The Dance Hall, Part 4: To Helsinki & Back -- Seeking Rhumba Magic ...

[sap5]

But what was classy was the skating, the program was more easy on the eyes if you prefer this phrasing

How is the skating "classy"? That makes no sense to me at all. I can see someone thinking one program concept is more classy than another, but the actual skating itself? It's not like ice dance has lots of those "peeing on a fire hydrant" moves you see in singles.

 

[marbri]

I'm guessing it means they didn't bring the sex

 

[VGThuy]

How is the skating "classy"? That makes no sense to me at all. I can see someone saying the concept of a program being more classy than another program concept, but the actual skating itself? It's not like ice dance has lots of those "peeing on a fire hydrant" moves you see in singles.

There are people out there who thought V/M's "Carmen" was vulgar, so I guess that's the standard for ice dance.

 

[sap5]

There are people out there who thought V/M's "Carmen" was vulgar, so I guess that's the standard for ice dance.

And yet there's lots of people who claim that V/M's Carmen had no sex in it at all, so not sure how good a standard it really is.

ETA: The thought that Carmen was "vulgar" still makes me rofl. But it was a quad that was full of Disney-like programs, so I guess the contrast was just too much.

 

[VGThuy]

And yet there's lots of people who claim that V/M's Carmen had no sex in it at all, so not sure how good a standard it really is.

ETA: The thought that Carmen was "vulgar" still makes me rofl. But it was a quad that was full of Disney-like programs, so I guess the contrast was just too much.

Exactly. I get confused over what shocks the conscious of ice dance fans these days. I mean what would these fans have done if they started seeing some mid-90s to mid-2000s ice dance?

 

[Lara111]

Did not like C/B short dance at all, unfortunately. He looked very awkward.

 

[sap5]

Exactly. I get confused over what shocks the conscious of ice dance fans these days. I mean what would these fans have done if they started seeing some mid-90s to mid-2000s ice dance?

As I recall, many of pearl-clutching fans *did* see dances of the mid-90s to mid-2000s, so I don't know if it was really so much about the moves as it was about criticizing the team.

 

[VGThuy]

I remember much ado about some of those acrobatic, bendy lifts that started showing up. A lot of it was seen as unseemly and some just complained about them because they had nothing to do with the music.

 

[sap5]

I remember much ado about some of those acrobatic, bendy lifts that started showing up. A lot of it was seen as unseemly and some just complained about them because they had nothing to do with the music.

In Carmen? I thought all the lifts were designed to move the story forward. That was one of the many great things about that program. Or are you talking about lifts in other programs?

 

[sap5]

On another note, I really wish Visa had chosen to sponsor at least one of the (currently competing) US dance teams. We have 3 extremely strong teams, and yet none of them deserved the nod?

 

[VGThuy]

In Carmen? I thought all the lifts were designed to move the story forward. That was one of the many great things about that program. Or are you talking about lifts in other programs?

Sorry, I meant like during the 1999-2006 era. Marina and Igor also got lots of crap for busy, acrobatic lifts that were only made to receive level 4.

On another note, I really wish Visa had chosen to sponsor at least one of the (currently competing) US dance teams. We have 3 extremely strong teams, and yet none of them deserved the nod?

True, but at least the Shibs have lots of sponsors already. Of course, having more doesn't hurt.

 

[UMBS Go Blue]

Madison Hubbell has a brand new blog entry up today where she shares the love with Karina Manta and Joe Johnson:

www.hubbell-donohue.com

 

[GreenGan]

I'm guessing it means they didn't bring the sex

Come on. Carmen was "The sex". It was gorgeous, V/M best FD. You can't say that any SD that we saw for now is as "The sex" as Carmen. Most of the time it's mime, no intention. It's overplayed.
I guess I'm not that good in english because I would have never opposed classy and sultry. So strange.

 

[marbri]

Come on. Carmen was "The sex". It was gorgeous, V/M best FD. You can't say that any SD that we saw for now is as "The sex" as Carmen. Most of the time it's mime, no intention. It's overplayed.
I guess I'm not that good in english because I would have never opposed classy and sultry. So strange.

I wasn't talkIng about Carmen? Or V/M for that matter.

 

[GreenGan]

This was more of an answer to the beginning of your answer and @VIETgrlTerifa and @sap5 discussion that resulted. About how skating fan thought VM were vulgar, etc etc. Maybe I misunderstood and thought they were talking about people like me

 

[marbri]

I posted before anyone mentioned V/M or Carmen so your post to me ( you quoted me and told me to "come on") made no sense. Anyway, this is probably getting more boring for others to read than it is for me to continue.

 

[NinjaTurtles]

I remember much ado about some of those acrobatic, bendy lifts that started showing up. A lot of it was seen as unseemly and some just complained about them because they had nothing to do with the music.

Yup. "Beaver cleaver" was a popular, derogatory descriptor of those lifts (and some of Sasha's moves in the field/spins).

 

[MarieM]

Classy is not what Commes&Buckland program is. Sophisticated version of latin suits it better.
It's not the program of the century, but considering what we've got so far, it's a bresh of fresh air to me.
Anyone who would have come with that kind of latin version would have received the same aproval from me.
But hey, the season just started, teams are going to tweak those programs a lot.

And yet I've always felt like latin ballroom is bordering vulgar most of the time, so no wonder most ice dancers are also bordering there IMO (again).

Carmen was not vulgar, but sultry, sexy, dramatic. The choreography had a purpose (despite Zueva destroying some of it), the lifts were conceived to just make the story move from one point to another, it was a work of art. IMO that's what the beginning of MR is.

And yes, acrobatic lifts when introduced were not meant for anything but gaining level 4s. V&M brought those lifts to a new level. Not every time, but Carmen was the epitome of lifts serving a choreography and not elements put together like "ice dance with numbers" that Igor does all the time.

 

[chantilly]

I thought Coomes and Buckland's music was well edited, but seems very old fashioned to me.
Their lift was great and the double twizzles into the lean on his back was nice.
They performed it well, but it just has a whiff of Latin. And not enough IMO.
I think if lacked fire, chemistry and passion big time.

 

[nuge]

I think if lacked fire, chemistry and passion big time.

Considering they are a couple off ice they don't really have chemistry on it

About lifts.Remember when most of the teams were doing touching your head to your foot.Also all the splits with the crotch in the man's face I'm sure there was a move in N/K Tosca FD that was mentioned to be vulgar. Will have to go and look now

 

[vireo]

Also all the splits with the crotch in the man's face

Those lifts became quite common and IIRC were eventually banned. They made for some interesting still photos though.

 

[NinjaTurtles]

How about CapLan's crotch lift?

 

[VGThuy]

How about CapLan's crotch lift?

Well...she looks happy.

 

[kittysk8ts]

How about CapLan's crotch lift?

WHen they skated this program at Worlds, Kurt Browning was commentating for CBC Sports and he said "You'd want to know each other quite well" about that lift. HAHAHA. I laughed out loud. Cool lift tho

 

[nuge]

Guinard/Fabbri do that lift too

 

[MarieM]

I'm starting to feel like all the SDs coming from Igor and Marina will be the best of the bunch for me.
But the FDs so far all go to Gatbois hands down.

 

[marbri]

I prefer all the SDs from Montreal so far (I felt the same about the SDs last season as well). It is here Montreal shows their ability to cater different styles. In the FDs, as Patrice recently said, that the couples that come to them prefer that style. Just P/C left but based on the rest it should be good as well. I am a bit surprised by her dress though, didn't think she would choose that style given her overall feelings on latin, makes it hard to guess what their SD will look like. I originally imagined a SD and costume more in line with Hubbel/Donahue but obviously that wasn't going to be the case once they debuted theirs. Anyway I like the variety Marie France has produced so far, all her teams show something different but within the guidelines. Makes the event more interesting for me to watch.

 

[chapis]

1. Penny COOMES / Nicholas BUCKLAND GBR
2. Kana MURAMOTO / Chris REED JPN
3. Kavita LORENZ / Joti POLIZOAKIS GER
4. Cortney MANSOUR / Michal CESKA CZE
5. Yura MIN / Alexander GAMELIN KOR
6. Lucie MYSLIVECKOVA / Lukas CSOLLEY SVK

Teams who got an olympic spot at Nebelhorn, congrats!!

 

[millyskate]

Penny and Nick have my 2 favourite programs so far I'm really impressed.

 

[sap5]

I'm starting to feel like all the SDs coming from Igor and Marina will be the best of the bunch for me.
But the FDs so far all go to Gatbois hands down.

Who are all the Igor and Marina teams this year? I can't keep them straight anymore. I know Marina has the Shibs, and Igor has Chock/Bates, Carreria/Ponomorenko, and the Ukrainian N/N team, right? Who else?