This sounds like a really interesting idea, I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s ranking and am looking forward to investigating some of the programs mentioned that I’ve never seen (the current situation provides a chance to do a deep dive into such things, after all).
For my own ranking, I hope it’s okay to use a currently competing team!
Here’s my rankings for Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri’s programs over the years.
Disclaimer because I had:
a) forgotten quite how many programs Charlène and Marco had had over the years.
b) seriously underestimated quite how much rambling I could do on the subject of their programs.
c) realised I hadn't graded anything below a B-, because there are no programs I don't like, just those that aren't as much of a favourite as others, so they're graded A++ down to B-.
I apologise now for the length of this post! For me, Charlène and Marco are an underappreciated team who deserve more love and I hope this list might encourage others to go and watch their programs too.
2010-2011:
SD –
Mine Vaganti /Assassin’s Tango (Golden Waltz)
Grade: B
They made a pretty good stab at the Golden, considering it’s their first season together and it’s one of the harder patterns, but you can see the concentration during the first half. Their characters really come out in the second half when Assassin’s Tango kicks in, and they have a cleverly choreographed non-touching midline right on the climax of the music which is great.
FD –
March with Me / Aranjuez Mon Amour
Grade: B- (mainly for the strange music mash-up)
Weird music cut aside, this is a pretty good program, I especially enjoy the dramatic March with Me, which I think they capture the mood of well. There’s an effective combo lift on high point in the vocals, the later curve lift is a bit more laboured, but the ending position is uber dramatic and fits the program well.
Also, I’d forgotten Charlène was blonde for a season until I re-watched these!
2011-2012:
SD –
Cuentame / All is Fair in Love /Comadre Compadre (Rhumba)
Grade: A
Fun and flirty, they both look like their having a great time on the ice, and it’s infectious. Already showing more speed than the previous season and hitting 5/6 key points (in the video here from Europeans), this was a great short dance!
FD –
The Godfather
Grade: B
The opening combo lift is awesome with its jump entry, fabulous straight-line section and pretty seamless travel across the ice. They capture the intensity of the music pretty well, especially towards the end. Plus, her dress is gorgeous. That being said, this isn’t one that tempts me to go back and watch it very often.
2012-2013:
SD -
Buongiorno A Te / Tritsch Tratsch Polka (Yankee Polka)
Grade: B+
Fun, playful and character-driven, all things Charlène and Marco are good at. Not their very best short dance, but a solid one.
FD -
The Four Seasons
Grade: B
The first half has fast music and fast skating, and, in places, slightly frantic looking skating. The change in music works (cuts from Summer to Winter), and the combo spin is perfectly placed. Although it works as a program, there’s no obvious story to it (IMO).
2013-2014:
SD –
Cabaret / Big Spender (Finnstep)
Grade: B-
Another fun short dance, full of personality. For me, it doesn’t really capture the story or the vibe of Cabaret, and the cut to Big Spender is a bit odd. However, it’s a fun dance and you can really see the improvement in their speed from previous seasons.
FD –
Romeo and Juliet
Grade: B+
A more ‘classical’ R&J than some (which stick to the Baz Luhrman ‘modern’ version) which conveys the story well, with gentle beginning, more intense (Dance of the Knights) middle, and emotional end. Their improving speed is again noticeable in the two step sequences and the combo lift, with its many intricate changes of position, is impressive.
2014-2015:
SD –
Farrucas / Gato Montes (Paso Doble)
Grade: B-
The first appearance of the Eurosport commentators call their ‘centrifugal force’ lift. Although this program shows their attack and speed, it's not one of my favourites.
FD –
River Dance
Grade: A
So much attack and commitment to the ‘feel’ of the music consistently throughout. The fact they stay so in time with the music in the fast bits and cover up how knackered they must be feeling is impressive!
2015–2016:
SD –
Torna a Surriento / Maria Mari / Fantasia Italiana (Ravensburger)
Grade: A+
They sell this to the rooftops and skate with such effusive happiness that it’s difficult not to love this short dance. They may not have originated this particular acrobatic curve lift, but they still do it incredibly well.
FD –
Schindler’s List
Grade: B
This is a difficult one to grade because I’m not usually a fan of Schindler’s List programs and am always torn as to whether they are wholly appropriate for skating or not. While their program is respectful, and clearly emotive both for them and the viewer, it’s very dramatic (almost, for me, operatic-style dramatic) and intense, in fact, it may be a bit too much so for some viewers.
2016-2017:
SD –
Grease (Midnight Blues)
Grade: A+
Charlène and Marco have said in interviews how much they love Grease (so much so, they have 3 programs to it: a Short Dance, a Rhythm Dance and an Exhibition!) and it definitely shows here. I like the contrast between ‘Worse Things I Could Do’ and ‘Greased Lightning’ and the curve lift right on the music change works really well.
FD –
The Nutcracker
Grade: B+
A beautifully soft program which really suits them. The music may be a ‘warhorse’ but they do a good job of it. The daring curve lift (he on one foot, she balanced upside down holding on to his shoulders) from their free in 2015-16 makes a reappearance and gives everyone nightmares when they fall on it at Europeans.
2017 – 2018:
SD –
La Tormenta / Con Los Anos Que Me Quedan / Samba de Rio Pardo (Rhumba)
Grade: A++
My favourite of their Short Dances, this completely captures the mood of the music and brings out all their fun, flirty playfulness on the ice. This is a program I happily re-watch many, many times. Their twizzles cover so much ice and all their elements have their characteristic attack. The non-touch step sequence at the end is particularly amazing, there’s a reason it got such high GOE!
FD –
Exogenesis Symphony Part III
Grade: A++
Beautiful, mesmerising and emotional, shows off all their deep edges and intricate transitions without being frantic or fast-paced. They capture all the nuances of the music, and clearly really feel this program.
2018-2019:
RD -
Miedo a la Libertad / La Chanson des vieux amants / Tanos (Tango Romantica)
Grade: A+
Becoming Italian No.1s and delivering this technical masterclass of a Tango Romantica (often hitting 7 or 8/8 key points) finally allowed them to springboard over less technical teams and end up on the GPF and Europeans podium. They really capture the mood of the dance too, in a mature, intense way.
FD –
La La Land
Grade: A
This free dance played straight into their wheelhouse being fun and playful, but still emotive. They deliver the characterisation and romance the music calls for but in a refined and understated way which allows their gorgeous skating to take centre-stage.
2019-2020:
RD 1 –
Paramour (Finnstep)
Grade: A+
Another technical masterclass, being one of few teams to hit all the key points early in the season and obtain a Level 4 for their midline step sequence. The clever choreo for said midline fits perfectly with the lyrics. I really liked this rhythm dance and was a bit sad they decided to change it. Also, her dress was absolutely gorgeous!
RD 2 –
Grease (Finnstep)
Grade: A
As stated above, Charlène and Marco clearly love Grease and it shows in this program. I preferred their original RD, but enjoyed this one too.
FD –
Space Oddity / Life on Mars
Grade: A++
This free dance was completely different from anything they had done before, but it worked so well. It’s ethereal, intense and awesome. The whole dance is seamless through the music changes and costumes, choreo, step sequences, lifts and everything else fits together so well that you’re not even thinking about the technical as you watch, you’re thinking about the story, the performance and, afterwards, how mind-blowing it is that they managed to skate it for the first half of the season without the full use of one of Marco's hands.
