Davis/White #11 - Can't wait to see them "on the floor", er...ice!

[nlyoung]

I too am waiting to see their new program. This thread is so much more balanced than the cult (IMO) that is the Virtue and Moir one. I'll have to remember to take an anti-emetic when I go to Skate Canada in a few weeks,

I'm a fan of both teams and generally lurk on both threads, but don't kid yourselves that there isn't an equally strong cult (IMO) of Davis and White. It will certainly emerge in all its glory once they too have had a chance to showcase their programs and there is something more concrete for ubers to gush about [at the expense of V/M of course ]

[~tapdancer~]

I'm a fan of both teams and generally lurk on both threads, but don't kid yourselves that there isn't an equally strong cult (IMO) of Davis and White. It will certainly emerge in all its glory once they too have had a chance to showcase their programs and there is something more concrete for ubers to gush about [at the expense of V/M of course ]

Except for the last comment you made, you're right. Once D/W start competing, we will be here cheering them on and discussing their programs and performances. The D/W and V/M threads have kept pace through the years with both teams having a very strong fan following. I've been here all along and while there certainly is a lot of comparisons, there has been very little bashing of V/M because a lot of D/W fans also like V/M and appreciate their excellence as well over the years.

But, for me, it's come down to this. D/W and V/M have pushed each other to the top, both of them World Champions. But there can be only one World Champion in the end, and I want it to be D/W. That doesn't mean I will be hating on V/M (or any of the other ice dance teams) because I've never done that and don't plan to start.

This board is overall a fun place to discuss skaters and skating and of course there will always be ubers and always be haters. Many try to be balanced and support most all the skaters but there is also a lot of criticism and bashing on not only skaters but coaches and choreographers, too. Everyone has their opinions, of course, and some just enjoy the snark.

I really like this quote from Stephano Caruso (from his blog at ice-dance.com from the Finlandia Trophy).

The saddest thing is that I have learned in my life that in the figure skating world some people are not grateful and they can't understand and recognize some efforts. Some of them they just don't care and it's sad because what all the skaters are doing is not just a sport, is an expression of feelings.

[clarie]

Today is the Canadian "Thanksgiving" holiday, so I am grateful for all the North American Ice-dancing teams that spur us to interest and discussion. As a Canadian, I am primarily a V/M fan, but that doesn't mean to say that I don't appreciate the success our other Canadian and U.S. dance teams........We are rich in that area indeed. It's certainly is terrific after so many year of North American drought in that field that there are so many...and so many young teams to boot. . I hope you all agree.

[DFJ]

Today is the Canadian "Thanksgiving" holiday, so I am grateful for all the North American Ice-dancing teams that spur us to interest and discussion. As a Canadian, I am primarily a V/M fan, but that doesn't mean to say that I don't appreciate the success our other Canadian and U.S. dance teams........We are rich in that area indeed. It's certainly is terrific after so many year of North American drought in that field that there are so many...and so many young teams to boot. . I hope you all agree.

Well said. I love Meryl and Charlie. V/M and D/W have pushed each other to the very top and I'm really grateful to both teams. I'm Canadian and will lean toward V/M, but that doesn't diminish my respect for D/W. The game is on...may the best team win.

[~tapdancer~]

Thank you, clarie and DFJ, very nice posts.

Here's hoping for a great season for all the teams!

[pingu]

I have not watched the free dances yet, but checked out the video for the short dances, and honestly, nobody is doing justice to the Latin rhythm. While Scott made no attempt at Latin at all, Tessa's salute to Latin seemed to consist of writhing her torso and wriggling her shoulders when they were standing still. Once they started moving, there was no more Latin there. IMO, the Shibs effort was just sad. It is probably not fair to ask a 16 yo to do seductive/sensual, esp not when skating with her brother, but really, there was nothing remotely rhumba/samba/salsa/whatever Latin about this piece. Bates/Chock actually did have a couple places where the timing of their steps had the slight syncopation of quick - slow, but those moments were fleeting.

If you want to see what I'm talking about, mute the sound when you watch these SPs. If it weren't for the costumes and the posing could you tell it wasn't any other generic dance? Anybody see quick-quick-slow in there?

IMO it's not easy to dance latin on the ice, as when you're skating you can't move your hips like balroom dances do on the floor, so I don't expect skaters to do a lot of latin moves (with their legs) when they're skating.

[DORISPULASKI]

Pingu, I think that's a very good comment. It's why most teams resort to putting the Latin flavor into a posing segment at the beginning of the program and then try to carry it off with what they do with arms and shoulders.

[pani]

If the V-M fans are hepped up by this SD, it's them who need medication. I have not watched the free dances yet, but checked out the video for the short dances, and honestly, nobody is doing justice to the Latin rhythm. While Scott made no attempt at Latin at all, Tessa's salute to Latin seemed to consist of writhing her torso and wriggling her shoulders when they were standing still. Once they started moving, there was no more Latin there. IMO, the Shibs effort was just sad. It is probably not fair to ask a 16 yo to do seductive/sensual, esp not when skating with her brother, but really, there was nothing remotely rhumba/samba/salsa/whatever Latin about this piece. Bates/Chock actually did have a couple places where the timing of their steps had the slight syncopation of quick - slow, but those moments were fleeting.

If you want to see what I'm talking about, mute the sound when you watch these SPs. If it weren't for the costumes and the posing could you tell it wasn't any other generic dance? Anybody see quick-quick-slow in there?

Why did you post this in D-W tread?
Hope you will be happy with M-C SD wich must be with hip-hop moves
And dont be so angry on V-M only because there tread grow fast after there first competition of the season, SA will come sooner, then you could imaging!
Good luck to you all!

[DORISPULASKI]

True. That post would be more appropriate in the Finlandia competition thread, or in the Programs thread, rather than in either the D&W or V&M thread.

[Susan M]

And don't be so angry on V-M only

I wasn't just talking about V-M. I said I was disappointed in all of them.

IMO it's not easy to dance latin on the ice, as when you're skating you can't move your hips like balroom dances do on the floor

Sure, there are limitations, but there still could be some of the torso movements up and down on the half beats, or steps more in line with the ballroom timing, rather than stroke-stroke-stroke stroke, looking the same as they always do.

I agree though, this general short dance discussion probably belongs elsewhere. I guess I put it here because my thinking started with wondering if D-W will manage to do any better. Looking at the other Zueva-S choreo, they probably won't.

[TanithandBenFan]

Didn't Elena Grinenko choreograph most of the Canton SDs?

[sap5]

Didn't Elena Grinenko choreograph most of the Canton SDs?

My impression was that she was helping the teams get the flavor of Latin dancing, but she wasn't actually choreographing. Sort of like what happened with the D/W's Bollywood OD. The Indian choreographer (can't remember her name at the moment) suggested music and showed accent moves, but it was still choreographed by Zueva/Shpilband.

[Theatregirl1122]

Love this picture of Meryl & Charlie and Tanith & Ben that Tanith tweeted this afternoon.

[jenji124]

Well said. I love Meryl and Charlie. V/M and D/W have pushed each other to the very top and I'm really grateful to both teams. I'm Canadian and will lean toward V/M, but that doesn't diminish my respect for D/W. The game is on...may the best team win.

This. I am American but I lean towards Tessa and Scott, I've been a fan of theirs since Juniors. Meryl and Charlie are great and can do amazing things it's just a matter of what my preference and taste is. Nothing to discredit them. But, it is really great that there are 2 top teams pushing each other because we get the best from each team.

The low blows and mud slinging by fans I've seen in both threads is a shame because we're getting the best out of both teams.

[sap5]

I can count the number of fans slinging mud in both threads on one hand. Why must a few bad apples spoil an entire thread? I say we need to come down hard on people, or posts, that are deliberately trying to stir things up. How? By ignoring them. You don't have to block every post by that user (unless you want to), but I hope the rest of us are grown up enough to know when someone is acting like a child by trying to get a reaction, and can deal with it accordingly.

[literaryfreak]

There are some more pictures of D/W from Fashion on Ice on the blogspot. Perhaps you guys have all already seen them, but I love this one: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eHwg0RNM0g...iononice42.jpg. I love their edges, the lean, their expressions, everything. Meryl's makeup is so fitting here.

I hope that D/W don't scrimp on the difficulty level this year with their FD. Not that I'm expecting them to, but I really liked the sheer complexity of last year's tango. Being able to smoothly execute one of the most difficult programs I think I've ever seen - I think it was a point in their favor at Worlds. I'd love to see the use of difficult and interesting transitions and footwork roll over to this year's programs too, although perhaps not at quite as insane a level as the tango was.

[~tapdancer~]

That's a really perfect pic of them! Love it.

I think their FD will have the difficulty. I hope so, anyway. One of the reasons they went with the Tango FD last season was to push themselves in that direction of difficulty and I think it worked brilliantly. I was very impressed with their flow and speed from the FOI vids we were able to see. They've already had great flow and speed but to see even more improvement would be awesome. But I'm like you, literaryfreak, I'd love to see them take a little more time with their movements especially since they've said their FD to "La Strada" will be about the relationship between a man and woman. So I hope they show us some emotion.

[shsocu]

Well from the looks of Meryl's boots they must be skating very close together

[shan]

Beautiful picture! I love the intensity of their expressions.

[Debbie S]

New FD for D/W: http://twitter.com/#!/LynnRutherford

DavisWhite announce new free dance to Strauss' Die Fledermaus; they have scrapped Nino Roto's La Strada.