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

[Ice_dance_fan]

judging panels are going to be influenced by the latest seminar they took to keep their credentials current and I would put money on the fact that Chock and Bates are being used as examples of excellence in those seminars.

Then possible ice dance need rename to ice posing?

 

[PRlady]

Gilles/Poirier have never been technically excellent. They used to be creative and entertaining and Piper outskated her basic talent. There’s not much to pick between her and Lilah in terms of ability but they’ve both worked hard.

Chock isn’t the most technically talented skater either. But she’s polished and has a star quality that neither of the other two ladies have. And that’s enough of an edge in a quad not brimming with talent at the top.

 

[angi]

The problem that has existed for a few years now is that Piper, Paul and Carol have in some way teamed up with Charlene, Marco and Barbara to present themselves as some sort of David against the Goliath that is IAM. But when you believe that it all comes down just politics and only politics then you end up missing the forest for the trees. Or maybe in their case they are missing the trees for the forest depending on what you consider each to be.

The problem is, they all feel empowered enough now to go around and spread this "IAM are manipulating the scores" theory. I'm the first to say that this season of ice dance has seen some highly questionable judging, but that's on the judges. And so far we had Charlene publicly reposting ig stories blaming IAM for corruption and singling out FB/C (back at GP France), and now we have Piper and Carol reposting the same accusations, and Piper's husband commenting on ISU posts about C/B's win, tagging IAM and blaming them for "blatant cheating". It's a very bad look, but I doubt these teams understand that they are the ones not looking good in this situation.

 

[Wyliefan]

Piper's husband commenting on ISU posts about C/B's win, tagging IAM and blaming them for "blatant cheating".

Really? Oh, that ain't good.

 

[chantilly]

Is that real? I’ve seen so many fake posts on FB recently about T/D media. Not sure if they are AI generated or just someone messing around.

Gilles/Poirier have never been technically excellent. They used to be creative and entertaining and Piper outskated her basic talent. There’s not much to pick between her and Lilah in terms of ability but they’ve both worked hard.

Chock isn’t the most technically talented skater either. But she’s polished and has a star quality that neither of the other two ladies have. And that’s enough of an edge in a quad not brimming with talent at the top.

Bull! Paul in particular has been mentioned by several experts as one of the most skilled male ice dancers in the field.

And Piper is a better skater then Lilah and equal to Chock, although I agree Chock is a star and a better performer.
I do think G/P deserve better GOE's in general.

I don't think IAM is cheating or manipulating, but the fact that they have a ton of skaters from countries of judges on the podiums and up and comers, I think can influence a judges scoring and opinion.

I'm not overly invested in this quad because no team excites me much. Z/K are the most intriguing and I really like the Korean team. La/la need better material. The Czech teams do nothing for me. Car/Pom also need better programs. I loathe L/B. S/D's Dune is excellent, but if they stay in I'd like to see something else.

I expect this same result at the Olympics as it played out here, which I already decided I'm not going to bother watching.
I'll probably watch Worlds instead.

 

[her grace]

Bull! Paul in particular has been mentioned by several experts as one of the most skilled male ice dancers in the field.

Has anyone said this lately?

And Piper is a better skater then Lilah and equal to Chock, although I agree Chock is a star and a better performer.

Depends on the day and the performance.

 

[her grace]

Two falls in 3 competitions for FB/C—think the newness of the partnership is creating hurdles for them that the established teams don’t have to worry about.

I rewatched their FD (when I was more awake) and they need to do something about their choreo elements which seemed unexciting and throwaway. Perhaps it has to be perfectly skated to convey the mood of the piece?

 

[marbri]

People do realise she got her skate caught in the skirt of her dress right?. That is why she fell.
Good thing that sort of thing would never happen to an established team like Chock/Bates

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Seems to me that there are a whole pile of different things happening in ID at the same time: crap rules that favour vibes and crowd pleasing but not necessarily difficult elements, RDs without patterns or actual rhythms, several top teams who may have stayed in the game a couple of years past their prime, a giant school with a number of top teams that knows how to work the system and inconsistent judging/calling. Throw in Olympic fever and treacherous long skirts and we have drama galore. February is going to be wild.

 

[skategal]

Seems to me that there are a whole pile of different things happening in ID at the same time: crap rules that favour vibes and crowd pleasing but not necessarily difficult elements, RDs without patterns or actual rhythms, several top teams who may have stayed in the game a couple of years past their prime, a giant school with a number of top teams that knows how to work the system and inconsistent judging/calling. Throw in Olympic fever and treacherous long skirts and we have drama galore. February is going to be wild.

Get out the gong for this Olympic gong show ID competition.

 

[PRlady]

Must admit I’m looking forward to seeing this in person so much!

(It’s easier when none of my favorite teams are medal contenders.)

Just watched the replay carefully. LB/C skate beautifully but I think it’s 2018 redux, it’s an abstract, quiet program up against drama with a story.

 

[Rafter]

Gilles and Poirier contemplated retirement after the last Olympics and probably should have retired.

Similar to Guignard and Fabbri, their age is showing, and their skating looks haggard in places. They're no longer as good as they used to be. I'm sure it's disappointing for them to fall behind younger teams, but that's where their skating is at this point (IMO they should be even lower and are not even Canadian number ones at this point).

Same could be said of the “elderly” Chock/Bates but it appears they get to play by a different set of rules. Any other team with her shallow edges and their slow speed would get hammered but not them.

As for G/P and Carol Lane, they made a huge strategic mistake IMO by bringing back an old program. That singer (whose name escapes me), sounds too folksy for an Olympic season program and while it’s better than what they did at the last Olympics, it’s just not sophisticated enough. Not a good decision.

On a side note, anyone else notice Patrice Lauzon is no longer wearing a wedding band?

 

[Bigbird]

Gilles and Poirier needed fresh material. Going in reverse was their deathnell.

 

[skategal]

Just watched the replay carefully. LB/C skate beautifully but I think it’s 2018 redux, it’s an abstract, quiet program up against drama with a story.

What story is it? Ferdinand the Happy Bull?

 

[kwanfan1818]

I started to listen to one of my favorite snarky yarn/knitting/crocheting podcasters. She's been commenting on a new BBC show called The Game of Wool, which is similar to The Great British Bake Off, the sewing one, etc. similar to Master Chef, where there are challenges and eliminations.

Her opening for the latest is:

"Imagine The Great British Bake-off, but the food is made of yarn. The host is wearing a barnacled matador jacket, and the rules don't matter. That's Episode 5 of The Game of Wool."

I half expected her to say, "That's Ice Dance."

 

[marbri]

Must admit I’m looking forward to seeing this in person so much!

(It’s easier when none of my favorite teams are medal contenders.)

Just watched the replay carefully. LB/C skate beautifully but I think it’s 2018 redux, it’s an abstract, quiet program up against drama with a story.

If we are bringing 2018 into it then I would argue that unfortunately no one is skating a Moulin Rouge or a Beth Hart program but at least Cizeron picked better music this time using a haunting soundtrack that has never been used before in skating ( ? ) versus a
Moonlight Sonata

But someone needs to give Carol Lane a slap and get Piper and Paul's head back in the game because their Vincent does have the potential to be a Coldplay and an Olympic medal is an Olympic medal.

 

[CassAgain]

I totally agree with others that it was a huge misstep to repeat a program in an Olympic year. And this is probably a minority opinion, but I think Piper and Paul’s RD is tacky and not nearly as entertaining as the technically inferior Lithuanians with similar music. I thought their RD last year was delightful and their free dance intriguing—though I found both Piper and Paul’s free dance costumes ugly and distracting. Honestly, there is almost always something not quite right with their creative choices, and they have often gone quickly to being treated unfairly (It’s Russia) instead of working on fixing problems with their programs.

 

[Ice_dance_fan]

For my Piper and Paul have best RD and FD in this season.

 

[VGThuy]

@PRlady, you hit the nail on the head and articulated my issue with ice dance these past few years. There’s a lack of excitement because there’s a lack of any person with real presence and star quality. It got so desperate that we’re rewarding Madison Chock in skating skills just because she’s the only one who has some sparkle.

Unpopular opinion, Guillaume had the skills and power over the ice, but Gabriella was the one with presence and star quality. She was the one who invited me into their programs and made me into them. Guillaume’s skills and figure complemented her well.

 

[skatingguy]

Unpopular opinion, Guillaume had the skills and power over the ice, but Gabriella was the one with presence and star quality. She was the one who invited me into their programs and made me into them. Guillaume’s skills and figure complemented her well.

That's not an unpopular opinion - you've just described their partnership.

 

[Sonata]

I’m not sure how I feel because while I am totally perplexed that someone with Lilah Fear’s lack of extension could be an Olympic medallist, IMO Gilles and Poirier are not leaps and bounds better. I have seen them 4 times in person and they are slower than many teams. I also cannot stand the singer’s vocal fry in their Vincent FD and I really wish Piper would expand her repertoire instead of using her mouth to express 90% of the emotions. Both teams have benefited from the lack of focus on RD patterns (what would happen if F/G had to do a waltz?) in recent years. They all work very hard, but I.AM. is particularly brilliant at analyzing scores and strategy. The F/G FD is clever in that they’ve chosen something that camouflages Lilah’s lack of extension. Personally I do not think the online complaining from the G/P camp is a good look. They would have benefited from doing an earlier competition to get feedback on levels to gain momentum.

 

[PRlady]

What story is it? Ferdinand the Happy Bull?

Yeah, Moulin Rouge it ain’t. But they are playing characters, no matter how far-fetched, and it’s more accessible than “beautiful shapes to somber music.”

Meanwhile G/P had a great story in the original Vincent, the lyrics are pretty clear, and I’m puzzled by what they did to it.

 

[jmtfti]

I totally agree with others that it was a huge misstep to repeat a program in an Olympic year. And this is probably a minority opinion, but I think Piper and Paul’s RD is tacky and not nearly as entertaining as the technically inferior Lithuanians with similar music. I thought their RD last year was delightful and their free dance intriguing—though I found both Piper and Paul’s free dance costumes ugly and distracting. Honestly, there is almost always something not quite right with their creative choices, and they have often gone quickly to being treated unfairly (It’s Russia) instead of working on fixing problems with their programs.

Probably not a minority opinion -- R/A's RD has been one of the few (the only?) I've seen getting praised this season.

Another aspect of G/P's skating that's been consistent from the beginning of their partnership that's always baffled me is their lifts, namely that most (or at least the ones I tend to remember) demonstrate really awkward and aesthetically displeasing positions. And I've never been able to figure out if that's intentional on their part (quirky!) or if there's something that's just not being focused on in the coaching in terms of getting more refined lines and shapes. But I don't think it helps their image in general.

 

[VGThuy]

Yeah, Moulin Rouge it ain’t. But they are playing characters, no matter how far-fetched, and it’s more accessible than “beautiful shapes to somber music.”

Meanwhile G/P had a great story in the original Vincent, the lyrics are pretty clear, and I’m puzzled by what they did to it.

Like college, there are some places you shouldn’t revisit because things have changed too much and your memories were from an era long gone. Same goes for this program and the Shibs desperately doing not just Coldplay but “Fix You” again.

 

[skategal]

I feel like this has been the dumbest ice dance season capping off the dumbest ice dance quad in decades.

I can’t wait for the retirement of C/B, G/F, G/P (and if we are lucky FB/C too.)

I want to start over with the next level of teams who are more talented and more exciting who keep getting pushed aside for these 3 teams.

Someone wake me up in April.

Possibly in time for Worlds if all 3 teams retire post-Olympics. Bonus if all 4 go.

 

[Tinycities]

I’m not necessarily looking forward to any retirements, but I am already looking forward to next season. I’m over the shenanigans of this season and hopefully next brings back the pattern and some new quad updates.

 

[clairecloutier]

I too would like a clean slate for next season. New rules/elements, new RD format (with a real pattern and rhythm), new faces at the top, new IDTC members (I wish).

 

[Peepsquick]

I feel like this has been the dumbest ice dance season capping off the dumbest ice dance quad in decades.

I can’t wait for the retirement of C/B, G/F, C/P (and if we are lucky FB/C too.)

I want to start over with the next level of teams who are more talented and more exciting who keep getting pushed aside for these 3 teams.

Someone wake me up in April.

Possibly in time for Worlds if all 3 teams retire post-Olympics. Bonus if all 4 go.

C/P?

 

[Vagabond]

I'd like good programs. Is that too much to ask for?

 

[skategal]

C/P?

Whoops meant G/P. Will edit.

C/P can stay.