The Dance Hall 10: The Saitama Samba 2022-2023

[sap5]

To me, "leading man" in dance relates to lead/follow in ballroom. The leader provides the frame for the follow. It's almost like the idea of a spotlight on a beautiful piece of art. Your eye is on the art, but you are also aware of the spotlight, because without the spotlight, you wouldn't be able to see the beauty of the art. The art is the follow; the spotlight is the leader.

ETA: In my analogy, the art and spotlight are stationary -- just realized if you think of a spotlight following a figure skater in a gala, this could get confusing. It's just that the leader is doing its best to present the follow in the best light. When this happens, you watch the follow, but you are also aware of the leader because you can see what it does to make the follow look so good. That's why you essentially watch both of them.

 

[litenkyckling]

Speaking of leading man material, On Ice Perspectives just posted this video of Bekker/Hernandez skating their RD at Bryant Park.

On Ice Perspectives ❄️🎥 on Instagram: "British Junior Ice Dancers Phebe Bekker and James Hernandez perform their “Tango de Besame” Junior Rhythm Dance in Bryant Park. Full video on YouTube 📺 __⛸️ @phebebekker_ @_james.hernandez __👣 by Nicholas Buc

15K likes, 110 comments - oniceperspectives on February 16, 2023: "British Junior Ice Dancers Phebe Bekker and James Hernandez perform their “Tango de Besame” Junior Rhythm Dance in Bryant Park. Full video on YouTube 📺 __⛸️ @phebebekker_ @_james.hernandez __👣 by Nicholas Buckland, Penny...

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James Hernandez oooooozes leading man.

I think he especially did in their FD last year (which I loved)

 

[litenkyckling]

One man on the ice who always makes me look at him is Saulius Ambrulevicius

 

[CassAgain]

Charlie White always had boy next door energy to me and Evan Bates his less interesting younger brother.

 

[kwanfan1818]

There was no more leading man than Fred Astaire in his time.

According to Wikipedia,

Astaire later clarified, insisting that the report had read: "Can't act. Slightly bald. Also dances."[27] In any case, the test was clearly disappointing, and David O. Selznick, who had signed Astaire to RKO and commissioned the test, stated in a memo, "I am uncertain about the man, but I feel, in spite of his enormous ears and bad chin line, that his charm is so tremendous that it comes through even on this wretched test."[24]: 7 

Eye candy is fun, but I think it's overrated.

 

[skategal]

Andrew Poje forever!

He was a great leading man.

 

[Wyliefan]

Astaire is a fascinating case to me. He had charm and sophistication but -- when not dancing -- zero sex appeal. In a way, despite the sophistication, he had that "boy next door" energy described above. I've seen many of his movies, but I can't remember one leading lady with whom he had real, passionate chemistry, Rogers included. And yet he danced so beautifully that none of that mattered. When he danced with a woman, they were the epitome of romance. Go figure.

 

[Bigbird]

Now let's just get this straight, there is only one leading man and that is Andrew Poje. Skills. Periodt. Honorable mentions Cizeron and Moir and Adrian Diaz.

 

[VGThuy]

I rewatched Roman Holiday and Gregory Peck had that in spades even though he’s not one I would normally associate with romance or leading women. But then I only really know him when he played these honorable men like Atticus Finch.

 

[Dobre]

What of C&P's past programs has worked well for them?

This one.

2016 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final - Marseille - Short Dance - CARREIRA / PONOMARENKO USA

To license ISU footage: https://bit.ly/3M7bcaF Subscribe now to the ISU YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/1moLURTFollow the ISU: http://twitter.com/ISU_FIGURELi...

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It was the first program of theirs in which I thought she started to really sell the music (first section); and then watch him come to life when the music speeds up for the second piece. My favorite Carreira & Ponomarenko program.

 

[chameleonster]

Okay well I think "leading man" isn't something I really have a feel for because my vague understanding is too abstract. The more examples people name the more confused I get lol. Also I reject the idea that short kings can't be suave leading men! Whatever a leading man is!

Anyway, I am very very curious to see what Worlds will look like. It initially looked like Gilles/Poirier's to lose, but Chock/Bates started catching up at GPF after a poor start and just put down a monster score. It's possible that that might indicate we're in for more surprises at worlds judgingwise. Every competition is new ground. There are also a number of teams in the middle pack that I am very interested in seeing how they compete and are judged.

 

[PRlady]

Astaire is a fascinating case to me. He had charm and sophistication but -- when not dancing -- zero sex appeal. In a way, despite the sophistication, he had that "boy next door" energy described above. I've seen many of his movies, but I can't remember one leading lady with whom he had real, passionate chemistry, Rogers included. And yet he danced so beautifully that none of that mattered. When he danced with a woman, they were the epitome of romance. Go figure.

Freshman year at college, I discovered my new BFF was an old-movie fan and was in love with Fred. Since even back then I liked the bad boys, I was mystified: he was sexless. I told her I preferred Gene Kelly and she sniffed and said he was “coarse.” One woman’s meat is another’s poison…

I think Max Shab was a leading man, achy knees and all.

 

[Icetalavista]

To weigh in… Cizeron was less a leading man than a simply brilliant dancer you couldn’t take your eyes off IMHO. He didn’t “present” Papadakis in the way a leading man “showing off” his partner would. Gibson is a good leading man. Fun discussion.

Re Ponamarenko… kind of tough to transition from puppy to sexxaaayyy blues

 

[screech]

Freshman year at college, I discovered my new BFF was an old-movie fan and was in love with Fred. Since even back then I liked the bad boys, I was mystified: he was sexless. I told her I preferred Gene Kelly and she sniffed and said he was “coarse.” One woman’s meat is another’s poison…

I think Max Shab was a leading man, achy knees and all.

Gene oozed sex appeal IMO. And due to his stature, his athleticism really shone through and I think made him more of a "man's man" in a way of the dancing actors.

 

[Wyliefan]

Gene oozed sex appeal IMO.

Oh boy, did he. @PRlady knows me on Twitter and can testify to how I go batty for his sex appeal.

 

[Icetalavista]

More thoughts...Baker is short, slight in build, and not much taller than Hawayek but is one heck of a leading man. Damn right he is! ;-)

whereas Fabbri, also short and not much taller than Charlene, and more muscular in build, has more of a vibe of "That nice, solid boy from the village I grew up with and always knew I'd marry."

PML, of course. Re Fred: ethereal. Gene: earthy. Love 'em both.

 

[PRlady]

More thoughts...Baker is short, slight in build, and not much taller than Hawayek but is one heck of a leading man. Damn right he is! ;-)

whereas Fabbri, also short and not much taller than Charlene, and more muscular in build, has more of a vibe of "That nice, solid boy from the village I grew up with and always knew I'd marry."

PML, of course. Re Fred: ethereal. Gene: earthy. Love 'em both.

I’m never going to look at Marco again without thinking of Mottel the Tailor from Fiddler on the Roof.

 

[text_skate]

Astaire is a fascinating case to me. He had charm and sophistication but -- when not dancing -- zero sex appeal. In a way, despite the sophistication, he had that "boy next door" energy described above. I've seen many of his movies, but I can't remember one leading lady with whom he had real, passionate chemistry, Rogers included. And yet he danced so beautifully that none of that mattered. When he danced with a woman, they were the epitome of romance. Go figure.

Imo he and Rita Hayworth fit the bill

 

[Icetalavista]

to PR lady: THEY GAVE EACH OTHER A PLEDGE! UNTHINKABLE!

 

[Peepsquick]

To weigh in… Cizeron was less a leading man than a simply brilliant dancer you couldn’t take your eyes off IMHO. He didn’t “present” Papadakis in the way a leading man “showing off” his partner would. Gibson is a good leading man. Fun discussion.

Re Ponamarenko… kind of tough to transition from puppy to sexxaaayyy blues

That is what Gabi and Guillaume were aiming at ... distancing themselves from the traditional partner roles in ice dance.

 

[Taso]

to PR lady: THEY GAVE EACH OTHER A PLEDGE! UNTHINKABLE!

AbSURD!

 

[Theatregirl1122]

to PR lady: THEY GAVE EACH OTHER A PLEDGE! UNTHINKABLE!

Where do they think they are? In Moscow? In Paris?

 

[Wyliefan]

I will uber any fan who holds up a "You stitcher, you nothing" sign next time G/F take the ice.

 

[Icetalavista]

But look at Charlene's eyes...she loves him...wonder of wonders

 

[Icetalavista]

But Marco has to get thru the Lion's Den of FS&S, FearGib, ChockBates ... oh, so flashy...go for it village boy

 

[PRlady]

I burst out laughing at that series of posts and can’t explain why to my husband. Some things are just too far down the rabbit hole….

But in terms of classic musicals, Evan was well-cast as the American in Paris with the sexy exotic girl.

 

[VGThuy]

I think Marco presents Charlene very well. I definitely feel the affection they have for one another oozing out from them. And it feels genuine to me, not play-acting.

 

[~tapdancer~]

I think Marco presents Charlene very well. I definitely feel the affection they have for one another oozing out from them. And it feels genuine to me, not play-acting.

I was under the impression they are an off-ice couple. Or were.

So the discussion about leading man, I have to talk about my love of Fred Astaire. I am a serious fan of him, have all his movies, all the books about him, including his own autobiography. His dancing ability was his complete "bread and butter". he didn't have leading man looks and in his autobiography he talks about the fact that he wasn't the romantic type. He was married in 1933 and he was absolutely besotted with his wife. He also started out in vaudeville with his sister, Adele, so he never was really a leading man type. It was always said that his romances with on-screen partners was demonstrated through his dancing. He rarely kissed one. He made two movies with Ginger where they were actually husband and wife and even then, he demonstrated affection but there was no hint of sexual attraction even within the acting. He was a one-of-a-kind.

As far as current teams go, to me, F-B/S clearly have the best vibe of romantic/sexual tension. I think Christina and Anthony could get there, she has definitely benefited from skating with Scott Moir. She was connecting with Anthony with their FD this season. He was too but she was more genuine to me. When I think of past teams, Weaver/Poje stand out. I give Kaitlin enormous credit because she was a fantastic actress, I mean her smoldering looks at him and her complete dedication to their performances on the ice made for some sexy skating programs. I know she loves him but not in the romantic way. But she sure could sell it. Same with V/M, why so many fans were convinced they HAD to be a couple. I loved D/W for sure but funnily enough, their sexiest number I ever saw them do was dancing on the floor for "Love on the Floor", they danced to Say Something and it was amazing.Way hotter than anything they ever did on ice.

 

[skatingguy]

I was under the impression they are an off-ice couple. Or were.

Yes, they are a couple off the ice.

 

[VGThuy]

I just watched Funny Face again today and I was besotted with him and Audrey despite the extreme age difference. I’m ok with it because Audrey said Fred made a joke about it while filming and she herself jumped at the chance to make the movie because she wanted to dance with Fred Astaire. Her son said she was at her happiest doing that movie.

Funny Face (1957) - "He Loves and She Loves" Song - Audrey Hepburn & Fred Astaire (7 of 10)

STREAM THE MOVIE NOW (Amazon): http://amzn.to/2eyYOjs- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

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