The Dance Hall 9: Bring the Bling or No Beijing 2021-2022

[GreenGan]

British judge went for S/D by a "mile" (3 points) in PCS (he is #3 in the protocols). Olozagarre went for them by 0.75.
Spanish judge without international ID qualification went for H/K by 1.25, Austrian judge for H/K by 0.25.
Munoz tied them.

Some interesting results in other countries

At 4N, I didn't expect Cimlova/Hlavsa winning over Mrazkova/Mrazek. Male Mrazek fell and lost an element in the RD, so after that C/H's win wasn't surprising anymore. However, C/H marginally won also the FD.
It was a fight between Italian camps: Barbara (C/H) over Zanni (M/M).

It was rather close between Kaliszek/Spodyriev and Taschlerova/Taschler in Senior. But we are used to K/S's scores being up and down all over the season according to the panels. So maybe they will "surprise" again at Euros.

In France, I noticed Dupayage/Nabais over Demougeot/Le Mercier in the FD (also in terms of PCS).

I really really liked Dupayage/Nabais today. Great first lift, great construction of the program, it just flows and stays very interesting. I didn't even notice if the skating skills were good because I was fascinated by this program. French ice dance (don't forget Lopareva/Brissaut), and quite frankly french figure skating in the future (particularly the men) is quite promising.

 

[Bigbird]

Only 0.8 points are separating S/D and H/K after the RD at Spanish nationals, with S/D leading. Watching the performance I felt like the judges forced the small gap since Kirill had several issues on twizzling elements during the performance. The FD will be a nailbiter.

No nailbiter. S/D have the better FD hands down. Please bring it guys. We need to see you at the Olympics. We want this, need this. Come on!! Yes!!!

 

[happycamper2554]

No nailbiter. S/D have the better FD hands down. Please bring it guys. We need to see you at the Olympics. We want this, need this. Come on!! Yes!!!

We don't want this or need this. H/K are the better skaters and i would much rather have them at the olympics.

 

[Bigbird]

We don't want this or need this. H/K are the better skaters and i would much rather have them at the olympics.

I used to think that H/K were the better skaters with just pretentious programs. Now I think their skating skills are equal and H/K now has more pretentious and tedious programs. You know as the World Turns and all that jazz.

 

[Karen-W]

We don't want this or need this. H/K are the better skaters and i would much rather have them at the olympics.

That's debatable, but what isn't debatable is that, this season, S/D do have the better programs. And, frankly, at the Olympics, they'd be far bigger hits with the "once every 4 years" audience than H/K's programs.

 

[tony]

No nailbiter. S/D have the better FD hands down. Please bring it guys. We need to see you at the Olympics. We want this, need this. Come on!! Yes!!!

The better FD how-so? That it's more audience-friendly? H/K are the better overall skaters, in big part due to Hurtado alone. Smart's basic skating is average at best and the distance between the two throughout each program is really noticeable. Also, I felt today that S/D were scored generously on their Midnight Blues pattern as I believe it was not a level 3- more than one key point wasn't really stable from what I could see in real-time. H/K skated slower and tentatively as well IMO, but I still think they are the better overall package.

I know I'm one of the lone souls that has been questioning where the choreography/complexity is in S/D's free dance (watch it just for all of the crossovers), and it's not like I think H/K have a masterpiece either. But if someone who is really well-versed about ice dance technique and rules can tell me why S/D have better programs or quality past 'they are better for the audience!', then please do!

That's debatable, but what isn't debatable is that, this season, S/D do have the better programs. And, frankly, at the Olympics, they'd be far bigger hits with the "once every 4 years" audience than H/K's programs.

The once every 4 year fans are pretty likely to react positively to Beyonce and J. Balvin, don't you think?

 

[angi]

S/D won Spanish nationals by 8.12 points, getting a huge lead in the FD:
S/D: TES 68.67 (BV 44.33), PCS 53.10, Total 121.77
H/K: TES 63.45 (BV 44.34), PCS 51.00, Total 114.45

The current scoring gap between the teams is 8.37 points, with Europeans being the last competition that counts.

 

[Andrea82]

The Spanish race looks closed unless S/D abort a lift or fall down at the beginning of an element at Europeans.

If Reed doesn't get Lithuanian citizenship, are we looking for 10 Gadbois teams at Olympics? I'm predicting Hawayek/Baker getting US third spot and Muramoto/Takahashi getting Japanese spot.

12-13 North American based teams. Shpilband relies on Davis/Smolkin getting third Russian spot.
5-6 should be Russian based. Sinitsina/Katsalapov, Stepanova/Bukin, Muller/Dieck, Nazarova/Nikitin, Kazakova/Reviya + eventually third Russian couple if it isn't D/S.

Rest should be
Italian spot for Barbara
Polish spot for Sylvia Nowak
Zanni with the Taschlers
1-2 for Margaglio. Finns for sure and Lithuania#2 are with him and Neil Brown, right?

 

[angi]

The Spanish race looks closed unless S/D abort a lift or fall down at the beginning of an element at Europeans.

At this point, I will be shocked if Europeans will actually happen to be honest.

If Reed doesn't get Lithuanian citizenship, are we looking for 10 Gadbois teams at Olympics? I'm predicting Hawayek/Baker getting US third spot and Muramoto/Takahashi getting Japanese spot.

FRA, USA x 3, ESP, CAN x 2, ARM, GBR, CHN - from what I'm counting but perhaps we are missing a team or two (aside from LTU).

 

[Wyliefan]

NM

 

[Bigbird]

S/D won Spanish nationals by 8.12 points, getting a huge lead in the FD:
S/D: TES 68.67 (BV 44.33), PCS 53.10, Total 121.77
H/K: TES 63.45 (BV 44.34), PCS 51.00, Total 114.45

The current scoring gap between the teams is 8.37 points, with Europeans being the last competition that counts.

Now that's what I am talking about. Yeah!!!

 

[Bigbird]

The better FD how-so? That it's more audience-friendly? H/K are the better overall skaters, in big part due to Hurtado alone. Smart's basic skating is average at best and the distance between the two throughout each program is really noticeable. Also, I felt today that S/D were scored generously on their Midnight Blues pattern as I believe it was not a level 3- more than one key point wasn't really stable from what I could see in real-time. H/K skated slower and tentatively as well IMO, but I still think they are the better overall package.

I know I'm one of the lone souls that has been questioning where the choreography/complexity is in S/D's free dance (watch it just for all of the crossovers), and it's not like I think H/K have a masterpiece either. But if someone who is really well-versed about ice dance technique and rules can tell me why S/D have better programs or quality past 'they are better for the audience!', then please do!


The once every 4 year fans are pretty likely to react positively to Beyonce and J. Balvin, don't you think?

YES. WHOOT. WHOOT. NOT OPEN FOR FURTHER DIALOGUE OR GRATUITOUS NITPICKING AT THE MOMENT. LATERZ

 

[clairecloutier]

 

[Bigbird]

 

[bcash]

The better FD how-so? That it's more audience-friendly? H/K are the better overall skaters, in big part due to Hurtado alone.

Better in terms of better constructed and laid-out elements, kinetically and musically. Plus I don't get this Hurtado worship. She gives some face but if H/K are better skaters it's in big part thanks to K.

 

[Bigbird]

Better in terms of better constructed and laid-out elements, musically and kinetically. Plus I don't get this Hurtado worship. She gives some face but if H/K are better skaters it's in big part thanks to K.

I preferred her so much more when she skated with IAM. As I've said before Zhulin revels in the pretentious.

 

[Peepsquick]

Better in terms of better constructed and laid-out elements, musically and kinetically. Plus I don't get this Hurtado worship. She gives some face but if H/K are better skaters it's in big part thanks to K.

Really? I find him rather shaky... I always thought he was the weaker skater of the pair!

 

[Peepsquick]

I preferred her so much more when she skated with IAM. As I've said before Zhulin revels in the pretentious.

They have had some excellent pieces over their time with Zhulin ... much more original and interesting than his usual and someone hinted that Sara often worked with Spanish choreographers (or dancers). They have a voice of their own.

 

[Peepsquick]

They have had some excellent pieces over their time with Zhulin ... much more original and interesting than his usual and someone hinted that Sara often worked with Spanish choreographers (or dancers). They have a voice of their own.

 

[allezfred]

I do think that in terms of programme construction that Smart Diaz are in front (and by far in the free).

And I don’t think there is any great difference in terms of skating skills between the two Spanish teams.

 

[Bigbird]

I do think that in terms of programme construction that Smart Diaz are in front (and by far in the free).

And I don’t think there is any great difference in terms of skating skills between the two Spanish teams.

Precisely.

 

[Bigbird]

They have had some excellent pieces over their time with Zhulin ... much more original and interesting than his usual and someone hinted that Sara often worked with Spanish choreographers (or dancers). They have a voice of their own.

True. But then Zhulin and Durnev polish them. Then all organic flair is flushed down the toilet.

 

[tony]

YES. WHOOT. WHOOT. NOT OPEN FOR FURTHER DIALOGUE OR GRATUITOUS NITPICKING AT THE MOMENT. LATERZ

I expected nothing more than an all-caps 'laterz' type of technical explanation from the poster who, a few months ago, questioned why the panel couldn't just give level 4's for elements with lowered GOEs. Thank you for the reply.

On an unrelated note, Spanish Nationals had an international set of technical panel members and a few judges not from the country. S/D's score shapes them up nicely for a push at World bronze too, I suppose.

 

[Bigbird]

I expected nothing more than an all-caps 'laterz' type of technical explanation from the poster who, a few months ago, questioned why the panel couldn't just give level 4's for elements with lowered GOEs. Thank you for the reply.

On an unrelated note, Spanish Nationals had an international set of technical panel members and a few judges not from the country. S/D's score shapes them up nicely for a push at World bronze too, I suppose.

oMG. ThaT makes it even BETTER!

 

[litenkyckling]

I tend to favour H/K but this year, S/D are just looking so strong and sure of themselves. On screen, S/D appear really fast too. I think that their music choices are really wise. both crowd-pleasing in different ways. The FD has so many 'highlight' movements too, like the choreo steps and the slide and the last lift - but honestly H/K don't have a memorable FD. And Hurtado's twizzles have been touch and go all season. I also think it wuld be nice for S/D to get the spot, that way all 4 of them will have had an Olympic experience.

 

[PRlady]

This is the first year I preferred S/D. I wonder if the Spanish Fed just thought they’re a better bet for Top 10 and the two spots they’ve wanted forever.

 

[Gris]

I actually liked H/K's RD the first time they performed it at a local competition. However after that it keeps regressing and now I see it more like a TikTok dance than an Olympic program. I also think the Led Zeppelin FD has potential but they have to skate flawlessly to sell it and they haven't been able to do that yet.

I also agree that there's not that much difference between the skill levels of H/K and S/D now.

 

[Orm Irian]

Speaking solely for myself, I generally prefer H/K over S/D by a substantial amount but this season am having difficulty sitting through either. There's nothing to pick between them in the RDs, and while S/D do seem to be skating a bit better at this point in the season, their FD is 95% boredom to 5% sparkle and the bits that sparkle are 100% cliched, which would present a nice opportunity for H/K if it weren't for the fact that their own FD hedgerows are utterly devoid of anything resembling bustle.

To my eyes it's not a question of which team is better, worse or more capable of getting a second Worlds spot/presenting an 'Olympic program', it's which one is fractionally less likely to send an entire panel of judges into a terminal coma while attempting to score them.

 

[Dobre]

The Spanish teams both have two programs that I enjoy watching. Theirs. Green & Parsons'. And particularly Muramoto & Takahashi's.

Among the top 8 teams, I think if Guignard & Fabbri can really bring home the RD, I might be able to sit back & just enjoy it as good fun--without being so annoyed by the 5 million different pieces of music. But it would have to be very sharp. I already like Atonement, despite its being soft & flowy, because it tells a story.

Mind you there are a lot of other senior programs I really love this season, some of them better than all of the above; but they are paired with another program that I don't like.

I'm trying to remember if there are any juniors that have two programs I really enjoy, but mostly I just keep coming back to the fact that I love the Browns' RD. Not very many juniors get fresh music so I blame this for the fact that not very many programs in the junior ranks have stuck with me after the JGP. I do like Makita & Gunara's RD and that of the French team that I posted earlier. There are a number of other junior teams or dancers that I like, but not so many junior programs that I've connected with yet this season.

 

[allezfred]

This is the first year I preferred S/D. I wonder if the Spanish Fed just thought they’re a better bet for Top 10 and the two spots they’ve wanted forever.

Do we even know if both teams are continuing beyond this season?