2017-2018 Program Music and Choreographers

[kwanfan1818]

According to the Mariinsky site, it's "Баядерка."

 

[dinakt]

I dont know the Streisand song but it sounds like a nice mix. I wish her well!

https://youtu.be/9-8gn6vGu_w

 

[Wyliefan]

Bleah. I've never liked "People." It's my least favorite song from Funny Girl. Minority opinion, I know. But all that matters is that Gracie likes it and feels comfortable skating to it. Good luck to her.

 

[PDilemma]

Bleah. I've never liked "People." It's my least favorite song from Funny Girl. Minority opinion, I know. But all that matters is that Gracie likes it and feels comfortable skating to it. Good luck to her.

Totally with you. Can't stand that song.

 

[Jeschke]

I have a feeling this sp music might work extremely well for Gracie!

 

[jenny12]

I think those music choices might work for Gracie. Hope she can hold it together next season.

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

I have a feeling this sp music might work extremely well for Gracie!

Agree. Skating about her connections with others and the audience would be more personal, exposed. Give her something to think about instead of nerves. Her competitive programs have been mostly about type (i.e. tango) or archetypes - swans, firebirds, weird POTO ghost things. Maybe time for heart-on-sleeve. She's had a hell of a couple of years. Color Me Gracie

 

[Spun Silver]

According to the Mariinsky site, it's "Баядерка."

So we should be calling it La Bayaderke?

 

[Sylvia]

The ballet is now spelled “La Bayadère” in the article.

 

[Spun Silver]

https://youtu.be/9-8gn6vGu_w

I couldnt even make it through that song. It is just so wrong for Gracie. JMO obviously, but I fear this is going to be worse than The Winner Takes It All for Mirai. I cant stand it when skaters get screwed over by their own choreographers.

Sorry to be emotional but I feel Gracie has suffered enough. I was hoping for something upbeat.

 

[Ananas Astra]

The ballet is now spelled “La Bayadère” in the article.

Which is the correct spelling. In fact, "La Bayadère" is considered more to be something like the Oriental version of "Giselle" with the ghost of Nikiya haunting Solor etc.

 

[Tinami Amori]

https://youtu.be/9-8gn6vGu_w

(barffffff..... ..... to the song, to the lyrics, and to "fugly Barbara"). If Gracie wants "Funny Girl"...... there are funnier ones.....

.... she won't have to worry about the weight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIaHWp5DlFY
.... she can fall once, as part of choreography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBov_cH8bbg
.... she can be a ice princess and use her old costumes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3AYM4zdTj8

Gosh, i so wanted Gracie to come back swinging.... oh, well.

 

[Josh78]

Btw, it's an E, not A, at the end of Bayadere.

I honestly thought that was a ploy by Gracie's team to go with the Spanish spelling of "Bayadere" and NOT the French, so people would honestly not think of or connect it to Alissa Czisny's 2005-06 FS (until they heard it, of course lol)

 

[mag]

Weird bit of trivia ...

In one of the very early episodes of the original Dallas series it is noted that this is the song (People) that Sue Ellen sung that won her the Miss Texas (or was it Miss Dallas) pageant.

You know sometimes I can't remember where I have left my glasses, but I can remember that.

 

[Josh78]

mag, my 1980's mother would LOVE you for that trivia -- but my 2010's mother would now HEAVILY DENY that she was ever into Dallas as much as she was lol

 

[TinLizzie]

If I was making a joke about poor choice of songs for her SP, "People" would have definitely been on the short list. WTH is her team thinking? I can only hope I am wrong and it's received with accolades, but I'm not hopeful.

 

[Dobre]

If I was making a joke about poor choice of songs for her SP, "People" would have definitely been on the short list. WTH is her team thinking?

My guess:

That it is slow and mature and builds. (And will be recognized by the demographic sitting in the stands at U.S. Nationals). And that people will not accuse her of skating stiff & failing to emote when she doesn't because she is skating under pressure.

Look, either Gracie hits her jumps or she doesn't. If she doesn't, it doesn't matter what she skates to. If she does, Streisand will get the job done. If you don't like the music she chooses--and she is more than old enough to be making her own music selections if she wishes--then root for another skater.

I would prefer "Don't Rain on My Parade," but I can live with "People." Better than watching the same short program three seasons running. Or Carmen/Swan Lake/Turandot/Feeling Good.

I would like to know what Tursynbaeva & Karen Chen are skating to.

 

[Marco]

The ballet is now spelled “La Bayadère” in the article.

I love Alissa Czisny's version back in 2006. Have there been other notable versions recently?

 

[VGThuy]

I love Alissa Czisny's version back in 2006. Have there been other notable versions recently?

Not sure about notable ones, but I do remember Sarah Hughes skated to it in the 2002-2003 season as did Caroline Zhang in the 2008-2009 season.

 

[Marco]

Not sure about notable ones, but I do remember Sarah Hughes skated to it in the 2002-2003 season as did Caroline Zhang in the 2008-2009 season.

Thanks @VIETgrlTerifa I remember now. I actually really liked Sarah's program and the way she skated it. By far my favorite program of hers. It was too bad that her jumps had regressed by then.

 

[Karpenko]

The last time I was entertained by Barbara Streisand was when Robin Williams impersonated her in the movie Mrs Doubtfire. Now that was great.

I don't think music matters so much as getting back on her feet this year though, I like Gracie (bless her) so much more now that she's gone rogue. I don't even care what music she's skating to, just be happy for once. I also hope she's in it for the long haul through 2022, please don't retire after this year.

 

[giselle23]

I have never liked the song People and I especially don't like Barbra Streisand's singing. Maybe that puts me in the minority, too. I think it's a surprising choice for Gracie because the song is kind of slow with lots of pauses for the string accompaniment. I have always felt that show tunes were the right choice for Gracie, but am scratching my head at this one.

 

[MarieM]

La Bayadère ... as long as she never watches the Nureev version of it that I do hate with all my heart, I'm fine with it.

 

[seabm7]

Chafik Besseghier revealed his choreographers in an interview:

http://www.long-program.com/2017/07/17/chafik-besseghier-mit-viel-arbeit-zum-erfolg/

SP: Nicholai Morozov
FS: Benoit Richaud

 

[LKR]

La Bayadère ... as long as she never watches the Nureev version of it that I do hate with all my heart, I'm fine with it.

Interesting, Nureyev's Bayadere is actually the one story ballet of his I find watchable.

 

[Tinami Amori]

I have never liked the song People and I especially don't like Barbra Streisand's singing. Maybe that puts me in the minority, too. I think it's a surprising choice for Gracie because the song is kind of slow with lots of pauses for the string accompaniment. I have always felt that show tunes were the right choice for Gracie, but am scratching my head at this one.

I also have an impression that the lyrics, the tempo and the "essence" of this song "People", plus the "character" in the movie, is a wrong message to the audience and judges, given the past year Gracie had... All elements together have some kind of "pleading for sympathy" feeling.... at least to me. Plus the "character of shtetl girl Fanny Brice" is not that stunning... .. http://www.iceposter.com/thumbs/G303984_b.jpg

...... plus, i don't see a music segment in "People" where one can do foot-work....

I was hopping Gracie can medal at Nationals, and makes the Oly team. imho, she needs to come in with New Image, with something unexpected and up-beat. It if was up to me, i'd change her hair style (no more granny buns)..... and make her SP something like this, if she wants to stick with Hollywood musicals.... still slow enough...
For this she has the hair and the costumes.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnBmbsDan5s
And this would be great too..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g5YNPzr8NM

 

[FunnyBut]

'People' from Funny Girl? Marina must think Gracie is good for music comedy, the Three Preludes program she did was also in this vein. Blech, I couldn't disagree more. I like Streisand but not most of the skating programs based on her music. Cohen's 'Don't Rain on my Parade' was especially bad. I did like Ross Miner's 'The Way We Were'.

I rather like La Bayadere for her. Funny most people remember Czisny's version, but I remember Hughes.

 

[AxelAnnie]

I don't like either of these selections for her.
PEOPLE is just a mis match for someone who has a problem with demonstrating a connection to the music as she skates.

And La Bayadere is my least favorite ballet ever
But Gracie is a power skater. Nuanced skating is not her forte.

 

[mag]

I also have an impression that the lyrics, the tempo and the "essence" of this song "People", plus the "character" in the movie, is a wrong message to the audience and judges, given the past year Gracie had... All elements together have some kind of "pleading for sympathy" feeling.... at least to me. Plus the "character of shtetl girl Fanny Brice" is not that stunning... .. http://www.iceposter.com/thumbs/G303984_b.jpg

...... plus, i don't see a music segment in "People" where one can do foot-work....

I was hopping Gracie can medal at Nationals, and makes the Oly team. imho, she needs to come in with New Image, with something unexpected and up-beat. It if was up to me, i'd change her hair style (no more granny buns)..... and make her SP something like this, if she wants to stick with Hollywood musicals.... still slow enough...
For this she has the hair and the costumes.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnBmbsDan5s
And this would be great too..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g5YNPzr8NM

I just want to know how Rita keeps that dress up

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Weird bit of trivia ...

In one of the very early episodes of the original Dallas series it is noted that this is the song (People) that Sue Ellen sung that won her the Miss Texas (or was it Miss Dallas) pageant.

You know sometimes I can't remember where I have left my glasses, but I can remember that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEF_OEhGejU