's Plushenko.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxl_X1PbFng

Dan Hollander "Richard Simmons"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM1zTjvb7O0

I couldn't find any Irina Grigorian with her hula hoops on You Tube, but that's another variety act that's pretty cool.

 

[dorispulaski]

Rahkamo and Kokko did an Enigma number in 1995 when they were in the Pros:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrA8OJKSi6A

Beyond the Invisible.

Bestemianova & Bukin were very outrageous as pros, perhaps no more so than when performing their Rasputin dance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OuAYxDOvwM

Torvill and Dean did some amazing stuff that was unconventional for its time, but these days would just be called 'good choreo'. However in the pro ranks some of their stuff was really out there:
Oscar Tango-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKykrKh1mrk
There is no music until a minute and a half into the program, but you can tell it's a tango.
Revolution & Imagine about a couple in conflict
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJN_2LCKbeA
Their strange program to Venus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0dLTkmtQvM

The Duchesnay's 1991 Europeans FD unisex FD Reflections that so offended the judges that they brought back a revised version of their 1990 FD Missing for Worlds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5s49wH2oZo

 

[Buttercup]

Laurent Tobel (France, late 90s)
Stanick Jeannette (France, late 90s-early 2000s)
Alban Preaubert (France, current)
(seems to be a trend with French guys, although they each have their own brands of unconventionality)

Vanessa Gusmeroli (France; circus long program, 1996 and '97)

I started watching figure skating about a decade ago and it seemed as though the French were always doing something different. I particularly liked Stannick Jeannette - does anyone know what he's up to these days?

 

[Bennett]

Phillippe Candelero.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTI7gU8FnuA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5QzSh0HIAE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrTNZyuPJVY

French. Olympic bronze medalist. Competed during the80s/early90s. Very cute!! (sigh) Always original. Anyways, he was an amazing showman as well as a great skater. (Think they based the Will Farrell character in Blades of Glory partly on him.)
The really cool thing about him is that he didn't "turn off" and go dry for the competitions. Even then, he was able to get his personality into the routines.

ITA!

 

[MarieM]

I started watching figure skating about a decade ago and it seemed as though the French were always doing something different. I particularly liked Stannick Jeannette - does anyone know what he's up to these days?

Stan is working in his own company now, trying his best to promote figure skating on his latv.fr website.
He still skates at galas and at one point he was coaching someone and doing some choreography.

I bet he regrets COP didn't come before 2002 !

 

[Landing]

I mean

MarieM and gkelly, are you talking about this program:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRlNzp_V35A

in compare with that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HicC203oUEY

?

if so, Grishuk and Platov are conventional one. They are undoubtedly dancing! Kerrs... well, I wouldn't say that !

Thank you, thank you, thank you everybody for video links again!

 

[dorispulaski]

Loved Stannick. He finished 3rd at Europeans in 2001.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg-Bc-hPOXo
SP 2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSDnqniPHLI&feature=related
LP 2001

His website used to have a quote from, I think, his coach, that Stannick would be a great skater if the little pigs didn't eat him first.

 

[gio]

Can we say Denise Biellmann was unconventional back in the early 80s skating to Samba pa ti, Let me be misunderstood, House of the Rising Sun? But also in the 90s skating to techno music?