2018-19 Programs and Choreographers

[IceAlisa]

This puts death in my soul.



This song is so beautiful and I'm sure feels very personal to Gracie. Love this choice. No words can say how much I would love to see her do a great performance of this piece; I think it would move everyone to the point of tears.

@AngieNikodinovLove

Why, God, oh why is Courtney Hicks skating to "The Nutcracker?" ((( @IceAlisa )))

* * * *

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!!!!

 

[barbarafan]

She seemed comfortable in the SP performance wise to me. She has had several exhibition programs with a lighter, fun and even flirty mood, so that should not be a problem. The steps may still take some getting used to.

As for the FS, I also don't think that the program itself is a problem, it's more that the pressure of being back in Russia and in front of such a huge crowd for a first time in months got to her in more ways than one. She spoke about it herself after the skate. Not only she made mistakes on jumps which she apparently is not making in practice, she also forgot a part of the choreography and had to improvise. So no wonder that the FS did not look ready and quite comfortable for her. Orser also told that the choreo for it is not even complete yet.

As well it seems Orser's other skills he imparts is evident in that take responsibility for the skate and think on your feet. That she drew a blank and just filled it in shows she does not need to be hand fed every move and can trust in her talent. Even young Stephen in competition when he missed a jump threw another triple axel in at the end although never practiced. This is difference in training as an adult and being a full partner in your fate.

 

[oleada]

As well it seems Orser's other skills he imparts is evident in that take responsibility for the skate and think on your feet. That she drew a blank and just filled it in shows she does not need to be hand fed every move and can trust in her talent. Even young Stephen in competition when he missed a jump threw another triple axel in at the end although never practiced. This is difference in training as an adult and being a full partner in your fate.

Um, being able to think on her feet and keeping her cool in competition has never been an issue for Medvedeva....

 

[Marco]

I just watched Medvedeva and Zagitova for a second time. Medvedeva's program is growing on me and while I have always been one of her hardest critics, I dare say her arms are almost gorgeous now. She is moving with purpose and has a sense of conviction now. Well done David Wilson. With some mileage I think she can really shine with this tango.

I said last year Zagitova was smart to have picked likable music. Sure enough, this year the truth comes out about her musicality. That she has none. (It's like Lipnitskaya's blank face was perfect for Schindler's List, but was just otherwise not helping her interpretation when skating to other programs.) There is no purpose to her moves and she doesn't care about the music (watch the second 2axel exit and the final combo spin). For a freaking Olympic champion she sure slacks through the choreographic sequence. Obvious regression.

 

[angi]

I said last year Zagitova was smart to have picked likable music. Sure enough, this year the truth comes out about her musicality. That she has none.

To be fair to Zagitova, she has no say in the music that she skates to or the choreography.

 

[el henry]

In spite of my multidecade Simon and Garfunkel fandom, I have some concerns about the song choices for Jason. "Old Friends/Bookends" is a very melancholy song, and I'm not sure how the big trick jumps will fit into it (especially if the program starts with those songs and Jason attempts a quad). And "Hazy Shade of Winter" is a song about failure. I'm never sure it's good to compete with a song about failure, but it seems especially dubious in a career relaunch season.

Happily, I'm often wrong about these sorts of things, but I'm curious to see how the chorography is going to work with these song choices.

ITA; when I first heard about Simon and Garfunkel for Jason I was I could not see those songs as skating tunes.

But I also thought Sounds of Silence was a horrible choice for skating and Elladj Balde proved me wrong. Not to mention "Sounds of Silence" is a woefully depressing tune with depressing lyrics. I don't think anyone listens to the lyrics.

Although I'll never get used to the bizarre-o cover of Sounds of Silence that skaters are using....

 

[Theatregirl1122]

This song is so beautiful and I'm sure feels very personal to Gracie. Love this choice. No words can say how much I would love to see her do a great performance of this piece; I think it would move everyone to the point of tears.

I just told @oleada that I had been listening to this song in the Spring and was thinking it would be lovely skating music and wondering who the song might really resonate with, and Gracie was who I thought of! I'm so excited that she's actually doing it! I hope she is really able to connect to this music and project it.

Here is the song if anyone is wondering. It's from the Broadway musical Waitress.

I just want to state for the record that I love the Disturbed version of Sound of Silence.

 

[shine]

To be fair to Zagitova, she has no say in the music that she skates to or the choreography.

And to be fair to her, it's not her fault that she has no musicality.

 

[russell30]

To be fair to Zagitova, she has no say in the music that she skates to or the choreography.

Yes I wish I could be Zagitova's Choreographer...I actually picked her music myself this year..... I would have chosen

SP - A Woman In Berlin by Zbigniew Preisner
Dies Irae (Mozart Requiem) by Mozart

FS - Aria from Ninth Gate

Shame I think it would have been stellar!!

 

[cocotaffy]

deleted already posted

 

[peibeck]

It's so obvious how much you hate classical jazz music, rock&roll etc.? "70's drag show"? Really? What has jazz to do with it? It (jazz) was not created/invented in the 70's. Who cares about your personal associations.

.

I don't hate rock and roll, I just am not a fan of Elvis. And I've never liked blues or jazz, sorry. I wouldn't mind those programs once in awhile, but everyone has personal tastes, and I just get tired of the plethora of jazzy SP's, it's not my intention to offend your tastes....

 

[Tinami Amori]

To be fair to Zagitova, she has no say in the music that she skates to or the choreography.

To be "fair to Zagitova" it is best to state facts. Zagitova always loved "Carmen".

The coaching team was considering her request last year, for the Olympic programme, but decided that Alina is not mature enough to "present Carmen" and promised her if all goes well, she can have it next year. This year, given it is far ahead of the next Olympics, they let her skate to "Carmen".

There are several comments on the issue in past interviews. The latest one is a video interview by Alina, in which mentions the issue: @ 0:40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRUMwUqWcAg

 

[angi]

The coaching team was considering her request last year, for the Olympic programme, but decided that Alina is not mature enough to "present Carmen" and promised her if all goes well, she can have it next year.

Well thank god she's a full year older and at 16 definitely mature enough to portray Carmen.
And when a skater say in interview that the music for her programs were already chosen for her but she has no clue what they are than I say their input on the matter is limited at best.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Well thank god she's a full year older and at 16 definitely mature enough to portray Carmen.
And when a skater say in interview that the music for her programs were already chosen for her but she has no clue what they are than I say their input on the matter is limited at best.

Weather or not she is "mature enough for Carmen", it is not an Olympic year, the stakes are different, and her coaching team is letting her pick the music she wants.

and if i bothered to count and copy all the millions of fans' comments on Alina's social media and fan sites about "how much she looks like Emmy Rossum in Phantom and how much the image of Christine suites her", there will be a great case why she is skating to Phantom...
https://vibirai.ru/image/1437168.w640.jpg
http://supercinemaup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/1804.jpg

https://z-aya.ru/images/Z/ZagitovaAlina/1.jpg
https://www.celebritysizes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Emmy-Rossum-205x300.jpg

Top coaches are NOT crazy to force their top skaters into music choices they can't relate to, don't feel and don't like..

... And Trusova does not care which music she skates to, as long as "there are lots of jumps" in the programme...
... And Kostornaya loves her music, especially the "angel" one... and loves Zefferelli's R/J and sees her self as the "leading lady". and i wonder why...
https://img.gazeta.ru/files3/305/9215305/1.png
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/BKDKMX/romeo-and-juliet-1968-olivia-hussey-rmj-008-BKDKMX.jpg

....And Medvedeva was ALWAYS consulted not just on music but on choreography. Averbuch loves Med, was not happy to be replaced by Daniil, but even he thinks the stabs at Eteri's group about "forcing Medvedeva into music choices" is nothing more than "interest politics" and untruth...
https://www.sovsport.ru/others/figu...hen-blagodarit-tutberidze-za-takuju-medvedevu

"There is this trend in the world (to label) that all that is Russian is "authoritarian", that nobody (athletes) can say a word. I am the choreographer of three of Zhenya's programmes. We chose music together, consulted with each other, and discussed every detail (nuances) 100 times over. Zhenya was improvising (trying her own moves), shared her opinions. It is ridiculous for Canadians to claim that it was otherwise."

 

[Colonel Green]

Skate Canada's team bios have been updated. Gilles & Poirier's RD is "Angelica's Tango" by Piernicola Di Muro, a piece of the score of a contemporary Italian romantic comedy TV series.

Well, you never need have feared that these two would be skating to "Libertango".

 

[believed]

Wakaba’s new FS is Four Seasons, selections from winter and summer. Choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne.

https://twitter.com/figureskatingm1/status/1040054707614408704?s=21

https://twitter.com/figureskatingm1/status/1040056727155040256?s=21

 

[SmallFairy]

Wakaba’s new FS is Four Seasons, selections from winter and summer. Choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne.

https://twitter.com/figureskatingm1/status/1040054707614408704?s=21

https://twitter.com/figureskatingm1/status/1040056727155040256?s=21

Yes! She'll kill it!! Vivaldi-the warhorse I still live to death.

 

[nuge]

So disappointed with H/D and C/B FD choices Let's hope Dubreil has saved the best for P/C

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

So disappointed with H/D and C/B FD choices Let's hope Dubreil has saved the best for P/C

LOL. Honey I have eternally been disappointed with Chock & Bates music choices since their very beginning.

Now, having said that they are my fav USA dance team (even tho I think all their music choices are disasters).

I guess is why I love the Canadians, Gilles & Poirier, or anyone else who looks deeper than classic warhorses to skate to.

Ill never ever ever ever ever understand why any skater picks recycled music. I honest to God dont understand it. Speaking for myself, as an artist, I could never go out there and do a rendition of "Imagine" when its been done since the beginning of time. lol AND especially if its an Olympic year. In an Olympic year I will serve you all something original and that has never been done before thus enabling me to get into the program more as well.

I guess also is why I was so in love with The Kween. Aside from her later year (Saprtacus, barf) she WAS figure skating to me!!!!

 

[barbarafan]

Weather or not she is "mature enough for Carmen", it is not an Olympic year, the stakes are different, and her coaching team is letting her pick the music she wants.

and if i bothered to count and copy all the millions of fans' comments on Alina's social media and fan sites about "how much she looks like Emmy Rossum in Phantom and how much the image of Christine suites her", there will be a great case why she is skating to Phantom...
https://vibirai.ru/image/1437168.w640.jpg
http://supercinemaup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/1804.jpg

https://z-aya.ru/images/Z/ZagitovaAlina/1.jpg
https://www.celebritysizes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Emmy-Rossum-205x300.jpg

Top coaches are NOT crazy to force their top skaters into music choices they can't relate to, don't feel and don't like..

... And Trusova does not care which music she skates to, as long as "there are lots of jumps" in the programme...
... And Kostornaya loves her music, especially the "angel" one... and loves Zefferelli's R/J and sees her self as the "leading lady". and i wonder why...
https://img.gazeta.ru/files3/305/9215305/1.png
https://c8.alamy.com/comp/BKDKMX/romeo-and-juliet-1968-olivia-hussey-rmj-008-BKDKMX.jpg

....And Medvedeva was ALWAYS consulted not just on music but on choreography. Averbuch loves Med, was not happy to be replaced by Daniil, but even he thinks the stabs at Eteri's group about "forcing Medvedeva into music choices" is nothing more than "interest politics" and untruth...
https://www.sovsport.ru/others/figu...hen-blagodarit-tutberidze-za-takuju-medvedevu

"There is this trend in the world (to label) that all that is Russian is "authoritarian", that nobody (athletes) can say a word. I am the choreographer of three of Zhenya's programmes. We chose music together, consulted with each other, and discussed every detail (nuances) 100 times over. Zhenya was improvising (trying her own moves), shared her opinions. It is ridiculous for Canadians to claim that it was otherwise."

You seem to have it in for Canadians. Med stated what changes she needed in a new situation and she said she wanted more control of her music and choreography as one of these things. Maybe she was only referring to the time after they dismissed Averbuch and gave her Daniil. The first program she skated of Averbach (I believe) was the one skated at worlds in Boston which was very good but was made and given to Lipinskya who did not like it at all and it was given to Med. She expressed her needs but did not talk of or trash details of her former situation.

 

[Spiralgraph]

As for C/B's FD music, I kind of like Elvis but I don't think Bates can surpass Ben Agosto's Elvis when he and Tanith did the Elvis program at Worlds in 2003? Ben had the swagger and charisma of Elvis, Evan Bates, to put it kindly, I have a lot of doubts about that choice.

 

[RoseRed]

As for C/B's FD music, I kind of like Elvis but I don't think Bates can surpass Ben Agosto's Elvis when he and Tanith did the Elvis program at Worlds in 2003? Ben had the swagger and charisma of Elvis, Evan Bates, to put it kindly, I have a lot of doubts about that choice.

I think the music choice makes sense for Madison, but yeah I have doubts about it working for Evan.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

As for C/B's FD music, I kind of like Elvis but I don't think Bates can surpass Ben Agosto's Elvis when he and Tanith did the Elvis program at Worlds in 2003? Ben had the swagger and charisma of Elvis, Evan Bates, to put it kindly, I have a lot of doubts about that choice.

I'm thinking with the music cuts they've chosen that it won't be the same type of Elvis program that B/A did. I'm guessing they'll go more with the bluesy feel than the kitschy feel of the male playing the character of Elvis.

 

[Dobre]

I guess it's obvious they didn't travel to Montreal for the music if they decided to do Elvis. Igor has plenty of Elvis. Tanith & Ben, Pogrebinsky & Benoit, Punsalan & Swallow. (Tons of Elvis).

I've been saying for years that C&B needed to do a program that would highlight Evan the way Tanith & Ben's Elvis and Davis & White's Phantom did for the guys in those teams.

But I actually meant that C&B needed their own program concept that would do this.
(There's no need to force that comparison with Ben).

If team Montreal can drag Evan out of the shadows at this point in C&B's career, though, I will give Dubreil & Lauzon credit. Feel like the brilliant, audience-friendly performer I first saw win over an audience over a decade ago has been slowly disappearing into the wall like a character in a Magical Realism story.

 

[her grace]

If team Montreal can drag Evan out of the shadows at this point in C&B's career, though, I will give Dubreil & Lauzon credit. Feel like he has been slowly disappearing into the wall like a character in a Magical Realism story.

Slowly disappearing? Evan was last seen in his partnership with Samuelson.

I'm hopeful that Evan will not be playing the character of Elvis in the FD, but like @TanithandBenFan said, it will be a blues program. That could be good.

 

[Spiralgraph]

I guess it's obvious they didn't travel to Montreal for the music if they decided to do Elvis. Igor has plenty of Elvis. Tanith & Ben, Pogrebinsky & Benoit, Punsalan & Swallow. (Tons of Elvis).

I've been saying for years that C&B needed to do a program that would highlight Evan the way Tanith & Ben's Elvis and Davis & White's Phantom did for those teams.

But I actually meant that C&B needed their own program concept that would do this.
(There's no need to force that comparison with Ben).

If team Montreal can drag Evan out of the shadows at this point in C&B's career, though, I will give Dubreil & Lauzon credit. Feel like the brilliant, engaging audience-friendly young man I first saw win over an audience clear back in 2006 has been slowly disappearing into the wall like a character in a Magical Realism story.

Exactly! I'm not even a fan of C/B but for a couple who are in love off the ice they project little of that chemistry on ice. Much of that is their choreography which highlighted Madison so much that Evan seemed like an afterthought, or just the partner who whirled and twirled Chock around in their acrobatic like lifts. They need to develop their identity and they need it quickly, or their elite standings in the USA and at worlds will be in jeopardy.

 

[barbarafan]

I guess it's obvious they didn't travel to Montreal for the music if they decided to do Elvis. Igor has plenty of Elvis. Tanith & Ben, Pogrebinsky & Benoit, Punsalan & Swallow. (Tons of Elvis).

I've been saying for years that C&B needed to do a program that would highlight Evan the way Tanith & Ben's Elvis and Davis & White's Phantom did for the guys in those teams.

But I actually meant that C&B needed their own program concept that would do this.
(There's no need to force that comparison with Ben).

If team Montreal can drag Evan out of the shadows at this point in C&B's career, though, I will give Dubreil & Lauzon credit. Feel like the brilliant, audience-friendly performer I first saw win over an audience over a decade ago has been slowly disappearing into the wall like a character in a Magical Realism story.

I thought he was a robot until last year when he started to loosen up and show character. I thought maybe he had been given alcohol b4 skating...Maybe he can be brought out further..I never knew he used to have character. hhmmm

 

[sleepingsleeping]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS3Ybye1vaI

Boyang Jin
FS　Hable Con Ella

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJSWsX-bDBI

 

[seabm7]

Jun-Hwan Cha

SP: The Prince by Prokofiev, choreographed by David Wilson
FS: Romeo & Juliet OST, choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne

I assume his SP music is the collection of Prince parts from Cinderella.

 

[starrynight]

A thought about the Rhythm Dance music I have though is that there is little incentive for a team to take risks. The RD or SD is basically there for the skaters to get the pattern key points, get the levels and good a good score so they are positioned well for the free dance.

With all of the requirements for the tempo of the music and the risk of choosing a piece the judges don't think suits tango (remember all of that no pop songs not in the authentic character of the dance business), I don't see there being a huge benefit in making a risky choice ... particularly if you're not politically in favour or the judges want to pick at you. I think a lot of teams listened to those comments about the judges not wanting out of the box choices and just took the safe route. And who could blame them. In the post Olympic season where teams are rushing to prepare, they are better off using their energies just to do the pattern dance well, because that's the point of the RD. Your music choice matters little if the pattern dance either doesn't fit it, or the pattern isn't done properly (or even worse the judges tell you at your Senior B you have to change the choice before the first GP event).

The RD is not meant to be a mini free dance. I kind of view it as a compromise on the compulsory dances (but designed to be less boring than just the standard CD playing and everyone doing exactly the very same thing). The point is to just do the set dance theme. I know people get frustrated that there's so many tango musics that sound the same... but that kind of is exactly the point of the RD/SD so the judges can compare apples with apples. Particularly in more restrictive seasons like this one. I'm sure we will all be sick of accordion music before the season is out. (Already for me every tango choice is sounding just like a manic accordion regardless of what song it actually is).

Next season there won't even be a set pattern dance ... the skaters have to make up their own for the 'Broadway/Operetta' theme. So there may be a lot more variety next season. But god help us about how it will all be judged. That may well be like a mini-free dance.