The Dance Hall, Part 4: To Helsinki & Back -- Seeking Rhumba Magic ...

cocotaffy

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Oh, and can somebody explain why Naz/Nik got that relatively high mark for SS? My vague recollection and uneducated impression was their feet were pretty busy but a bit messy today...
I like Naz/Nik but this program makes them look a bit juniorish imo, the costumes, the presentation and ok, today as you said, they really didn't skate well. Plus, they rely too much on acrobatics as a result I feel their step seq and pure SS are suffering. Maybe they need to focus a bit on their SS from now on. I mean how many lifts and tricks can you stuff in a program, this FD is a bit too busy in that area.
I didn't care much for another Exogenesis FD but the Italians had definitely the best SS of this competition. Too bad for that lift. I guess after the spooky fall at Euros last year, they are probably being careful.
The Russian were also quite sloppy, especially her. Looking at her feet I don't think they were underscored.
Can't wait for H/D and Muramoto/Reed FD.
 

barbarafan

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Thoughts on today's FD event at Lombardia...

I like Nazarova and Nikitin's Pirates of the Carribean FD. It's a great idea for the Olympic season. The program needs polishing, but overall, the performance was good. Love the music! He got a little shaky towards the end though... I'm happy that they're on the podium :cheer2:

I don't understand why Pogrebinsky and Benoit are in fourth place. To me, they should be in second. Their FD was better than Loboda/Drozd. I can appreciate the fact that L/D chose to do Broadway instead of the typical bland Russian programs, but the excessive talking is too much...:fragile:

Nazarova and Nikitin are my fav. dance team since their Cabaret prog, on the JGP and I really love this program. They have such great performing skills.
 

chapis

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FD US int

H/D very good program, her dress is much better than the pink one too. It was also a good idea to put the twizzles early and slow down.

H/B :blah:, same stuff

S/D I am not convinced with this program, the last part is good. And she should change the dress, the black bra :huh:

M/R OMG!!! what a beauty of program, seriously their programs are my favorite of the season so far :swoon:, who is the choreographer? Massimo? Marina?
 

AquaLady

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Madi and Zach's FD is the BOMB. I got chills from the very start... Their skating technique and quality is definitely top-notch. The program is jazzy, classy, and edgy. I LOVE IT. Costumes were on point. Music was on point. To top it all off, they earned a PB score on their first competition of the season. They're coming for it... The others better watch out :gallopin1
 

chapis

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H/D were INCREDIBLE. I'm speechless.

H/B recycling...:blah:

I really can't deal with S/D. Why in the world is the Spanish fed pushing for them? I'm sorry if this sounds rude but it's so stupid. Pushing your second-best team rather than your national champions? WHY???
:wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall::wall:


You have not even seen Sara and Kirill compete this season :rolleyes:
 

Dobre

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Thoughts on this weekend:

I thought Hubbell & Donohue's SD was clearly the highlight of the dance programs this weekend. Tad disappointed about the final piece of music, but otherwise pretty great. Well constructed. Some real Latin movement scattered throughout. Uses their own strengths to their advantage. Builds well at the end. Nice.

Their FD, I think, needs more work. I like the style and think it is a good choice for them, just doesn't feel all that ready yet. The music is repetitive for a long time at the beginning, and the end feels anticlimactic.

I'm getting a kick out of this Loboda & Drozd conversation above. Yes, the programs are not great. Yes, they are better than it was on the video we saw earlier. 63+ is a very nice senior debut score for them in the SD. Their PB is only a couple? few? points higher. (I would know exactly, but the revamped ISU website has made it impossible for me to find the info with a simple google search). Yes, I think Loboda & Drozd are miles better than Pogrebinsky & Benoit even on P&B's best day. Fortunately for P&B, the judges think L&D are only a few points better. Yes, I agree that Alla & Pavel are so not on the same page with their facial expression in this Chicago program. She's just smiling away. And he's all stone-faced??? Methinks not his thing, LOL.

Nazarova & Nikitin:). OK, they only scratched out that bronze medal, but I love them & I love this FD program. They perform it in character from beginning to end. The lifts are intriguing & original. It's fun! They are fun! So much better for me than their Chopin two years ago. Also the SD is much improved from the Chicago dance event. (Except for the "half invisible rug" she is wearing. :rofl: Whoever posted that description on GS deserves kudos. It really is one of the most atrocious costumes I've seen in this decade).

Guignard & Fabbri. Well, they were the class of the Lombardia field in the SD for certain. Stronger edging, cleaner lines, more polish. But, Barbara, we need to talk about this FD. It really just looks like a poached version of Carreira & Ponomarenko's program from last year, and not an improvement. What are you thinking? G&F are strong character skaters. Where is their character program for the Olympic season?!

Muramoto & Reed. Great start for them. Last year, they spent all year trying to match their scores from the U.S. Classic (and I really liked their Flamenco). May they go upwards from here this season.

Hawayek & Baker. Oh, for goodness sake. Tabling my opinion of this SD program for a later date again.


Are they the only team (this far) with twizzles placed at the end? I think so.

The Parsons' twizzles are at the end of their SD. Going into the final spinning movement. Very risky! And cool. Kudos to them for that.

Karen´s brother is ice dancer? https://www.instagram.com/p/BZG-rYFF9r9/?taken-by=usfigureskating, where are they competing? there is some video?

It's the U.S. Novice and Junior Challenge Skate that is being held along with the U.S. Classic. The competition is being shown on ice network. The video of the pattern dance is here (I assume you need a subscription, but I don't really know):
http://web.icenetwork.com/video/v1836093083/?query=2017+U.S.+Challenge+Skate+novice+dance

Buckley & Chen skate at 23:23. I think there was only one pattern at this competition. The free dance is tomorrow.
-This is a brand new partnership. He skated with Layla Karnes the last two seasons, and they finished first in juveniles and second in intermediates at Nationals. Buckley & Chen only competed the pattern at Lake Placid so this event is a chance to see their FD. Wolfkostin & Zhao are the favorites to win the novice event. And Lin & Sletten--who are currently in second--have a cuteness factor of 10 (their free is to Grease).
 
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cocotaffy

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Happy Hubbell/Donohue ditched the more syrupy programs like their Halleluyah SD and their last year FD for this edgier and definitely sexier music. It fits them really well. Loved it. Sure they need to improve on the transitions which are still quite open in places but their skating quality is top notch for this early in the season. Off to a great start. So thrilled for them.
M/R, I mean what is happening here, I never had them on my radar that's for sure and they come out with not 1 but 2 great programs and performances. I'm partial because their FD music is basically my teenage years, I love those pieces of music. I had goosebumps all the way through. So light, she is an excellent interpreter, so expressive and emoting just enough without being overwrought.
As for Nikitin/Nazarova, I prefered their quirky FD from last year, much more interesting. This FD starts off well but as I said before, it is losing itself within all this over-complicated lifts and positions. They are a lovely couple with an interesting personality but they need to be more solid on their feet, they often don't look in control.

ETA: I had forgotten to watch FB/S and wait, what ? the Doors, is christmas coming early or sg because this song is another of my fav. What a brilliant idea of a program, so intense, so interesting ... Happy they ditched the mushy stuff from last year too. Oh my, this season is already started 100th better than last year. 3 FDs I already can't wait to watch evolving through the season with great music choices.
 
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nimi

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Thoughts on this weekend:
(...)
Nazarova & Nikitin:). OK, they only scratched out that bronze medal, but I love them & I love this FD program. They perform it in character from beginning to end. The lifts are intriguing & original. It's fun! They are fun! So much better for me than their Chopin two years ago. Also the SD is much improved from the Chicago dance event. (Except for the "half invisible rug" she is wearing. :rofl: Whoever posted that description on GS deserves kudos. It really is one of the most atrocious costumes I've seen in this decade).
That dress... I immediately thought of RuPaul's Drag Race and one of their past costume challenges where the remaining contestants were given a bunch of cheap wigs and were told to create a whole outfit out of hair. Nazarova's dress looked like something that could've ended up on the RPDR runway (and gotten verbally ripped to shreds by Michelle Visage).

That costume aside... I like them and their lifts, too, but I wish they'd reconsider one of them that just looks complicated (and not in a good or "wow" way IMO): https://youtu.be/_RLC3GSBvQo?t=3m3s

Guignard & Fabbri. Well, they were the class of the Lombardia field in the SD for certain. Stronger edging, cleaner lines, more polish. But, Barbara, we need to talk about this FD. It really just looks like a poached version of Carreira & Ponomarenko's program from last year, and not an improvement. What are you thinking? G&F are strong character skaters. Where is their character program for the Olympic season?!
While Exogenesis is not an inspired choice, considering some of their previous choices of music (last season's Hamfisted Nutcracker Edit) or theme (Holocaust on Ice) I was actually kinda relieved that we got that and not something cringeworthy. It's a perfectly serviceable vehicle for them, I think.

M/R, I mean what is happening here, I never had them on my radar that's for sure and they come out with not 1 but 2 great programs and performances.
Yeah, and it looks like the Japanese ice dance field overall is getting deeper and stronger. Lombardia had 2 previously-unkown-to-me Japanese teams and I liked them both. Despite their greenness and obvious tech issues, Fukase/Tateno already perform and that's a big plus in my book. And Komatsubara/Koleto did pretty well for themselves!


As for the Finns, Törn/Partanen really struggled last year but have better programs this season and placed ahead of Lucie&Lukas in Lombardia (although Mys/Cs got better PCS), so who knows, they might even get that Oly spot for Finland in Nebelhorn. (I liked Mys/Cs delightfully trashy Cabaret FD way better than their cookie cutter SD, btw.) Turkkila/Versluiss are doing well considering they only switched from singles to dance a little over a year ago. I already enjoy Turkkila more as an ice dancer than I did as a singles skater; not so sure about Versluiss's potential but we'll see.

- - - -

ETA: One more thing about the Lombardia... Has there ever been more random FD music cut than the obscure French team's "Pop Hits"? See/hear it for yourselves (if you dare): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLmG3OH4Qqo

Did they watch Hub/Don's SP last season and suddenly went "Hey, I've got an idea: Let's do a FD which goes from Elvis and Aretha to Backstreet Boys and Macklemore!" "Yeah, that totally makes sense!"
:huh::huh:
 
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Dobre

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Lombardia had 2 previously-unkown-to-me Japanese teams and I liked them both. Despite their greenness and obvious tech issues, Fukase/Tateno already perform and that's a big plus in my book. And Komatsubara/Koleto did pretty well for themselves!

Yes, Fukase & Tateno have been Japan's top junior dance team for at least the past two seasons & aged up this year. They finished 13th at Junior Worlds last season. Komatsubara & Koleto finished third at Japanese Nationals last season (out of 5 teams) and did even better than F&T here. I haven't seen K&K perform before, and I like her. I don't understand why Japan didn't keep their three spots at NHK. But obviously you have to meet some kind of criteria in order for the Japanese fed to give you a place. I have no idea what it is, but I would think that Komatsubara & Koleto just met it. They just bested Hirai & De La Asuncion's personal best, and those two competed at NHK.
 
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GreenGan

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I wish we could see HD's FD in High definition. Great basis ! Sultriness, passion with subtility and building.. You're gonna say that's all I care for xD, but the twizzles in the beginning were really smooth.
Maybe some things to tweak here and there, the rotationnal lift which lack wow factor to me, the first music maybe a little too long... But they look very solid! A pleasure to watch.
 

sap5

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H/D: this FD is a great fit for them. Lots of potential and room for growth over the season, but already looks good. Madison is fire and makes that program work.

N/N: I've always thought this is a super cute team, but their FD is very old style Canton for me, with the complicated lifts and really obvious elements. It will probably move them up in the standings, but with this era of trying to look as seamless as possible, I feel like it will only take them so far.

H/B: I keep feeling like this FD would have been great for them when they were fresh out of juniors, but they've now been in seniors for too long for this.
 
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levineismine

I believed in Hubbell&Donohue before it was cool
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edit: I remembered wrong ;)

I posted about my impressions on Lombardia's FD (I was there) on the k&c section
 
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Dobre

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Karen´s brother is ice dancer? https://www.instagram.com/p/BZG-rYFF9r9/?taken-by=usfigureskating, where are they competing? there is some video?

The free dance is here on ice network at about 29:14:
http://web.icenetwork.com/video/v1837105983/?query=2017+U.S.+Challenge+Skate+novice+dance

It is My Sweet and Tender Beast. Buckley and Chen finished second to Wolfkostin & Zhao in the free, and won the competition actually, which is an upset and a very nice result for B&C.
 

chapis

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The free dance is here on ice network at about 29:14:
http://web.icenetwork.com/video/v1837105983/?query=2017+U.S.+Challenge+Skate+novice+dance

It is My Sweet and Tender Beast. Buckley and Chen finished second to Wolfkostin & Zhao in the free, and won the competition actually, which is an upset and a very nice result for B&C.

oh, thanks, I don´t have a suscription :(.

Kana has a costume change in the FD https://youtu.be/YGRdJQpDdtk?t=150, http://magicaleggplant.tumblr.com/post/165439608908/kana-muramoto-chris-reed-2017-us-classic-x, I just wish that she had another hairstyle/hairdo.
 

cocotaffy

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I'm a little obsessed with Beaudry-Fournier/Sorensen FD. The music edit is a pure beauty. Of course, I'm totally partial to the Doors. But everything is gorgeous, the costumes, the presentation, the connection and their movements complement so well the rise of the music. Such a pity they can't compete at the Olympics. This FD will be one of my fav this season for sure.
 

Miloune

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I'm a little obsessed with Beaudry-Fournier/Sorensen FD. The music edit is a pure beauty. Of course, I'm totally partial to the Doors. But everything is gorgeous, the costumes, the presentation, the connection and their movements complement so well the rise of the music. Such a pity they can't compete at the Olympics. This FD will be one of my fav this season for sure.

And again, they received poor scores at US classics... like the judges didn't care or something..! I will riot! :lynch:
 

cocotaffy

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And again, they received poor scores at US classics... like the judges didn't care or something..! I will riot! :lynch:
Their twizzles were off but apart from that it was a very clean performance. I've actually never understood the scores they've been getting the past couple seasons.
 

Dobre

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Their twizzles were off but apart from that it was a very clean performance.

It was actually the step sequences where Fournier-Beaudry & Sorenson were hit the hardest. A level 1 in the free and two level 1's in the short. They did lose a couple levels on the twizzles in the free.

I wouldn't be too worried. It was a debut performance, and Montreal does seem to do a good job improving the footwork levels of their teams. Also I wouldn't be surprised if the calls are higher for F-B&S at the Autumn Classic this weekend even without any changes. The U.S. Classic was very tough on the footwork calls last season, and this was the same technical specialist.
 
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Lara111

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It was actually the step sequences where Fournier-Beaudry & Sorenson were hit the hardest. A level 1 in the free and two level 1's in the short. They did lose a couple levels on the twizzles in the free.

I wouldn't be too worried. It was a debut performance, and Montreal does seem to do a good job improving the footwork levels of their teams. Also I wouldn't be surprised if the calls are higher for F-B&S at the Autumn Classic this weekend even without any changes. The U.S. Classic was very tough on the footwork calls last season, and this was the same technical specialist.
Controller was very tough. It does not help differentiate weak teams from teams who has a real potential because they all get level 1 in step sequences when stronger teams may be one step away from the next level and weak teams are not capable of doing the next level. Is there any way to train Controllers so that they are at least somewhat consistent?
 

nimi

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News re: this team
Komatsubara & Koleto finished third at Japanese Nationals last season (out of 5 teams) and did even better than F&T here. I haven't seen K&K perform before, and I like her. I don't understand why Japan didn't keep their three spots at NHK. But obviously you have to meet some kind of criteria in order for the Japanese fed to give you a place. I have no idea what it is, but I would think that Komatsubara & Koleto just met it. They just bested Hirai & De La Asuncion's personal best, and those two competed at NHK.
From the GP assignments thread:
And Japan's host picks were added: Miu Suzaki/Ryuichi Kihara (pairs) and Misato Komatsubara/Tim Koleto (dance).
Yay! Good for K/K!
 

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