Shall We Dance on Ice

[UMBS Go Blue]

I really wish I could see this show live. It sounds amazing. Unfortunately, I looked up flights, and it looks like you have to fly to Toronto and then rent a car to drive to Hamilton - about an hour.

Or, similarly, if you're from the States, fly to Buffalo, then rent a car and drive to Hamilton, about 90 minutes assuming no border delays. Depending on where you're flying from, it could actually be quite cheap to fly into Buffalo.

[paskatefan]

I wonder if Disson's behavior has anything to do with attracting a show audience?
Because that sort of TV cut makes people attend the live show to get to see the musicians/skaters full time.

But that's so unfair to all skating fans who don't live anywhere near the venues where the live shows are taking place. I'm one of those posters who has written to Disson many times, suggesting among other things, the use of the split screen, and in general not giving the skaters short shrift in the promotion of these shows (print ads, TV ads). I know I'm not the only one who has written to him about these matters, but we still get the same treatment of the skaters on TV. Doesn't he realize that there are two audiences to build on? Not to mention the company is called Disson Skating! Now, in all fairness, there are some musical performers I have enjoyed seeing in these shows (Goo Goo Dolls, Celtic Woman, Andrea Bocelli, to name a few). In fact to this date, my two favorite Disson shows were the Bocelli tribute and the first Skate for the Heart with Celtic Woman. Number one, I loved the skating casts for both shows. Number two, there was more balance between musical guests and skaters (partly also because a number of the skaters skated to at least one recorded piece of music, so there was more of a chance to see their performances completely, thank goodness). Nevertheless, I still watch these shows primarily for the skating!

Twilight, thanks for your comments on the show. I still look forward to seeing the wonderful ice dancers in the cast.

[Teenes]

It's not rocket science - a split screen, or putting the musical performers in a box (even biggish box) in the upper left corner would take care of it.

I don't disagree, I often find watching the Disson shows frustrating for the same reason, and there do seem to be fairly easy solutions. Even doing more fade-cuts, where the skating overlays the singing, would be marginally better.

I went to a Disson show last year, with the Canadian Tenors. It was absolutely fabulous. The televised version (which was the same one I attended) was crap - as usual half the performances were chopped up by panning to the singers.

Not to be pedantic, but I don't think the Canadian Tenors were in a Disson show last year. Do you mean Holiday Festival on Ice? 'Cause that was an IMG show. Disson's not the only one guilty of these edits...

Thanks for the quick rundown, Twilight1!

[Twilight1]

I feel like such a bad Canadian because I had never even heard of the Canadian Tenors. They were really good!! I wish they performed more than just the 2 songs.

[*Kim*]

If tha is V/<'s short dance Marina will have extra work untill the grand prix start.

Thanks Twilight1 fo the repost, sounded like a fun show I can't wait to see some more videos before the NBC broadcast (I miss B/A and N/B.... what they skated to?).

[Atena]

great to hear about all this teams... not a big fan of V/M short dance (?), thanks Twilight, nice report

Kim...I miss B/A too. It is great to see them doing shows, I can't wait to see their new number

[Andora]

I really liked V&M's altered SD. I was expecting much worse.

If I never see S&B's damn country OD again, it'll be too soon. Including that damn bump lift, which they did in the opening, too. I hope they drop it soon. I'm excited to see what Igor & Marina will do with them, and I enjoyed their first number quite a bit more than I thought I would.

It was so nice to see D&W's Bollywood number live! Really impressive, but their Adam Lambert number felt flat. I hope it's just because it's a new/temporary routine, because it felt like a step back as far as their relating to each other and such.

The Kerr's were great, especially their creative Mad Men number. Such a difference compared to the Zar's and their... not so brother and sister like routines.

Kurt & Shae's number was really entertaining, even twice in quick succession. In the lift Shae fell on, it looked like Kurt accidentally knocked her down. He made numerous references to his recent house fire, both head on and joking. "It's not like I burned down my house or anything." Good for him.

The stage dancers were really fantastic for the most part, and only distracting when the skating wasn't especially exciting. (One of N&B's numbers, D&W's Lambert number) Really enjoyable show on the whole.

[MarieM]

V/M's SD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LGYoYG4QLM

Ouch.

[~tapdancer~]

V/M's SD was a no-go for me, too. You could tell it was modified for the show since the GW sequence wasn't complete. I don't like the music much, waltz was ok but not the tango. I know this will improve for them, but what I saw was blah. Thanks for the report, Twilight!

[alilou]

Not to be pedantic, but I don't think the Canadian Tenors were in a Disson show last year. Do you mean Holiday Festival on Ice? 'Cause that was an IMG show. Disson's not the only one guilty of these edits...

Oops! My bad. I just presumed it was part of the Disson line-up because of the way it was shown on TV. Now must go search my tapes for it so I can find out who to write to..........

I feel like such a bad Canadian because I had never even heard of the Canadian Tenors. They were really good!! I wish they performed more than just the 2 songs.

I am thrilled to hear they only performed 2 songs. It gives me hope that we'll see more complete skating routines on TV (not that I don't like the Cdn Tenors or anything).

Twilight1 and Andora - thanks for the reports

[Frau Muller]

I was excited...then I saw that it's a Disson show. (boo!)

[Cloudy_Gumdrops]

Thanks for the reviews.

I hope that isn't the final version of V&M's SD, cause if it is...

[skatesindreams]

Would you rather have no skating on Network TV, other than what little competition coverage we get?
Without Disson, that's your option. Facing that, I'll accept their shows.

[luckiest1]

I went to a taping of Holiday On Ice a few years back, in Las Vegas. For me, it was win-win, because I love skating and I loved the musical act (Clay Aiken). I'd estimate that there were a couple hundred Clay Aiken fans in the sections closest to the stage. Of course, when it aired, they thought he didn't get enough time on-screen. Conversely, I'm sure most figure skating fans felt the opposite. I totally agree that a split screen would be ideal for these types of shows, as they are two separate and usually distinct audiences.

Thanks for the reports, I look forward to the TV airing of this show. Can't comment on V/M as I haven't had a chance to watch the youtube yet.

[alilou]

Would you rather have no skating on Network TV, other than what little competition coverage we get?
Without Disson, that's your option. Facing that, I'll accept their shows.

Yes yes I know. And I am glad we get something. I get mad I suppose because it's such an easy fix - the split screen, or the fade out thing where both images are on the screen at the same time, or the musicians in a box in the corner. Any of these would give full justice to ALL performers, not just the musicians. As luckiets1 said, there's 2 distinct and separate audiences for these shows, and one lot is being given short shrift for the sake of the other.

Should I be glad for a bad skating production because it's all that's offered. I suppose so. I'd just much rather have a skating show that fully honours the skaters and the skating fans. From all reports it seems Disson doesn't give a $hit.

[skatesindreams]

I suppose it's a question of emphasis.
The producers may want a program with the focus on the "entertainment", rather than the skating; while most of us would prefer it the other way around!

[shells]

I really liked the show! The format didn't bother me in person, though I hate watching this type of thing on tv.

My thoughts are as follows.

I loved the Kerrs, both programs but especially the second, her dress in the second was fantastic.

I liked V&M's modified SD. So there! The program to the Canadian Tenors was beautiful even if it was mostly their Mahler FD set to different music.

I was thrilled to see D&W's Bollywood OD live, it was fantastic, and I think Charlie has been working out this summer, he's looking good. I agree with what Andora said about their second program to Adam Lambert. Neither one of them looked like they were having any fun at all during it.

So pleased to get to see B&A skate again. I know there are a lot of people who don't enjoy Tanith & Ben, but I always have. Both of their programs were very pretty. I especially liked the second.

I didn't realize that L&T were going to be there! I did not enjoy their first jokey program at all but the second one was gorgeous.

N&B were pretty good. Though I watched the dancers on stage the whole way through their second program.

I really enjoyed S&B's first program but that Dixie Chicks program? UGH

The Zars were ok too, I don't recall that I've seen them skate live before so it was nice to have the opportunity.

Kurt & Shae were fantastic. I'm wondering if we'll get the opportunity to see them skate this at Battle of the Blades too? Kurt got to chat with the audience a lot during TV breaks which was a lot of fun. At one point he went around with the microphone and had people in the audience ask him questions and he told the most adorable story about his youngest son. Mostly he made fun of himself for burning down his house. A LOT.

I feel like I'm forgetting someone.

The tenors were great, it's a shame they only sang two songs, I'd have preferred to hear more from them than the other lady that sang. Emily something from Rock of Ages.

Overall, I thought it was an enjoyable evening. The only thing is that I thought it was a shame that we had so many American dance teams. Surely Weaver & Poje or Crone & Porier or some other Canadian teams could have skated? Oh well, I guess that's the power of NBC.

[shan]

Thanks for all of the reports!!!

[shirley]

Not thrilled about V/M's SD... Let's hope it gets better as the season progresses.
Can't wait to see their new FD, in a couple weeks.

[DFJ]

I doubt that V/M skated their competition SD - it's really not their style to put anything down until competition season starts.