The Dance Hall 13: When You Dance on the Ice and Your Feet Twizzle Twice, That's Amore

[Twilight1]

Yes. But it took 5-6 years to come back. We all know the Italians don’t have that luxury of time.

Nor do they necessarily deserve it. IMVHO their best years have past them by.

 

[Orm Irian]

I 100% agree with you there. R/A should NOT be getting 9s or even 8s for skating skills.

A thing it's worth remembering about this competition is that after their Worlds mishap, R/A very smartly decided not to leave either regaining their standing or qualifying for Beijing remotely to chance and have come out of the gate very trained and super polished - and they didn't let things slide after the Beijing qualifier, either. I think they're about at the pitch we'd normally see them at at Euros right now. They may not have better skating skills in general than G/F or many other teams, but they're showing to advantage right now because their preparation is advanced compared to many and their presentation is already built. And because of that, they skated better overall on the day.

In addition, R/A have improved steadily over the years, as have F/G, and I hate to have to admit it, but G/F's skills have noticeably declined from their peak, which is something they either don't appear to have realised or aren't able to acknowledge. A spare, clean program like their FD when their skills were at their height would have been breathtaking because it would have thrown those skills into the spotlight. Now, it's lovely and it suits them, but it's not made special by their skill - and they still have to build its impact it through repetition and competition, too.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

For me, LFB/GC's free dance goes by so fast - even with rewatching. I can hardly believe it is 4 minutes long. Also, I am barely aware of the technical elements they seem so well incorporated into the overall feel of the program.

I agree when I watched I said to myself wow its over?

 

[Andrea82]

Seamless. Hmm, GC are whom again? Honourable mention to the Egyptian program, gorgeous.

I assume GC is Guillaume Cizeron.

During the Egyptian's L/LG's program, for one moment, I thought I switched to the stream of the Mezzaluna Cup. And that's not a compliment.

 

[marbri]

They should have gone to Margalio a long time ago. Marco's posture and skating are sublime, hers by comparison, not so much, and their programs are very open and simple, which emphasizes that. IAM programs always show off their skaters at their very best, Barbara doesn't do that consistently and she desperately needs a good choreographer. I hope Capellini or Lannotte can reach out to them to help them calm down.

Laughing a bit that in 2025 we have come to the point where Margaglio as a coach for G/F would be a better option over Babs. Not disagreeing but for those who were around watching them skate two decades ago I don't think any of us would have thought that

On a side note, I also wonder if Margaglio, the coach, now understands the criticisms he got back then

 

[MsZem]

Laughing a bit that in 2025 we have come to the point where Margaglio as a coach for G/F would be a better option over Babs. Not disagreeing but for those who were around watching them skate two decades ago I don't think any of us would have thought that

Those who can't do, teach?

 

[Andrea82]

What I wonder is if G/F's programs were shown in some close-door feedback session to Italian Fed's technical committee and to some of their judges and what they said about the RD.
And if not, when it became clear that they would have debuted directly at GP, why the Fed did not insist in seeing the programs before.

 

[Twilight1]

Laughing a bit that in 2025 we have come to the point where Margaglio as a coach for G/F would be a better option over Babs. Not disagreeing but for those who were around watching them skate two decades ago I don't think any of us would have thought that

On a side note, I also wonder if Margaglio, the coach, now understands the criticisms he got back then

I literally loathed his skating with Babs. Even their Lord of The Dance at the height of their ability is hard to watch after 2 decades.

Babs could skate with a mannequin and do better. Sorry not sorry.

But seems as a coach he has come into his own and I happy about that.

It also makes me giggle that Shae-Lynn is a world renowned choreographer and her and Victor choreographed that wretched Harry Connick Jr. Steamy pile of dog poo back in the day.

But long live the Little Bo Peep Hooking costume for 2000-2001 Skate America. That outfit was pure gold AND you can't find it on YouTube.

 

[Kateri]

But long live the Little Bo Peep Hooking costume for 2000-2001 Skate America. That outfit was pure gold

I get that I'm a quarter century late to this, but surely it has to be Little Ho Peep?

 

[Cayuse]

It also makes me giggle that Shae-Lynn is a world renowned choreographer and her and Victor choreographed that wretched Harry Connick Jr. Steamy pile of dog poo back in the day.

Shae-Lynn has definitely found her niche in choreographing for single skaters. I don't recall her ever working with ice dance choreography other than for herself and Victor.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

Shae-Lynn has definitely found her niche in choreographing for single skaters. I don't recall her ever working with ice dance choreography other than for herself and Victor.

Bourne choreographed a couple of Weaver/Poje's programs.

 

[puglover]

I know my interest in figure skating means my algorithms show me lots of comments and articles but I have been bombarded with stuff about the Italians displeasure with the judging in France. It seems everyone is getting in on it, including Tarasova, and even mainstream publications not usually interested in a grand prix. I wonder if they will regret having such a public reaction?

 

[PRlady]

What did Tarasova say? And how did it serve the interests of Holy Russia the Motherland?

 

[puglover]

What did Tarasova say? And how did it serve the interests of Holy Russia the Motherland?

Well, I can't find it so who knows whether it is factual or not. As I recall, she was mostly complimentary and said ice dance had been missing a team of that calibre. She also seemed to indicate she did not think they would win the olympic gold.

 

[Debbie S]

She also seemed to indicate she did not think they would win the olympic gold.

Who did she think would win? (Does she know there is no Russian team competing?)

 

[MsZem]

After watching Fear/Gibson's (not bad) FD, I had to go back and watch the Kerrs' Scottish OD. Now, I am hardly FSU's foremost technical expert and the Kerrs were not the strongest technical skaters, but it's striking how much more that program required of them as ice dancers than the current RD slop does. And that wasn't even a particularly structured OD theme! The video has over 2 million views, BTW, despite being older, and also with commentary in a language most viewers would not understand.

I would really love for the ISU to stop trying to make fetch happen and make ice dance actual ice dance again.

 

[Twilight1]

This quote didn't age well i hope they make some changes, and follow through on this quote. So much more healthier a perspective.

"We just want to enjoy the season and also enjoy the competition without too much pressure,” Guignard said. “If the results arrive, OK, and otherwise (also) it's OK. We just want to enjoy the feeling of the competition. Not like last year with lot of stress, a lot of pressure and, at the end, the result was not good.”

https://www.olympics.com/en/news/figure-skating-italy-ice-dancers-guignard-fabbri-grand-prix-france-reset-milano-cortina-interviews

 

[ice crystal]

I literally loathed his skating with Babs. Even their Lord of The Dance at the height of their ability is hard to watch after 2 decades.

Babs could skate with a mannequin and do better. Sorry not sorry.

But seems as a coach he has come into his own and I happy about that.

It also makes me giggle that Shae-Lynn is a world renowned choreographer and her and Victor choreographed that wretched Harry Connick Jr. Steamy pile of dog poo back in the day.

But long live the Little Bo Peep Hooking costume for 2000-2001 Skate America. That outfit was pure gold AND you can't find it on YouTube.

 

[ice crystal]

I can't remember when I last saw a coach storming out of the K&C, but refresh my memory, please. I wish Babs wouldn't show so publicly that her team is hard done by.
Whereas, Margaglio with the Taschlers (another team that can be so obviously unhappy with their scores...) comes across as mature, balanced in the K&C when they they smirk/sulk ect. It's clear who does their team a favour and who does not.

 

[princeton123]

Not a single team this quad is inspiring in any way

oldheads gotta retire. go finish your degree. find a job. start a family. I have had enough

 

[skategal]

Not a single team this quad is inspiring in any way

oldheads gotta retire. go finish your degree. find a job. start a family. I have had enough

I think there are many teams who are interesting and inspiring.

They aren’t at the top though….

 

[Tesla]

Watching the GPdF free dance. Laurence needs to take up more space in the kiss-n-cry. The manspreading was a bit much.

 

[Tesla]

I know shite about ice dance, but I thought Laurence and Guillaume were the class of the field and I loved Lilah and Lewis. I hope the Brits can close the gap.

 

[Laura4]

Well after watching GP France, all I can say is good luck Chock and Bates. They might have to be content with a possible team gold, although I would love to see them prove me wrong. I want to see a horse race between two or more teams for that individual gold medal at the Olympics.

 

[Twilight1]

Watching the GPdF free dance. Laurence needs to take up more space in the kiss-n-cry. The manspreading was a bit much.

Being someone who often takes public transport, some men think they have giant boulders for balls and manspread like they are the only person using a seat/bench.

It is a major pet peeve of mine.

 

[danceallnight]

It is rare for athletes to skip the mixed zone. Even after very disappointing performances, almost all will still show up and give comments (unless they are low-level and media does not request comment).
I do feel bad though for Guignard/Fabbri.

It is an ISU rule to go through the mixed zone and talk to the media, unless media doesn't need you.

 

[danceallnight]

Random fun fact mostly to reiterate how.....interconnected the ice dance world is beyond any one school: new British judge Sundeep Pandya used to be involved with the Lithuanian fed from the late 1990s through early/mid 2000s.

Does anyone wonder how Pandya went from starting his judging career last year at domestic events, to moving up to Grand Prix events this year? Is that possible?

 

[Andrea82]

Does anyone wonder how Pandya went from starting his judging career last year at domestic events, to moving up to Grand Prix events this year? Is that possible?

He passed the International judge exam in Summer 2024.
To officiate at GP level, for judges it is enough the international qualification (no need of the ISU one).
There was a German judge who passed the international examination in 2024 session and was already judging at Skate Canada 2024.

Edit:
in practice, the GP panels tend to be more "ISU level" but having some International judges isn't particularly too surprising.
For instance, last week there were 7 ISU judges and 2 International judges (Pandya and Saaid of Monaco) in the panel.
Last season's GPs:
Skate America: all ISU judges
Skate Canada: 6 ISU + 3 Internationals (Australian, Czech and German judges)
GP France: 6 ISU + 3 Internationals (Chinese, Czech and Monaco judges)
NHK: all ISU
Finlandia: 6 ISU + 3 Internationals (Australia, Monaco and Norway)
Cup of China: 7 ISU + 2 Internationals (Australian and Finnish judges)

2023 GPs
Skate America: 8 ISU and 1 International (Czechia)
Skate Canada: 8 ISU and 1 International (Israel)
GP France: 8 ISU and 1 International (Monaco)
Cup of China: 6 ISU and 3 Internationals (Australia, Czechia and China)
NHK: 6 ISU and 3 Internationals (Australia, Canada and Finland)
Finlandia: 7 ISU and 2 Internationals (Czechia and Norway)

In some cases, this also happens because certain judges hold dual qualifications (for instance, ISU Judges in Singles and Pairs, and International Judges in Ice Dance) and are already on site because their country have a single or pairs entries. And are used for ID panel to save money (for instance, the Chinese judge at French GP last year or the Israeli judge at 2023 Skate Canada).
And I guess Albert Saadi of Monaco and Espen Rotterud Runas of Norway will fill the vacant judging spots at France and Finlandia GPs forever and ever.

 

[Twilight1]

Not sure if this has been shared but this could be juicy

Papadakis Memoir coming...

 

[Lara111]

Not sure if this has been shared but this could be juicy

Papadakis Memoir coming..

I sincerely hope it doesn’t include anything that could be seen as too negative toward sports or Guillaume Cizeron — in the current cancel culture climate, that kind of thing can destroy reputations overnight. I want ot continue to enjoy Cizeron skating.