2026 Europeans - Free Dance - "Sheffield Whinesday"

[pat c]

But there are plenty of people who are completely transformed by FB&C - read the split opinions here.

But you're trying to box everyone into doing same old same old - you're allowing Fear & Gibson to do it because that's all they seem to know. I'd actually say Guillaume has shown more diversity in range with his RDs than Fear & Gibson ever have between their RD/FD choices. But that's what works for them.

LOLOL!! Skating fans never change. Every olympic year we have an argument over style. Not enough ballroom, too much ballroom, too much dying on the ice = no more dying...........and on and on. x was robbed y were better tech skaters z were fun and 123 have been in forever so they deserved something. Maybe the olys should have pewter medals. So the ISU and the judges go on doing what they do and we keep buying tix and complaining. The only thing that changes is the skaters at least. oh and at least no more 90's music for a while.

 

[kwanfan1818]

If I want to be entertained at a competition, I'll attend the gala.

I've been at competitions where almost no one stood, but people were transfixed and holding their breath, like at some orchestral concerts, where no one wants to break the spell with applause.

I have no idea if that's what people in the arena felt about FB/C, or whether it was a let-down or not the local audience favorites, but I'd be interested to know what it felt like in the arena.

 

[Karen-W]

But there are plenty of people who are completely transformed by FB&C - read the split opinions here.

I understand that some people love it and others, like me, can't stand it and don't see it as particularly groundbreaking or compelling.

But you're trying to box everyone into doing same old same old - you're allowing Fear & Gibson to do it because that's all they seem to know. I'd actually say Guillaume has shown more diversity in range with his RDs than Fear & Gibson ever have between their RD/FD choices. But that's what works for them.

Listen, I'm not saying that FearGib have been stretching themselves stylistically this past Olympic cycle - the IDTC made it really easy on them with these Dance Party RD themes the past three seasons, and it would have been nice had they not gone the obvious disco route last season and instead picked something out of the '50s - they could have killed it with an Elvis RD. And you know I hated their Rocky and Gaga FDs, but I'll give them credit for understanding how to get the audience into their programs - and this Scottish FD is a departure from the past few seasons FDs which is better than the same modern contemporary dance style that Cizeron choose for himself and imposes on other teams for whom it really doesn't work (see LopBri a couple seasons ago).

You want one style for everyone to earn the $75 price tag it sounds like. Others want to see different approaches. Seats are essentially sold out at big events and they sold out immediately at Worlds. That isn't an issue.

Nope, there's no need for one style for everyone. But I will say that the modern/lyrical/contemporary programs are favored by too many teams and it makes for a really boring competition when 50% of the programs are in that vein. I don't know what the solution is, but it's not more of the same just because Cizeron's skating skills are so vastly superior to everyone else's that he can skate these snoozy programs & win, therefore the message the rest of the teams take home is "I need to skate a program like THAT to win" and proceed to give the audience a whole slew of them that are NOT as good because the teams themselves are not as good (see Fabbri/Ayer, for example).

I think you're basing an opinion of a how much a program is worth completely on how many people scream and shout and stand. The problem with that is A) FB&C is that some people are going to never, ever like what they do for nothing to do with the skating and B) having everyone do the same style of program which would be terribly boring.

Absolutely A is true, but B is mostly happening already.

Eight of the 20 FDs today could easily fall into the modern/lyrical/contemporary category set to either vanilla movie soundtracks; soft, flowy modern music; or classical music - Fournier-Beaudry/Cizeron, Guignard/Fabbri, Lopareva/Brissaud, Davis/Smolkin, Val/Kazimov, Matthaei/Liebers, Manni/Roethlisberger & Ichilov/Nosovitskiy.

And then you have the techno-adjacent programs which aren't far off from the modern contemporary dances - four of those with Reed/Ambrulevicius, Demougeot/le Mercier, Taschlerova/Taschler and Ignateva/Szemko (maybe, their program is just weird & not great, lol).

Between the 8 clearly modern/lyrical/contemporary FDs and the 4 techno-adjacent contemporary programs - that is 60% of the field today. What's left?

Smart/Dieck's "Dune II", Fear/Gibson's Scottish highland dance, Turkkila/Versluis' tango, Orihara/Pirinen's trashy/campy "Moulin Rouge", two Romeo & Juliet programs skated back-to-back from Bekker/Hernandez and Reitan/Majorov, Soucisse/Firus' "Riverdance" and Larson/Kapran's "Cabaret." And one could even argue that Smart/Dieck, Reitan/Majorov & Bekker/Hernandez were just more of the same modern, lyrical contemporary but slightly different because there was a storytelling element present in their FDs that wasn't present in the other eight programs.

Surely some of those 12 teams that gave us modern lyrical or modern techno contemporary could have explored some other genres and styles of dance, couldn't they? FFS, Gleb Smolkin was quoted back on the GP as saying he'd like to have a tango RD. What exactly was preventing Davis/Smolkin from giving us a tango FD instead of modern lyrical? Not a damn thing. There is a whole world of movies, stories and music that go well beyond modern lyrical or modern techno contemporary, yet that's what we were treated to, for the most part today.

Honestly, I wish that Manni/Roethlisberger had skated to "Titanic" - maybe it wouldn't have made them stand out but they wouldn't have been lost in a sea of sameness with seven other teams and a terrible navy blue chiffon scarf wrapped around his neck being the only thing memorable about their program.

I don't know what the answer is but it's not more of the same shit every damn season from some of these teams which we've been getting from most of them this Olympic cycle.

 

[Karen-W]

Ugh, both of them? I'd be fine with Kaori winning, as long as Amber wins silver and Petrosian is nowhere near the podium.

Wellllll... my rationale is give Team Japan two golds, give Team USA two golds and some other country gets the 5th gold medal up for grabs. And, given the choice of Japan's three solid gold medal options - Team, Women & Pairs - I would much rather Conti/Macii win Pairs gold over Miura/Kihara & other teams.

I cannot, though, be on board with Amber winning silver. Bronze I'm fine with, right behind Alysa in silver, lol. And yes, Petrosian nowhere near the final group for the FS let alone the podium.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I remember attending pre-CoP championships, and there was an obvious break between the programs of the starting groups -- often lovely programs, like Grunberg/Rand's FD before they split -- where a lot of the new teams would start their trek up the standings, and the middle groups.

Until Shpiland/Zoueva started to become prominent, it was a requirement that the middle groups had to go "serious" in order to show they were somehow mature enough to try to claw their way into the penultimate group. They were So. Freaking. Dull. Part of the "serious" requirement was to bring more of The Sex, but the attempts were pretty feeble, IMO.

 

[Cachoo]

LOLOL!! Skating fans never change. Every olympic year we have an argument over style. Not enough ballroom, too much ballroom, too much dying on the ice = no more dying...........and on and on. x was robbed y were better tech skaters z were fun and 123 have been in forever so they deserved something. Maybe the olys should have pewter medals. So the ISU and the judges go on doing what they do and we keep buying tix and complaining. The only thing that changes is the skaters at least. oh and at least no more 90's music for a while.

I would even be up for a waltz.

 

[Skate Talker]

I feel sorry for the Brits not giving a stellar performance at their home Euros, but they were still generously marked and should be behind Lop/Bri. That Bjork FD has turned into something unique and wonderful. I much prefer it as a dance to FB/Ciz, but I can’t deny that the latter are amazing skaters. I wish their FD expressed something other than technical mastery and angsty faces….

So the last statement expresses exactly how I felt about Pap/Ciz FD at the 2022 OG. I found them rather bland and forgettable to such an extent that I can't say I saw any marked composition, presentation, or skating skills above those exhibited by Vir/Moi.

But in their defense it was the one time I never looked at the score—just them. Look I’ve always loved his skating. I miss Gaby but I am surprised at their speed in acclimating to one another.

Then today when I also found myself not looking at the score at all for FB/Ciz and just thoroughly enjoying every moment of their program, I have to say I'm surprised at my reaction. I really don't know what the difference is, because I agree the style is very similar, but I was mesmerized by today's performance. Somehow to me these two just seem to be so much more "two skating as one" than the other teams.

(Who knows, maybe it was the shot of their starting pose that predisposed me to like it. Clearly visible on Laurence's hand was a silver ring with a maple leaf and the Olympic rings - presumably something given to 2022 Canadian Olympic team members. )

 

[Kateri]

I have no idea if that's what people in the arena felt about FB/C, or whether it was a let-down or not the local audience favorites, but I'd be interested to know what it felt like in the arena.

It wasn't a letdown, it was mesmerising. It wasn't the sort of programme you could scream or clap along to, you just had to watch. For me, anyway. The audience reaction was definitely muted for FB/C throughout the competition, and I can't read everyone's minds as to why - maybe their personal choices, maybe just not into their style.

I think it's an incredible dance - though if he'd done it with Gabriella, it'd be better still. She was always the one who brought the depth of authentic emotion.

 

[Kateri]

I was really happy for G/F to get the silver. I don't know if you got it on the broadcast, but after Marco fixed his boot, he only had less than 60 seconds of warmup left, and at the end of the warmup, he went over to the ref, and tried to argue something with them (to get more time?) but was refused, and he stormed off the ice in a rage. You could hear him slam the door to backstage through the whole arena.

Anyway, I figured him skating mad would either end up as a fantastic skate, or a car crash, and fortunately it was the former. They've never been my favourites, but they've had a rough season, and it was a lovely FD. I'm glad they got this confidence boost going into the Olympics.

F/G: I remember when they were about to beat G/F at the Sheffield Grand Prix a couple of years ago, and they choked on the pressure and made mistakes then, too. A shame for them. Wish L/B had snuck in for the bronze! [My citizenship is being revoked as I speak]

 

[canbelto]

I feel like Laurence is the stronger skater, but Gabby was the stronger performer, if that makes sense.

 

[her grace]

I wouldn’t use a Sheffield audience to argue that FB/C don’t reach the audience. Clearly, they were the biggest threat to the home team.

 

[Kateri]

I wouldn’t use a Sheffield audience to argue that FB/C don’t reach the audience. Clearly, they were the biggest threat to the home team.

Guignard/Fabbri got a MUCH warmer response, even as they beat F/G.

(though part of that might be that they felt bad for his boot problems and were glad he got past them!)

 

[ryanj07]

I liked P/C but they were never my favorites, I always preferred V/M and then H/D to them. There’s just something about FB/C that pulls me in and I can’t look away from them when they perform. It’s almost unfair that Gabby was so beautifully “replaced” in the partnership, which maybe isn’t the right word because you can never question or take away her accomplishments. Still, there’s just an undeniable factor for me that Laurence brings to the partnership that places them in a league of their own for me.

 

[Aussie Willy]

There’s just something about FB/C that pulls me in and I can’t look away from them when they perform.

I agree. It is the fluidity of their movement, combined with their outstanding skating skills that draws you in. It is like slow breathing while meditating.

 

[PRlady]

Case in point - P&C won the FD and the PCS there.

Bear with my pedantic political analogy here: P/C lost because they didn’t win the FD by a big enough margin to compensate for losing the RD. Every political consultant knows that their blue candidates have to drive up the vote in their blue precincts, not just win them by a narrow margin, and vice versa for red candidates.

I still think audience reaction filters into the judges, they’re human and share the desire to grow the sport’s appeal. FB/C are abstract and cerebral and certainly beautiful and there will always be an audience for that. But I’ll never forget the audience reaction to the Finns’ Chorus Line in Boston.

I think there’s a big difference between L/B’s unique Bjork FD and the Exogenesis programs, and between a classic R&J from the Swedes and the dark Zingkol version. Whatever Chock/Bates failings, they really try to come up with themed FDs and express the theme, maybe I’m the only one who liked the jazz thing but they score well. My biggest problem with H/D, whom I ubered for years, was their lack of a memorable program, whereas I can name three interesting HawBak programs right off the bat.

I’m delighted I get to see all this in person in Milan, a once-in-a-lifetime treat. But I hope it isn’t just an FB/C coronation.

 

[tony]

Bear with my pedantic political analogy here: P/C lost because they didn’t win the FD by a big enough margin to compensate for losing the RD. Every political consultant knows that their blue candidates have to drive up the vote in their blue precincts, not just win them by a narrow margin, and vice versa for red candidates.

Did you look at the FD scores? There wasn’t a whole lot of room left for either team to score additionally.

Neither here nor there, but P/C most likely trailed going into the FD because of the dress falling down nearly the entire program. Simple as that.

They still won the FD regardless of what the audience reaction was comparatively, which is still the point I’m still making.

As far as the Finns- again, they were my example of ‘well they should just win if it’s based on audience reaction’. But they don’t win, they don’t get into the top 10, and that’s that. They may get higher PCS than they deserve, but any and every random quad skater also does, and they don’t even need the standing ovation.

 

[aemeraldrainc]

I was really happy for G/F to get the silver. I don't know if you got it on the broadcast, but after Marco fixed his boot, he only had less than 60 seconds of warmup left, and at the end of the warmup, he went over to the ref, and tried to argue something with them (to get more time?) but was refused, and he stormed off the ice in a rage. You could hear him slam the door to backstage through the whole arena.

I got the impression Marco was letting the referee know there might be something left on the ice from his boot mishap (boot clasp/strap that fell off maybe) and maybe the ref blew him off or didn’t understand? Didn’t the first French team have to restart their program because there was something on the ice?

 

[millyskate]

Loved Bekker Hernandez - such beautiful shapes. Perfect balance of elegance and strength and good.programs too. I might become an uber.
Best I have seen Guignard and Fabbri skate.

Not a big fan of Davis / Smoking programs this year and thought they were overscored.

 

[Andrey aka Pushkin]

All this is very nice, but.
Innovation doesn't not equal "using unusual music" or "being entertaining". Both of these are highly welcomed and they give figurative points, but not the literal ones. I'm as amused by O/P as the next guy, but on no point of their career did I think they should medal literally anywhere, at best - maybe get some extra point in PCS for composition or whatever. On the end of the day, humans have built in ability to harmonize between movement and music, and when it's done well (which is very hard), we are going to "feel" it. To be able to achieve such a level skater must have very deep technical ability, both in the skates and in the general culture of movement.

With all my dissapointment in the direction Papadakis/Cizeron took, as in "do the same program for 5 years", it's ridiculous to say they weren't innovative. The fact is, we have Aliexpress versions of Cizeron sprinkled all around the results table now, which means P/C changed the approach and the language of ice-dance. It's more innovative than just skating to rarely used music. FB/C don't evoke such a deep reaction in me personally as P/C did, but it doesn't mean they aren't amazing or innovative - maybe not in the general style if comparing Cizeon2.0 to Cizeron1.0, but definitely in the way they move, skate and incorportate elements into a program - something that literally everyone else, and Chock/Bates more than others, fail to do.

From my experience, even people who don't have a super deep technical knowledge (including myself, but even people who know less), instinctively feel the technical proficiency when done to the level XXX/Cizeron have. It doesn't mean they give the standing ovation for the entertainment, but even they "feel" XXX/Cizeron are justified in beating O/P and Fear/Gib, and by a margin.

 

[taz'smum]

It was on the citizenship test?

I very much doubt that she had to take the citizenship test.
Potential Olympians get fast-tracked in France, without necessarily needing to speak the language or understand the culture, as for example Vanessa.

 

[Augusztus]

I wasn't in the arena for the FD, but I was for the RD, and in person I found Cizeron mesmerizing.

And this is coming from someone who didn't want to if I'm honest. I'm a Brit who, although they aren't my faves, still wanted Fear/Gibson to do well. I also don't like the sound of Cizeron's behaviour off-ice. I believe Gabi.

So you could argue I'm biased against him.

Yet from a purely skating perspective, seeing him live was just wow. No-one else matched it, they were clearly the best - I'm certainly no ice dance tech expert, but I was a bit surprised the scores were so close tbh.

It's a different kind of mood from that created by F/G, and it isn't going to illicit the same kind of overt audience reaction. It's a more contained appreciation. I get why people might find Guillaume's style somewhat aloof, but IRL I really appreciated his talent.

Just my amateur impression from the arena.

 

[PRlady]

I would never argue that P/C weren’t innovative or that they didn’t change ice dance. They were and they did. And yes it takes a mighty technique to look like you’re not incorporating elements but doing a seamless, flowing dance. Chock/Bates could skate forever and not manage to do that.

But Cizeron, both versions, demands attention to nuance and subtleties. It’s so much easier to cheer along with Broadway or movie music or even 10 Greatest Classical Hits (cf CarPon’s Carmen last year.) so I’m not in any way criticizing Cizeron, nor do I think PCS is an applause-o-meter. Just a theory of what works at the biggest events…

(Personally I don’t much care whether FB/C or C/B win in Milan. They’ve all been around too long. I’m just going to root for my two favorite teams, LopBri and ZingKol, to skate the best they can.)

 

[Kateri]

Ok, so I hedged before because I don't know, and I didn't talk to that many people, but if you want I'll give my opinion: I don't think the audience reaction had much to do with the type of dance FB/C did. I think it was personal.

 

[aemeraldrainc]

DrsmaI got the impression Marco was letting the referee know there might be something left on the ice from his boot mishap (boot clasp/strap that fell off maybe) and maybe the ref blew him off or didn’t understand? Didn’t the first French team have to restart their program because there was something on the ice?

I’m watching the network broadcast now and just noticed that right before their skate, Marco made a point of picking some sequins off the ice and dropping them on the table right in front of the judges.

 

[marbri]

I read a passage from Gabby's book about the decision to move to Montreal. Someone (official in France Fed I believe) came to her and brought up the Spanish couple ( they were referring to Hurtado/Diaz Picasso FD) and talked about this new style of ice dance and the new young couple starting to coach in Montreal. And that they should look into working with them to create something in this style.

I have long argued that the Montreal style wasn't created or invented by P/C, it was created by MF and Patrice with that Picasson FD. I feel Gabby has vindicated that for me and we should all lay it to rest now

Regarding the ongoing conversation above about styles and who is skating what and grouping teams together. All I will add is that I wouldn't separate Dune from The Whale. I think those two FDs belong in the same grouping. And they are alone in the group. I won't explain why I think that. But they do. I would be curious to see a poll for those who appreciate Dune but hate The Whale alongside a poll of those who hate Laurence and/or Guillaume.

 

[marbri]

And is anyone else really put off by the sweatband Charlene wears on her wrist? What Italian designer approved that? This isn't tennis darling.

 

[Aceon6]

Ok, so I hedged before because I don't know, and I didn't talk to that many people, but if you want I'll give my opinion: I don't think the audience reaction had much to do with the type of dance FB/C did. I think it was personal.

It certainly was in the lower rows of 116 which was comprised of folks who have been attending ISU comps for a long time. There is no denying edge quality. But, other than BHL, there wasn’t anyone ubering them to death. Many non FSUers seemed to be tempering their enthusiasm due to recent events.

 

[MsZem]

I have long argued that the Montreal style wasn't created or invented by P/C, it was created by MF and Patrice with that Picasson FD. I feel Gabby has vindicated that for me and we should all lay it to rest now

The Picasso FD remains one of the very best programs to ever come out of Montreal. I'm not 100% clear on who choreographed it; wasn't David Wilson involved in that one?

ETA: according to this interview, yes:

Sara Hurtado: “Our own story surprises us every day”

Definitely one of the highlights of this year’s edition of the Europeans, Sara Hurtado and Adrià Díaz entered Top 10 ice dance couple of the continent with a stunning performance about Pablo Picasso and his muse, Dora Maar. The result of a collaboration of Marie-France Dubreuil, their coach, and Dav

www.insideskating.net

 

[Kateri]

It certainly was in the lower rows of 116 which was comprised of folks who have been attending ISU comps for a long time. There is no denying edge quality. But, other than BHL, there wasn’t anyone ubering them to death. Many non FSUers seemed to be tempering their enthusiasm due to recent events.

I didn't stay for the medals, but I was told they were getting obviously less applause than G/F in silver.

 

[marbri]

The Picasso FD remains one of the very best programs to ever come out of Montreal. I'm not 100% clear on who choreographed it; wasn't David Wilson involved in that one?

ETA: according to this interview, yes:

Sara Hurtado: “Our own story surprises us every day”

Definitely one of the highlights of this year’s edition of the Europeans, Sara Hurtado and Adrià Díaz entered Top 10 ice dance couple of the continent with a stunning performance about Pablo Picasso and his muse, Dora Maar. The result of a collaboration of Marie-France Dubreuil, their coach, and Dav

www.insideskating.net

Yes, MF and Wilson collaboration.
I believe they worked with Wilson on their At Last FD which one could argue was their best work and the birth of what was to come.

Agree regarding Picasso FD but I think that is often the case with the first of its kind. The very fact that that FD is still so memorable all this time later by a team like that really was a sign of things to come.