Free Dance Tier List!

[dancing_on_ice]

I thought this would be a fun idea, so I put some of the highest scoring free dances of the season into a tier list, and I ranked them.

I love the Disco Brits because they're so fun, and I would've put Chock/Bates in S tier since the free dance is so unique and intricate, but I know that it's mildly offensive, so I can't bring myself to put it there. SinKats and H/D have boring free dances, so they go in D tier, and PapCiz are great at the lyrical numbers that they do, but they do lyrical numbers every year and it gets repetitive. I also find the spoken word a bit pretentious. I know that a lot of people love Gilles/Poirier's free dance, but I'm just not a huge fan of lyrical numbers, but it definitely works well for them.

Click the link if you want to rank them too
Tier List

 

[heartyxo]

The only 2 FDs this season I truly love are Chock/Bates (the best and I will stand by that) and Papadakis/Cizeron. I’m pretty meh on most of the others. Guignard/Fabbri would probably be my 3rd favourite.

 

[Wyliefan]

I get A, B, C, and D, but what does S stand for?

 

[dancing_on_ice]

Better than A.

I get A, B, C, and D, but what does S stand for?

 

[Wyliefan]

Ah.

 

[Aerobicidal]

I get A, B, C, and D, but what does S stand for?

I knew that the term came from video games, but I just googled it and it doesn't appear that there's really an answer for whether S stands for anything. I'm frustrated because I wanted a concrete answer! But, yeah, apparently it comes from Japanese video games.

As far as the ranking is concerned, I wouldn't give anyone an S. Chock/Bates would be my only A. And there would be many Ds.

 

[Wyliefan]

I knew that the term came from video games, but I just googled it and it doesn't appear that there's really an answer for whether S stands for anything. I'm frustrated because I wanted a concrete answer! But, yeah, apparently it comes from Japanese video games.

Oh, interesting. I've never seen it used anywhere before that I can remember.

 

[chantilly]

How is Chock and Bates FD “mildly offensive “?

 

[Jessica]

How is Chock and Bates FD “mildly offensive “?

I have the same question.

 

[DreamSkates]

I have the same question.

So do I. It's about a snake. Offensive to a particular culture because of some movements?

 

[Aerobicidal]

I have read comments (most likely on FSU) that Chock/Bates' FD might be an example of cultural appropriation. In my opinion, a) the idea that it's appropriating anything from contemporary Egyptian culture is questionable, b) even if it is, it's probably not actually causing harm to anyone, c) even if it is, that harm is probably quite minor and there are more important things to be worried about, and d) most discussions of cultural appropriation make no sense to me because it happens everywhere and the examples that I see get heavily criticized are about 50% totally awful and 50% totally harmless.

That being said, I do think there have been examples of harmful cultural appropriation in skating (and I'm not referring to Riverdance programs!).

 

[escaflowne9282]

Wow. In looking at this chart, it hits home that this has really been (IMHO)a craptacular year for FDs

P&C- I love them. They have a wonderful range of movement in this FD . I like the idea of a slam poetry FD,and I understand that it's on point with the world of modern dance ,but it just misses the mark for me. I find it pretty dull. I don't know if it's the unappealing sound of the man's voice ,or if the lack of actual music makes me lose interest,but the skating is better than the program.

Hubbell and Donahue- I love them too.I can't explain why this doesn't work. It should suit them but eh again misses the mark. Skating is again better than the program.

S&K- boring AF for me. This program is so generic and monotone even in comparison to Forrest Black. This really doesn't suit Nikita's performance style either. I will admit hey have improved tremendously over the past two seasons. Yet again, the skating is better than the program

S&B- fun choreography but I don't need to see it more than once.

C&B -have the best FD out there. They create interesting shapes and have nice movements and rhythm, but TBH it really isn't anything original or unusual conceptually as far as Ice Dance goes.

G&F- Forgettable for me

 

[Braulio]

So do I. It's about a snake. Offensive to a particular culture because of some movements?

maybe because of the 'egyptian' poses/moves... for me is too much about nothing, don't think even Domnina/Shabalin wanted to be offensive with their aboriginal dance 10 years ago

 

[wickedwitch]

The best FD of the year is the Georgians'. And I don't think any other FD is really close to theirs.

Behind that are C/B and G/F, both of whom are doing something creative and musical.

 

[Ka3sha]

Hawayek/Baker, Hurtado/Khaliavin and Kazakova/Reviya have three my favorite free dances of the season.

Honestly speaking, all other FDs seem rather to me.
Ok, Chock/Bates FD isn’t bland, but I’s call it a show program rather then a free dance

 

[GoneWithTheWind]

The best FD of the year is the Georgians'.

I totally agree, Kazakova/Reviya have such a creative FD with impressive lifts, transitions and a cool Choreographic Step Sequence.
I also love Guignard/Fabbri's FD, mainly because it's a bit of a departure from their normal style, but they still make it work! (Also, her makeup for it is fabulous!)
I enjoy Zagorski/Guerreiro's too, they really sell their 'Survivor' music.
Of the more 'lyrical' programs, I probably enjoy Gilles/Porier's the most.