Best pairs programs of all time

[Taso]

A lesser known pair John Zimmerman and Stephanie (his partner before the switch to Kyoto Ina)- Sorcerer’s Apprentice was a really good program. I don’t remember the year or the competition. I just remember that I liked it.

Stiegler & Zimmerman 1997 US Nationals LP Totally awesome piece of choreography

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Canada's Barbara Underhill & Paul Martini were strong gold medal contenders heading into the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics. Tragedy struck when Barbara slipped and fell during the required change foot sit spin in the short program, knocking Paul over with her. A few weeks later while preparing for the world championships, nothing seemed to be working. They were on the verge of packing it all in when Brian Orser visited their rink and suggested to Barbara she try her old skates. His idea worked, and the magic came flying back.

Their brilliant free skate inspires me to this day.

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

 

[BittyBug]

I like the earlier version of B&S's Lady Caliph as well. Here's their Trophee Lalique performance, along with some drama fluff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYnE9JvV_7w

There are a number of differences between this version and the one they skated at the Olympics.

 

[Taso]

Another American program from the 1990s - this placed only 4th in the sp at Nationals for absolutely no reason I understand at all Though they were super short so maybe they were slow? Easily the best pairs SP choreography from 1995-97 IMO

Lyons & Wells 1995 US Nationals SP

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

It's over thirty years since I went to the world junior championships in Brisbane. Friends of mine asked me why I was going, and wouldn't I be disappointed with the level of competition. Little did they know!

Here are Kristi Yamaguchi and Rudi Galindo taking gold with a program that was years ahead of its time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B35kr8srShI

 

[Taso]

Gordeeva & Grinkov - 1995 Challenge of Champions Skating to Verdi's Requiem. The middle section, to the 'Lacrimosa' movement, is their best skating of all time IMO. Sometimes I felt like their programs weren't choreographed with much musical phrasing (and now that I've read Zueva's interviews about her choreography process I get why - her process makes no sense to me at all) and that section is phrased really, really nicely.

 

[Japanfan]

I really prefer death spirals and lifts under IJS, as they are held for longer.

 

[Taso]

I really prefer death spirals and lifts under IJS, as they are held for longer.

EYS. Under IJS I like the variety of exists and entrances more, but the impact is diminished with the constant change amidst the element and little rest for a position to really log in your mind the same way.

Also these threads about old pairs and dance are the only times I really come alive as a poster, and it's been like this for a dozen years or so. Meh

 

[Japanfan]

EYS. Under IJS I like the variety of exists and entrances more, but the impact is diminished with the constant change amidst the element and little rest for a position to really log in your mind the same way.

I don't find that the older, quicker lifts and death spirals 'log in' or make much of an impression TBH.

But I do agree with you that lifts are too busy these days - although some of the positions the ladies strike are rather amazing.

The IJS emphasis on difficulty/complexity has meant a lack of simple movements/elements done exceptionally well.

 

[Limonite]

From Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze, I recommend their SP at the 1998 Europeans, where they skated to Swan Lake. Just beautiful skating.

 

[starrynight]

I really prefer death spirals and lifts under IJS, as they are held for longer.

I agree. Under the old system some of the pairs men looked like they were about to have a stroke just pressing up a tiny little lady into a hand to hand one position lift that lasted about 2 seconds lol. *heave* *up* *lady quickly raises one hand* *down* *gasp for air*

 

[Taso]

I don't find that the older, quicker lifts and death spirals 'log in' or make much of an impression TBH.

But I do agree with you that lifts are too busy these days - although some of the positions the ladies strike are rather amazing.

The IJS emphasis on difficulty/complexity has mean a lack of simple movements/elements done exceptionally well.

Yeah - like I don't really yearn for them to go back to looking this way, but I do like moments where it does 'log in' and it's just harder to do that. I do agree some of the positions the current girls strike are really amazing - I'd like to see them in their glory with a bit more focus.

I also think IJS can make it harder to follow musical phrasing, but good skaters have developed and found their way through. I have to say though the first few years of IJS were truly, truly painful to me though for that reason primarily But it's gotten better. I've watched more this last quadrennial than the previous two - and I think it answers some of my own observation about why I don't post as much (also I will never, never be able to get interested in a conversation about levels. If it hasn't happened 16 years into this system it just never will be interesting to me)

 

[oleada]

Wanna throw Savchenko/Massot’s Olympic FS into the mix (since it’s a year since their win!). Gorgeous elegant program, executed to perfection with so much emotion. The lifts, twist and throws were all so big. Plus, we all knew they needed a perfect skate to have a chance to win after his error in the short, and it being her 5th attempt to get gold. What a moment that was.

 

[paskatefan]

Shen & Zhao - Turnadot -2003 Worlds (Hey, I was taken with Shen & Zhao ever since they skated their "Mt. Olympus" program in 1998!)
G&G - Moonlight Sonata
M&D - Liebestraum
Aliona & Bruno 2018 Olympics & Worlds

 

[LarrySK8]

In terms of past, great pair programs - Underhill and Martini have 2 exquisite programs as professionals.

1. East of Eden - 1986 - no video on you tube? I have it on VHS. World Pro Artistic program.
2. Variations on a Theme of Paganini - 1990 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKKKrOpN3QY

 

[skatesindreams]

Gordeeva & Grinkov - 1995 Challenge of Champions Skating to Verdi's Requiem.

It was their final performance; very shortly before that tragic day.

 

[BittyBug]

Looking back at these vids I am reminded of what an incredible pairs skater Artur Dmitriev was.

 

[Taso]

It was their final performance; very shortly before that tragic day.

Same program, different performance, though the one you are mentioning is this one here see vid

 

[muffinplus]

Interesting that most people have mentioned older programs

 

[Spun Silver]

Interesting that most people have mentioned older programs

The OP asked us to.

 

[avivadawn]

Savchenko/Massot LP 2018 Olympics or Worlds. You asked for older programs, but I just could not let this thread go by without mentioning this.

I’m glad that someone up thread mentioned Lyons/Wells as they were my favorite American pair in the mid 90s and so underrated.

 

[muffinplus]

The OP asked us to.

I missed the "particularly" part...

 

[nguyhm]

I love all of Berezhnaya & Sikhatulidze's programs and the most memorable ones have been mentioned in previous posts. This one was also amazing considering them winning the World Championship a little over a year after Elena's near death accident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOKy2SppTxM
Their lifts were such "revolutionary" at the time - results of Moskvina's genious creativity. She was behind the lifts and choreography for V&V, M&D and B&S.
And let's not forget Bechke & Petrov's remarkable LP at 1992 Olympics in Albertville.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWaSkMn25Kw

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Here it is! Really it's just how electric this skate is

I really am a fan of yesteryear skating... I love the purity, the lines.... even a simple SBS spin back then was SO much better..... One position can be so evenly matched, so nice to look at... versus 14 positions of today crammed into 12 seconds... bleh.....

Such a wonderful program.

Now, speaking of Mishkutenok & Dmitriev reallness... "Nostalgia" REALLY is such a GORG program... I love every detail and every second of this briefly used program...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhz3b_tA9ps

Now take a look at the following GEM... Brasseur & Eisler.. "Welcome To My World" this was done in 95 and I still think of it all the time.......

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

^^^ God, I love this program.. and the arena is packed!!!

I love these 2 programs for how different they are.

 

[deegee]

I agree with Michalle et al about Liebestraum!!!

I love Shen and Zhao's LP Meditation from Thaïs at 2007 Worlds. It's not perfect and they may have done it better but it was a moving performance that capped a glorious season for them. That was the one where Hongbo got down on his knees to propose on the ice after their skate, but he got rattled or something when she kneeled down too, and I think it was months before he tried again.

omg, i forgot about the double-kneel good ol' hongbo! i love seeing him in the k&c now with his students. what a legacy!

 

[Spiralgraph]

I also think M/D's Liebestraum is the epitome of pair skating. Beautiful, sublime and significantly better than any other program that year. That's one of the programs I rewatch often. For sentimental reasons I also love Tai and Randy's 1979 world championships program. I like other progams but other posters mentioned them first.

 

[liv]

I particularly loved G/Gs 1988 Olympics programs. Everyone talks about Moonlight Sonata, but in Calgary 1988 they were perfect and no one was close. She was sick at Worlds that year and fell in their long program, but still managed a silver.

I loved their short programs because their speed and unison was amazing compared to every other team, even as young teenagers. In 1986 it was a cute piano number, in 1987 another piano number, 1988 the Carmen number, and 1989 Barber of Seville, my favourite sp from them.

B/S 2002 Olympic short was also beyond amazing.

Kovarikova/Novotny- their original sp to Accademia, which they used for a few years around 1991 was a very good short program too. They were always better sp skaters than lp skaters...

 

[Jeschke]

B/S ‚Lady Caliph‘ SP, no discussion!

 

[clairecloutier]

I guess I'm the only one but I'm actually a bigger fan of B/S's 2002 LP ("Meditations from Thais") than the "Lady Caliph" SP. Although, they're both great. I also love S/P's Love Story.

Surprised no one has mentioned Savchenko/Szolkowy's Pink Panther LP yet? (Or did I miss it?) Definitely one of the most memorable pairs programs ever, for me anyway. S/S had so many great programs.

A lot of people have mentioned Gordeeva/Grinkov's Olympic LPs (they're my own favorite pairs LPs). I also really loved G/G's 1994 Olympic flamenco SP. It showed off their speed and unison brilliantly.

 

[Japanfan]

Yeah - like I don't really yearn for them to go back to looking this way, but I do like moments where it does 'log in' and it's just harder to do that. I do agree some of the positions the current girls strike are really amazing - I'd like to see them in their glory with a bit more focus.

I digress, but am reminded that I am having trouble getting used to the shorter programs this season. It seems that something is missing, and that programs don't build to a climax as well as they used to.