The Dance Hall 13: When You Dance on the Ice and Your Feet Twizzle Twice, That's Amore

[MsZem]

But they brought it back six years later and skated it at 2018 Olympics.

I was on a transatlantic flight and missed the FD...

 

[clairecloutier]

Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje worked with Shae Lynn, Angelika, Pasquele, Igor, Galit and Nikolai etc. ….

I think they just had the curse of 2nd team on them because for several years they were so good and arguments could 100% be made they should have won 2014 Worlds.

I remember seeing Weaver/Poje in person at 2019 4CCs and being amazed how good they were. They really were unlucky with the whole timing of their career and competitors.

 

[chantilly]

I loved W/P back in the day and I didn't think she was weak in CDs or pattern dances. I don't think that is the reason at all. I personally hate the idea of expanding ice Dance or pairs "beyond the strictures of gender roles". And certainly with Kaitlyn's personal life choice, she would be on board with that, imo. I don't think we need to color everything with "gender identity" but that's my own personal view. And for what it's worth, she and Andrew portrayed a beautiful woman/man couple on the ice with complete authenticity during their competitive years. At least in my eyes. And I think honestly most of the pair or ice dance couples portray authentic woman/man couples on the ice no matter what their life choices are. Even sibling teams give it their best shot and succeed.

male/male or female/female skating together? Androgynous couple? Save it for the ice shows. Could be lucrative, I suppose.

I'm just wondering if you could clarify that it's your opinion that Katelyn Weaver's made " a personal life choice" in being or identifying as a queer person?

 

[Twilight1]

I remember seeing Weaver/Poje in person at 2019 4CCs and being amazed how good they were. They really were unlucky with the whole timing of their career and competitors.

I watched them live in 2013 Nationals and they were so good then and I agree they were very much under the shade of the giant tree that was V&M.

If memory serves correctly, W&P's Je Suis Malade made Anjelika Krylova cry at World's. It was sucha great and impactful program. They were an incredibly versatile team who had done many great SD's in their day.

 

[chantilly]

My overall thoughts this ice dance season:

I'm ready for a whole new code of points.

I too must admit as an almost life long fan of ice dance in particular I'm the least invested I've ever been with the discipline, including my home country Canada teams.
The podium save for the third spot is almost a lock if skated clean. And even stating that I think it's F/ G to lose.
Most of the RD's are meh, or a hot mess.
The FD's are generally retreads or safe.
There's a few exceptions but I'm already bored.
And I could care less about the Olympics to be honest.

 

[Twilight1]

I too must admit as an almost life long fan of ice dance in particular I'm the least invested I've ever been with the discipline, including my home country Canada teams.
The podium save for the third spot is almost a lock if skated clean. And even stating that I think it's F/ G to lose.
Most of the RD's are meh, or a hot mess.
The FD's are generally retreads or safe.
There's a few exceptions but I'm already bored.
And I could care less about the Olympics to be honest.

I felt this way 2004-2006. Even Navka's headbands could not save those years for me.

I actually quite love Fear & Gibson so they are kind of the team I am rooting for most this season.

L&L are pretty much the only Canadian team I am super rooting for.

In all honesty, my dreams are locked in on Deanna Stellato-Dudek. Maybe she would be willing to switch to ice dance after the Oly's.

 

[AYS]

I've said it before, but if they were serious about wanting to do away with gendered roles in skating, they would just have each skater skate each part of the pattern. Tbh, a lot of skaters already do this anyway if they do any coaching because they will skate them with their students. My coach would even make me switch sometimes just to get more comfortable with the pattern. For that matter they would change lift requirements so that skaters could really do interesting things with who is being lifted and still get their levels.

The USFS dance test structure no longer specifies gendered roles in the compulsory dances - it's Lead and Follow. They made this change a couple of years ago. There isn't any reason why doing away with gendered requirements has to lead to no patterns.

 

[Rukia]

The USFS dance test structure no longer specifies gendered roles in the compulsory dances - it's Lead and Follow. They made this change a couple of years ago. There isn't any reason why doing away with gendered requirements has to lead to no patterns.

I thought this was the case but couldn't remember if I had just made it up in my head lol. But yeah, this is the way to do real change in ice dance.

 

[Karen-W]

The USFS dance test structure no longer specifies gendered roles in the compulsory dances - it's Lead and Follow. They made this change a couple of years ago. There isn't any reason why doing away with gendered requirements has to lead to no patterns.

I thought this was the case but couldn't remember if I had just made it up in my head lol. But yeah, this is the way to do real change in ice dance.

Would that the IDTC spend some of their precious time working to update the ISU CDs to reflect this minor but significant change in verbiage and practical purpose/application rather than chasing after viral moments with "decades dance parties" as the RD theme for 3 consecutive seasons.

 

[Marta24]

Several teams have publically criticised that the patterns and the traditional rhythms are gone. I think there needs to be a better balance between these decade RDs and the more traditional ones. The last time we had a Waltz RD/SD was in the 2015/2016 season. That's 10 years. A Waltz theme for the RD is more than overdue, IMO.

 

[~tapdancer~]

I'm just wondering if you could clarify that it's your opinion that Katelyn Weaver's made " a personal life choice" in being or identifying as a queer person?

Yes, it is my opinion that queer people make a choice to live that lifestyle. Of course many others don't share my opinion but that could be debated from here to eternity. I have no problem with people making their own choices.

After reading replies, thank you for helping me to understand what we are actually talking about. I, too, was very disappointed when CDs went away and now even the patterns are so diluted. I have no issue whatsoever with steps being more fluid as far as gender goes. And I loved and still love, FDs that are different from male/female romantic or overtly sexual. I actually love warhorse music, I like dances that are outside the box as well. Yes changes can certainly be made and gender roles in that sense, I would definitely be on board with. On competitive ice, I just wouldn't want to see m/m or f/f, I think that is better suited to exhibitions or ice shows.

I was very invested in W/P back in the day, I thought they were wonderful. It was odd that they lived together but not as a dating couple, but she had not made it public that she was queer until after their competitive days, so it makes sense now. In the time that they were competitive, I understand why they skated liked lovers sometimes and I think Kaitlyn was a beautiful woman and embraced that style because that is what won medals. She was very expressive. I still admire her and still love watching their programs.

 

[~tapdancer~]

Several teams have publically criticised that the patterns and the traditional rhythms are gone. I think there needs to be a better balance between these decade RDs and the more traditional ones. The last time we had a Waltz RD/SD was in the 2015/2016 season. That's 10 years. A Waltz theme for the RD is more than overdue, IMO.

Yes, yes, a 1000 times yes.

 

[~tapdancer~]

Would that the IDTC spend some of their precious time working to update the ISU CDs to reflect this minor but significant change in verbiage and practical purpose/application rather than chasing after viral moments with "decades dance parties" as the RD theme for 3 consecutive seasons.

oh my word, yes! I am so over this decades theme.

 

[nuge]

Why have Turkilla Versluis only got one GP?

 

[clairecloutier]

Why have Turkilla Versluis only got one GP?

They withdrew from their other GP assignment.