Favorite Mao Asada Programs

[Miki89]

What are your favorite Mao Asada programs?

Here are my choices:

SP: Nocturne (both versions)
LP: Ritual Dance
Exhibition: Chopin Ballade no.1 (My favorite program from her).

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Mao Favorites: Easy-Breezy

SP Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yu85UCI-KQ

Such a fun number and unexpected choice. Nothing pleases ANL more than non-warhorses and something unexpected. Check out all the jumps here. Delicious.

LP Masquerade Waltz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdBwd2SKq4E

I did not mind Tat's Russian influence in this Free program but I was never sure about their partnership.

 

[giselle23]

I loved Mao's Scheherazade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDPEyUWWrS4&app=desktop

And, of course, her Rach2.

 

[DreamSkates]

New project: watch Mao's programs (as many as are on YouTube) and make a selection or 2 (or 5)!

 

[Vash01]

I love her Chopin SP's and Madama Butterfly LP.

 

[blue_idealist]

I'm not sure if I'm in the minority, but I loved the "I've Got Rhythm" SP.

 

[paskatefan]

So many great competitive programs. For exhibition - "Puttin' on the Ritz" & my #1 choice - "Jupiter" from "The Planets" ("I Vow to thee My Country")!

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

This gorgeous exhibition number demonstrated her grace and maturity as a performer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcZK_Bth0hA

 

[tamms]

I’m so torn.

SP: Nocturne (2014 Worlds version) vs Scheherazade
LP: Rach 2 vs Bells of Moscow vs Swan Lake
Exhibition: Jupiter vs Mary Poppins

 

[Coco]

Love this thread!

 

[binbinwinwin]

SP is probably Chopin for me but I also loved Scheherazade. For FS I would choose Libestraume, she gave 2 really good performances that season, one at 4CC and the other very soon after her mother's passing, she was so unbelievably strong.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

This gorgeous exhibition number demonstrated her grace and maturity as a performer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcZK_Bth0hA

Effortless. Graceful.

And my favorite style of dress hands down. Wish we saw these types of dresses way more often. SO elegant.

 

[MR-FAN]

Absolutely her ritual dance SP and LP. She outdid herself her last competitive season. Ironically, programs that were never skated to their potential

 

[Miki89]

I am liking the diversity in the program choices that I see in this thread.

Effortless. Graceful.

And my favorite style of dress hands down. Wish we saw these types of dresses way more often. SO elegant.

I love the white Ballade dress for its elegant simplicity. That program was simply perfection. Beautiful choreography paired with a gorgeous dress.
The black tutu dress she sometimes wore for this program was cute but doesn't quite have the same impact. This program needed to be skated in the white dress.

 

[hanca]

My favourite programs are Fantasia for violin and orchestra - Ladies in Lavender (season 2007-08) and the Chopin program (but the version from 2007-08 season). And exhibition Caprice No 24 (the one she wore the black and pink dress and the pink fan). But Swan Lake and Rachmaninoff were also my favourite programs.

 

[cohkaix]

Absolutely her ritual dance SP and LP. She outdid herself her last competitive season. Ironically, programs that were never skated to their potential

But I'm sure Mao adores ritual dance pieces, or else she wouldn't put them in both The ICE 2017 (last year) and currently in her MTT (aka Mao Thanks Tour). I love that she makes the change to long red skirt when performing to ritual dance later on as Ex. Mao's skating in long skirts is...her movements make everything beyond heaven

 

[Miki89]

Since step sequences play such a prominent part in most of Mao's programs, I started thinking about my favorite step sequences from her.
It's so difficult to choose among the many wonderful sequences she did over the years, but I think I would probably choose the one from Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen. The way she effortlessly varied her speed in align with the changing tempo of the music was very impressive. I also loved the step sequence from Liebestraum because of how she floated through the footwork and how her movements perfectly captured the romanticism of the piece.

 

[skatesindreams]

If I had to watch only one program for the rest of my life it would be "Ballade".

 

[Jeschke]

Bells of Moscow, no discussion!

 

[Edgecase]

I loved the Masquerade Waltz sp and the dress from the Vancouver games.

But the LP from the prior season was pretty darn good too.

 

[DannyCurry]

SP : Nocturne (2006-07) and Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
LP : Ritual Dance, Madama Butterfly and Rach 2
EX : Ballade No.1 and Jupiter

 

[Spun Silver]

Out of so many riches, probably Rach, Ritual Fire Dance, Jupiter, and that incredible Bach Cello Suite ex.

 

[rosewood]

Can't choose one! Up to today the latest is usually the best in her case but if you ask me which program is my favorite, I'll answer...

To my taste I love Chopin's Ballade No1 the most. I like it borrowed a bit of choreo from stsq of Bells of Moscow as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcZK_Bth0hA

When I'm dying, I want to repeat Liebesträume (2011 Japan Nats ver) in my mind for resting in peace forever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s72ncKN16Io

Reading interviews and watching her skates, I think the nature of her skating is love for people, that I love.

 

[falling_dance]

Fantaisie-Impromptu, the second Chopin Noctune SP, Ritual Firedance, Por Una Cabeza/Payadora, Bach Cello Suites.

 

[gotoschool]

Rachmaninov 2 at the Olympics because of the massive rink coverage to every corner of the rink done with such seeming ease and fluidity with a range of transitions; her fluidity, flexibility in movement, erect posture and speed while running a relentless gauntlet of jumps while daring to place them against the boards; the culminating step sequence with rapid change of directions, fabulous blade work and a marvelous fan spiral and arcing arabesque, the epic range of expression from vulnerable melancholy to transcendent triumph and back to vulnerability at the end. It was the most complete performance I have ever seen and matched the circumstances of the composer when he wrote it so well, especially being performed in Russia.

Madame Butterfly at Worlds 2016 transcendent and heart rending beauty; every line, gesture, extension and movement meticulously crafted with consummate grace as her blades carve a plaintive wake that paints a compelling picture of melancholy and expectation, complete with technical excellence in the triple axel, triple flip and loop, triple flip double loop double loop tano and a fabulous change of edge spiral displaying her outstanding skating skills and expressive extension. Her fluidity matched the tempo and mood of the music beautifully with no extraneous rocking, jerking or hunching of the shoulders to build speed and the final combination spin and expressive gesture were perfection.

Others include: Nocturne both versions, Bells of Moscow at Worlds, Fantasie Impromptu in the Grand Prix Final, I Got Rhythm at 4CC's and SP at Cup of China 2015 among others.