2025 Skate Canada Free Dance PBP - I Know What You Did Less One Ear

I saw Vincent in Laval, and I saw it again today. I like it. It needs mileage. I still like it.

I liked LTU. They like their program, and I like that they like it so I like it. It helps. :)

I love lala, I do not like the white crow. It's smooth and quiet and they skate it well. zzz

Carpom? hmm

The legacs - they looked good. They need a program that sets them apart.

I'm typing from memory. so I know I'm just remembering the final flight, and what pops into my mind as I type.
 
Karen-W said:
This slide move by the Mrazeks just looks like she's accidentally sprawling all over the ice on both the entrance and exit.
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She was - reading your comment back I remembered that they had two points in deductions & I forgot to check the protocol as to why. I knew one was for an extended lift, but the other was for a fall, but it wasn't called on an element and so it must been on the transition out of the slide movement where she goes down to both knees before he grabs her leg.
 
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I feel bad for Emily and Ian and then mad and disappointed at their coaching team. How did they come to the decision to give them an RD to Madonna’s Vogue ? When I look at Emily and Ian, I wouldn’t have envisioned Vogue and that part of the dance/upbeat party spectrum. To me they’re more Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Ben Folds Five or even Brit pop. They could have tried an RD program to “Alright”by Supergrass “the Boo Radley’s version of “There She Goes” or “Wake up Boo,” and the Wannadies “You and Me Song.”

MIDA always seems to give Emily and Ian RDs that don’t suit them stylistically, and then FDs that are safe but pretty. They should be helping this team find their style and make it interesting, so that they stick out for good reasons.
 
pat c said:
Laura Bretan - Adagio. I looked it up on soundhound while they were on the ice. Don't ask why.
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The Bretan song is a resetting of baroque composer Albinoni’s popular Adagio in D Minor, which was originally composed for organ. It was ubiquitous on classical music radio from the 60s through 90s (and may be still.) There are loads of arrangements for strings and other instruments, but until this free dance I was spared knowledge of Bretan’s appropriation of it. I hate the vocals/arrangenent, and I’m going to have to listen to it all season. I think I’ll mute the TV when L/Q skate their FD.
 
When I looked at the results this morning my time my immediate reaction was WTF, but I decided to wait until I could watch.

Sorry Carreira/Ponomarenko could stay in 3rd, but Lajoi/Lagha were better today. Really love that White Crow program and glad they brought it back. I am hoping for a future rivalry between these two teams where I won't care which one wins on any given night because sometimes one will be better and sometimes the other. I think C/P's free needs a bit more mileage on it.

Lithuanians - I agree with those saying that their need to prepare their season early to peak at the qualifying event has helped them. I enjoy watching them and they seem to enjoy skating, which is a big plus. I'm not sold on the gap in scores between them and LaLa for example, but I think things might even out as the season goes on, and the other teams have put in the equivalent amount of work.

Gilles/Poirier - I still like this program and I seem to be in the miority who likes Piper's dress. Not their day on the ice, but they had enough experience and skill to be able salvage something from that botched lift. I do agree that doing an early season competition may have been good to shake out any bugs in the program. I'm hoping they come back strong at their next event.

I fear this will be an Olympic year when I want about 6 different teams on the podium in whatever order.
 
hlp728 said:
I feel bad for Emily and Ian and then mad and disappointed at their coaching team. How did they come to the decision to give them an RD to Madonna’s Vogue ? ….

MIDA always seems to give Emily and Ian RDs that don’t suit them stylistically, and then FDs that are safe but pretty. They should be helping this team find their style and make it interesting, so that they stick out for good reasons.
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MIDA has had 5 seasons to work on this with Emily and Ian. 😬😕 The results speak for themselves.
 
clairecloutier said:
MIDA has had 5 seasons to work on this with Emily and Ian. 😬😕 The results speak for themselves.
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I can imagine that they are incredibly difficult to choreograph. Ian has been on a pedestal since winning Novice in 2014 with Eliana Gropman. He dumped her in 2019 after success in Junior, moved on to Delcamp, now Bratti. Because he’s always been the STAR, I suspect that a lot of the “style development” or lack thereof is on him. Maybe he’s just not a team player.
 
clairecloutier said:
MIDA has had 5 seasons to work on this with Emily and Ian. 😬😕 The results speak for themselves.
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shan said:
5 seasons?? Wow! It feels like just 3. Crazy!
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This is the 4th season of MIDA's existence (started in spring/summer 2022). I believe Emily/Ian partnered in 2021 (or was it 2020?), prior to joining MIDA they were coached by a combo of Dmitry Ilin and Greg Zuerlein, splitting time between MD and MI, and I believe Charlie White choreographed their 2021-22 FD
 
I wasn't able to properly watch the FD because I messed up when I booked my holidays last week and forgot to book off yesterday. But I did have the stream for the FD up on our display computer monitors at work because I good and it very conveniently happened to be quiet in my department when the Lithuanians and Piper and Paul were skating. I continue to really enjoy Alison/Saulius, they look like they're having a good time out there and they've been skating really well this season.

The flashbacks I got to the Olympics in 2022 when Piper couldn't get herself situated properly on Paul's leg for the curve lift though were not fun. 0/10 do not recommend.
 
Debbie S said:
This is the 4th season of MIDA's existence (started in spring/summer 2022). I believe Emily/Ian partnered in 2021 (or was it 2020?), prior to joining MIDA they were coached by a combo of Dmitry Ilin and Greg Zuerlein, splitting time between MD and MI, and I believe Charlie White choreographed their 2021-22 FD
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Yeah, they were basically "not yet official"/transitional MIDA in 2021-22.

Just think it's becoming clear that, regardless of what other abilities the MIDA coaches may have, constructing a sophisticated creative package for their teams is not necessarily one of their strengths.
 
And that's something that is so easily outsourced, but it often takes forever for many training centers to realize it. (coughWingAndLowecough). Not every choreographer is $$$$$, and often long-term developmental relationships are more fruitful than having a big name swoop in for a short time.
 
When MIDA first started, didn’t they say they were going to connect and utilize the University of Michigan dance department? I wonder how much they have connected with this dance department or any dance studios and choreographers in their area. Wasn’t it last year that Jean Luc choreographed for Caroline and Michael? That’s just one outside choreographer for one program and team. As a coaching team, how do they not look at other ice dance schools that are successful and realize they (MIDA) need to majorly step up their creativity and originality in program construction, ideas/theme, etc? Just looking at Emily and Ian’s programs to date, it’s either been music that has been iconic for other teams or individual skaters (e.g. Vogue, Hip-Hip Chin-Chin, White Crow, etc.) or mainstream movies (e.g. La La Land, Elton John movie). I wonder how much of their music choices are theirs versus their coaching team. They’re not the most dynamic or captivating performers, so maybe a more character driven program along with an acting coach might help, along with a coaching change if MIDA doesn’t add a creative team to their lineup. This summer, I even dm’d Emily music for the movie The Personal History David Copperfield as it’s beautiful music and does a lot of the emotional lifting particularly (the song David’s Writings is gorgeous), plus it’s not a story or music I’ve seen used in ice dance. I’m a little disappointed they didn’t use it😏They need a signature piece with interesting choreography and story. Hopefully the results from this weekend are a wakeup call to them and their coaching team.
 
MIDA definitely has had connections with some of the U of Michigan dance program instructors. Caroline and Michael have mentioned this in past interviews, including in March. Currently the group works with Krisilyn “Tony” Frazier, who is both a lecturer at U of M and also has a private business. I am not sure how often the MIDA group actually works with Tony—it could be several times a week, once a week, or less. As to choreographers, Emily/Ian’s bio lists Jean-Luc, but as the last name, so his role may have been more advisory.

In talking with Emily/Ian in the past, my sense is they enjoy listening/skating to many different types of music, I think they’d be open to trying new things, but I think they’re also guided by the coaches’ suggestions. I agree they need their own signature piece. “Ne Me Quitte Pas” is their best program to date and they scored very well with it, but now they need something more original and impactful. And I’m not sure MIDA can provide this. Different choices in costuming would also be helpful.
 
How much of this is impacted by money? Skating costumes are expensive and so is getting music rights, cutting music well, etc.
 
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