The Dance Hall 12: Boston Tea Dance Party

[thvu]

I know it’s just a show program but it appears they are going to stick with the Papadakis/Cizerone style rather than finding their own style. It doesn’t work for me as Laurence doesn’t have the fluidity.

And for me, Gabby was the emotional center of Papadakis & Cizeron. Fournier-Beaudry doesn't have that same ability to express deep emotion in a genuine way.

My first impression: "This is so paint by numbers."

 

[marbri]

A shame. I said when they first teamed up that they need to lean into what makes Laurence special and not let Guillaume dictate the style. I do wonder though if this is some of the program he choreographed for FB/S because the name sounds familiar. At any rate if Guillaume insists on skating his style in their competitive programs that will be a mistake. It was a style he developed with Gabby since they were children and will be impossible to transfer that to a new partner in this time frame. Laurence is dynamic and passionate, it´s Guillaume who should adjust his style and taste and tap into that if they want a crack at success this season.

 

[Spikefan]

Laurence is dynamic and passionate, it´s Guillaume who should adjust his style and taste and tap into that if they want a crack at success this season.

Agree. If they go her style she won’t be compared to Gabby. There is no worry for Guillaume to be compared to her former partner as he wasn’t in the same league.

 

[Wyliefan]

New team, new program, so I'm sure they know they have a lot to work on. But when they put together their competitive programs, they need to make sure she's not dangling from his arms quite so much.

 

[chameleonster]

If I remember correctly, this was the music FB/S were going to use for their FD last year, so FB/C might be keeping the program for themselves. If so, I think it would be a mistake. When P/C skated this kind of thing, it was perfectly fluid in their style because of their long partnership. When another team in which neither is Gabi or Guillaume skates this kind of program, they can make it their own with their own nuances and style that match each other(they don't always of course, but its a possibility). When only one party is Guillaume, the effect is...kind of jarring? He hasn't adapted his movement style to Laurence at all really, so it's just her doing her very best Gabi cosplay when she's not Gabi. The fluidity isn't entirelt there and they're clearly thinking through the program, which is normal for a new team, but means it's hard to create a spell. Rather than the two of them meeting in the middle to create something new together, it invites needless comparisons. I'm sure they'll improve with time, but I don't know that the "Where's Gabi?" feeling will ever go away if they continue in this style like this.

 

[thvu]

New team, new program, so I'm sure they know they have a lot to work on. But when they put together their competitive programs, they need to make sure she's not dangling from his arms quite so much.

 

[manhn]

I liked it. Better than robots, take five and Annie Lennox.

 

[chantilly]

I think it was fine. The camera angles were pretty far away from most of that program and I saw a lot of their backs. So I think it’s pretty hard to judge the emotional quality of the program.
I don’t agree that Laurence doesn’t have the fluidity. She doesn’t move like Gabi, sure, but I think she has more power than Gabi.
I do think the lifts looked very slow and not exactly laboured, but definitely not effortless.
I do agree however, that this feels like a program that Gabi and Guillaume would have done, which I also agree would be a mistake.
They should definitely lean into Laurence’s strength and power more and find a way to meet in the middle.
This is a show program however, and if it indeed was a program choreographed for FB/S or P/C then I think this program won’t necessarily be an adequate representation of what style this team will be doing.
I can imagine with all they have got to do as a new team, putting together a show program that is all theirs is pretty low on the priority list.

 

[coralline]

IMO Laurence Fournier Beaudry shines more in character-based programs, as Bonnie, Esmeralda, various Spanish dancers. Here in this program she just seems to be fading.

 

[NinjaTurtles]

It’s hard to fairly judge given it’s from a show and likely a small sheet of ice, but Guillaume’s stroking has seemingly regressed. Not sure if it’s lack of competitive training rust or the process of learning to match Laurence. Either way, I would expect it to improve quickly, but it’s off right now.

For sure he is going to need to work on building more upper body strength. And Laurence might even need to develop more core strength (is it even possible? ) to compensate for Guillaume’s weakness there if they’re going to effectively do such lifts.

 

[TwizzlerS]

This certainly made me appreciate Gabriela's skating

 

[nuge]

, but Guillaume’s stroking has seemingly regressed. Not sure if it’s lack of competitive training rust or the process of learning to match Laurence. Either way, I would expect it to improve quickly, but it’s off right now.

F

If this is the case imagine the Shibs they will be rusty

 

[marbri]

It’s hard to fairly judge given it’s from a show and likely a small sheet of ice, but Guillaume’s stroking has seemingly regressed. Not sure if it’s lack of competitive training rust or the process of learning to match Laurence. Either way, I would expect it to improve quickly, but it’s off right now.

For sure he is going to need to work on building more upper body strength. And Laurence might even need to develop more core strength (is it even possible? ) to compensate for Guillaume’s weakness there if they’re going to effectively do such lifts.

Lifts were a strength for FB/S. Not so much for P/C.... Guillaume is just average when it comes to this element so the problem lies with him.

This certainly made me appreciate Gabriela's skating

Which is so unfair to Laurence if Guillaume dictates this style for the competitive programs because she is a brilliant ice dancer, one of the best. I am going to say something controversial here and say for me Guillaume is the weak one in this partnership, he isn't very versatile. It would be very arrogant, and a huge mistake, for him to try to just replace Gabby with Laurence and skate the same style.

Hopefully their competitive programs will be very different.

If this is the case imagine the Shibs they will be rusty

I don't expect them to be as jarring considering they have skated together their whole lives. It should be easier for them.

 

[kwanfan1818]

He hasn't adapted his movement style to Laurence at all really, so it's just her doing her very best Gabi cosplay when she's not Gabi.

If we're waiting for Cizeron to change, we'll die waiting.

I do agree however, that this feels like a program that Gabi and Guillaume would have done, which I also agree would be a mistake.

If it was based on a program Cizeron choreographed for Fournier Beaudry and Sorensen, isn't that a problem right there?

 

[Karen-W]

Hmmmmm... It wasn't as bad as the negative comments would indicate. I do agree, they're going to suffer from comparison to PapCiz, but in the current ice dance field, going down the modern contemporary dance style that PapCiz developed & perfected will give them a lane that only really has LajLag in it right now. Those who love the modern contemporary dance style from the likes of PapCiz & HawBak will eat this up & call them the saviors of ice dance.

The lifts are not a highlight need to improve a LOT to be even in the realm of the top 7 teams in the world right now. Guillaume really isn't that strong with that element, is he?

We'll have to wait and see what their competitive programs look like, but, I feel very confident that ChoBat will have a very strong RD and if they go back to a more character-based style for the FD, they've got nothing to worry about from FBCiz. GilPoir's fate will depend entirely upon their material. Something like the Wuthering Heights FD and a solid RD will keep them ahead of FBCiz. Hate to say it, but I do still think bronze is FBCiz's to lose. FearGib and GuigFab can't out-character ChoBat & GilPoir. Going camp won't win an Olympic medal. FearGib can't out-modern contemporary either GuigFab or even FBCiz giving us warmed over PapCiz vibes. GuigFab may be able to scratch back for the podium in Milano-Cortina - their lifts are stronger than what we've seen here from FBCiz; but I still err on the side of FBCiz taking bronze simply because it's Guillaume and GuigFab will get the consolation prize of a TE bronze.

It doesn't surprise me that Guillaume would push for them to go in this direction. Remember the bland, modern ballet FD he gave LopBri for 23-24? Totally NOT their style at all, but certainly right in his choreographic wheelhouse. He's got a certain sensibility about ice dance that he imposes upon every team he works with, IMO.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I don’t think the Shibs are going to be getting gold medals out of the gate, nor do I think that Laurence and Guillaume I mean theyve never even skater together before are going to be getting medals out of the gate.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

It would be very arrogant,

Sounds like he’d be right in his comfort zone zone, then

 

[angi]

I'm surprised people are surprised that Guillaume is dictating the style in the new partnership with Laurance. She is the stronger member of the partnership, and while she is a versatile performer and has amazing core strength that can allow them to do amazing lifts, he is very much not versatile and a weak lifter. There's a reason why most of P/C's SD/RDs weren't very successful or memorable, and when they were, like in their Fame or Tango RDs, it was Gabi who carried the load for the team. Assuming FB/C's team has a good strategy, they will build a RD that centers around Laurance and downplays Guillaume, and will give them a decent lyrical contemporary piece for the FD. Anything other than that will be a struggle given Guillaume's limitations.

 

[clairecloutier]

I must say this new take on Cizeron is interesting ... after so many years of hearing talk about how his skating skills and dancing were unparalleled, and Gabriella was supposedly not on his level!

Personally, I was always more invested in watching Gabi.

 

[skategal]

I must say this new take on Cizeron is interesting ... after so many years of hearing talk about how his skating skills and dancing were unparalleled, and Gabriella was supposedly not on his level!

Personally, I was always more invested in watching Gabi.

Same. I always felt Gabi was under-estimated and her talents under-utilized in the partnership.

 

[jägerbomb]

I must say this new take on Cizeron is interesting ... after so many years of hearing talk about how his skating skills and dancing were unparalleled, and Gabriella was supposedly not on his level!

Personally, I was always more invested in watching Gabi.

Agreed. Too bad it took Cizeron being an arrogant asshole for people to realize he has always been overrated.