arakwafan2006
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,907
This was one of the first TSL’s where I disagreed with what they were saying about last weekend’s competition.
Hubbell/Donohue- The short dance, where they ripped off you know who’s music, I don’t feel anything Latin about this dance. Zack is not really in character to me and Madison’s face is the same as it is in every other dance that they do. I think that this dance should be scintillating with a sultry feeling and it’s not there for me. I’m not sure if what I described is within their range anyway. The free dance is just ok but nothing special(yet). I think that Madison should be the full on star of this team, even more than she is.One thing that bothers me about them is that Zack brings a bit of a corniness to this team that makes me feel like he’s not quite matured yet. TSL described it as “ the guy that would drink milk right out of the carton in front of the fridge”. I know what they meant. The masculine assertiveness is not there on the ice. I actually think that Zack holds the key that unlocks the door that gets them to the next level. You hear of powerful women playing an alter ego on stage. Men can as well. Zack needs to. We have seen when his energy is TOO much and he cannot control (Olympics) it while other times, i wonder if he’s mentally present while he’s performing. I’m sure the name of the game at this point in the season is just getting the material out there but where i do NOT see the needed improvement with these two is in their body line and posture or their ability to be convincing in the delivery of their manterial. Also, Zack should consider another male dancer for inspiration because when he copies Cizeron, it doesn’t work for him. I guess i think that the free could be nice but i’m still struggling to see who they are as a team. They may also consider creating a narrative about the free that uses R&J as a non conventional Romeo and Juliet. Almost like “ we choreographed this listening to what we hear in the music without trying to tell the traditional story people are used to.
Guignard/Fabbri- TSL almost talked about them as if their performance was a fine time for a bathroom break but I thought it was a marked improvement from last season and I liked both pieces. These two look like they’ve worked ALL summer and look ready to tangle it up with the top 5 in the world. The Tango was lovely, to me and the free looked like it will be memorable. Seeing Barbara Fusar-Poli was good as well. I’m glad they’re sticking with her.
Shoma- sigh. Well, now that Daisuke is coming back, now who’s he gonna copy? I don’t like the suggestion that Dave and Jon gave of him going to Benoit, at all. I don’t find his work to be sophisticated in the least and he’s made a career for himself of working with the less capable and choreographing to where they are as opposed to making them step it up. I’m already puzzled as to why Dai went to him but I’ll wait to judge. I love Marie France’s choreography and voice in dance but to me, her singles and pair’s choreography leaves a lot to be desired. First of all, the Moonlight Sonata looked like a whole bunch of back crossovers. His jump landings that don’t flow bother me as well. They look painful! I could not hear the short program because of copyright but i’m doubtful. We shall see. All in all, I don’t think his skating is memorable nor do I think that he trains consistently. He does seem really likable as a person. He has awesome qualities but it’s like what the hell with the programs. Lori doesn’t have a top man right now... just saying. I also think he needs a more refined point of view. I know who Nathan is. I know who Yuzuru is. Shoma... not so much.
Gabby Daleman- I do agree with TSl on her. Listen, she does jumping better (in practice) than the other ladies and should own that. It’s a gift. Gabby should be blasting a Lutz/Toe and probably a Triple Axel or a Quad of some type but she seems to have regressed since her world’s performance where she medaled. The vocals in the Carmen are unbearable and her phrasing to the music is worse. There is way too much going on in the music for her interpretive ability anyway and it’s the wrong Carmen for her. I get why they chose the free music but Gabby CLEARLY never studied the character; that pink dress, the crinkly ponytail. WTF? I know that nobody else cares but the Edea’s look like casts on her feet and because they’re so bulky and HIDEOUS with the X-Men Wolverine gashes, they also detract from her already questionable line and elegance. She seems like the nicest person when i see her on social media and, she CLEARLY has the whole seductive thing down. Why that does not translate to the ice is beyond me. Given the amount of time she says she’s in the gym, the altitude was killing her at the event as she was gasping so hard waiting on her scores i wondered if she could even hear them. She should indeed own her inner Tonya Harding and go for it. She can jump +5 scores, for sure.
Cain/Leduc- they look better trained but he’s so kind of silly and feminine/soft that it looks like two friends working on a cheer routine. I do have to say, the side by side Loops are brilliant. While TSL thinks they cannot go far, i think that if they keep working they will! She needs to clean up her lines and really crank up her presentation. He does as well.
Elizaveta Tuk- she’s clearly thought long and hard about what she wants because she looks like she’s gunning for Russia’s 3rd spot and is willing to do the work to get there. This was in my opinion her best attempt at skating all the choreography of a program. She desperately needs the Triple Axel and a Lutz/Toe to be competitive.
Hubbell/Donohue- The short dance, where they ripped off you know who’s music, I don’t feel anything Latin about this dance. Zack is not really in character to me and Madison’s face is the same as it is in every other dance that they do. I think that this dance should be scintillating with a sultry feeling and it’s not there for me. I’m not sure if what I described is within their range anyway. The free dance is just ok but nothing special(yet). I think that Madison should be the full on star of this team, even more than she is.One thing that bothers me about them is that Zack brings a bit of a corniness to this team that makes me feel like he’s not quite matured yet. TSL described it as “ the guy that would drink milk right out of the carton in front of the fridge”. I know what they meant. The masculine assertiveness is not there on the ice. I actually think that Zack holds the key that unlocks the door that gets them to the next level. You hear of powerful women playing an alter ego on stage. Men can as well. Zack needs to. We have seen when his energy is TOO much and he cannot control (Olympics) it while other times, i wonder if he’s mentally present while he’s performing. I’m sure the name of the game at this point in the season is just getting the material out there but where i do NOT see the needed improvement with these two is in their body line and posture or their ability to be convincing in the delivery of their manterial. Also, Zack should consider another male dancer for inspiration because when he copies Cizeron, it doesn’t work for him. I guess i think that the free could be nice but i’m still struggling to see who they are as a team. They may also consider creating a narrative about the free that uses R&J as a non conventional Romeo and Juliet. Almost like “ we choreographed this listening to what we hear in the music without trying to tell the traditional story people are used to.
Guignard/Fabbri- TSL almost talked about them as if their performance was a fine time for a bathroom break but I thought it was a marked improvement from last season and I liked both pieces. These two look like they’ve worked ALL summer and look ready to tangle it up with the top 5 in the world. The Tango was lovely, to me and the free looked like it will be memorable. Seeing Barbara Fusar-Poli was good as well. I’m glad they’re sticking with her.
Shoma- sigh. Well, now that Daisuke is coming back, now who’s he gonna copy? I don’t like the suggestion that Dave and Jon gave of him going to Benoit, at all. I don’t find his work to be sophisticated in the least and he’s made a career for himself of working with the less capable and choreographing to where they are as opposed to making them step it up. I’m already puzzled as to why Dai went to him but I’ll wait to judge. I love Marie France’s choreography and voice in dance but to me, her singles and pair’s choreography leaves a lot to be desired. First of all, the Moonlight Sonata looked like a whole bunch of back crossovers. His jump landings that don’t flow bother me as well. They look painful! I could not hear the short program because of copyright but i’m doubtful. We shall see. All in all, I don’t think his skating is memorable nor do I think that he trains consistently. He does seem really likable as a person. He has awesome qualities but it’s like what the hell with the programs. Lori doesn’t have a top man right now... just saying. I also think he needs a more refined point of view. I know who Nathan is. I know who Yuzuru is. Shoma... not so much.
Gabby Daleman- I do agree with TSl on her. Listen, she does jumping better (in practice) than the other ladies and should own that. It’s a gift. Gabby should be blasting a Lutz/Toe and probably a Triple Axel or a Quad of some type but she seems to have regressed since her world’s performance where she medaled. The vocals in the Carmen are unbearable and her phrasing to the music is worse. There is way too much going on in the music for her interpretive ability anyway and it’s the wrong Carmen for her. I get why they chose the free music but Gabby CLEARLY never studied the character; that pink dress, the crinkly ponytail. WTF? I know that nobody else cares but the Edea’s look like casts on her feet and because they’re so bulky and HIDEOUS with the X-Men Wolverine gashes, they also detract from her already questionable line and elegance. She seems like the nicest person when i see her on social media and, she CLEARLY has the whole seductive thing down. Why that does not translate to the ice is beyond me. Given the amount of time she says she’s in the gym, the altitude was killing her at the event as she was gasping so hard waiting on her scores i wondered if she could even hear them. She should indeed own her inner Tonya Harding and go for it. She can jump +5 scores, for sure.
Cain/Leduc- they look better trained but he’s so kind of silly and feminine/soft that it looks like two friends working on a cheer routine. I do have to say, the side by side Loops are brilliant. While TSL thinks they cannot go far, i think that if they keep working they will! She needs to clean up her lines and really crank up her presentation. He does as well.
Elizaveta Tuk- she’s clearly thought long and hard about what she wants because she looks like she’s gunning for Russia’s 3rd spot and is willing to do the work to get there. This was in my opinion her best attempt at skating all the choreography of a program. She desperately needs the Triple Axel and a Lutz/Toe to be competitive.
. All I'm saying is that knowledge is not exclusively limited to experience. Obviously you'd place more value in an opinion that is derived from experience (a high level skater or coach); however, that doesn't mean the person who knows the theoretical application yet lacks the practical knowledge is wrong in their critique.
