U.S. Ice Dance 2023-24 news & updates

[Sylvia]

November 14, 2023 in this thread:

Former U.S. ice dancer Alex Benoit is going to make his Broadway debut in the new musical adaptation of The Notebook

Cast - The Notebook The Musical

notebookmusical.com

Cross-posting here (also in OTBT) - USFS' Skater Spotlight article (June 11, 2024) on Alex Benoit's May 17th Broadway debut by @Jayar:

Benoit Makes Broadway Debut | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

Excerpts:

Benoit knew that he had put everything that he had into the Chicago run but was pragmatic about earning his first Broadway contract. When he finally did receive the call, Benoit was offered the role of swing, which means that he understudies multiple roles in order to fill in when specific cast members are unable to perform.
“I am an understudy for middle Noah as well as Finn/Johnny, which are principal tracks in the show, and I also cover the role of Lon,” he explained. “I was also offered the opportunity to be the show’s dance captain, which is an incredible opportunity that I didn’t know if I would ever get to do. I get to use all of the skills that I learned in ice dance, such as different dance styles and working in coaching environments.”
As in all swing roles, the name of the game is patience. Though Benoit will forever be part of the original cast who performed their opening performance in April, he had to wait until May 17 to make his actual stage debut in the role of Lon.

Benoit was invited to be part of the Original Broadway Cast recording that released on April 19, and later that month, the production was nominated for three Tony Awards, including Best Book of a Musical.
“It’s the first time I have gotten to sing on an album,” he said. “It’s been crazy flipping through my Apple music or Sportify and hear me singing. Seeing people respond to the recording for their love of the show on social media has been unbelievable – it reminds me of that first preview and then opening night, which were just electric. To be able to share that excitement with people has been incredible.”

 

[Wyliefan]

Katarina Wolfkostin is back on the ice after an injury. https://www.instagram.com/p/C8IgjBoxbeC/?igsh=YWI5bmZmM2RyNnRs

 

[layman]

Here are the GP assignments - 8 teams with 2 assignments apiece and 1 TBD at Skate America:

Skate America: Allen, Texas – Oct. 18-20, 2024
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Leah Neset and Artem Markelov*, TBD

Skate Canada International: Halifax, Nova Scotia – Oct. 25-27, 2024
Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville, Oona Brown and Gage Brown, Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik

Grand Prix de France: Angers, France – Nov. 1-3, 2024
Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville, Leah Neset and Artem Markelov, Eva Pate and Logan Bye

NHK Trophy: Tokyo, Japan – Nov. 8-10, 2024
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Caroline Green and Michael Parsons

Finlandia Trophy: Helsinki, Finland – Nov. 15-17, 2024
Oona Brown and Gage Brown, Eva Pate and Logan Bye, Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik

Cup of China: Chongqing, China – Nov. 22-24, 2024
Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, Caroline Green and Michael Parsons

*making Grand Prix Series debut

Maybe we can create the 2024-25 U.S. Ice Dance news thread before the start of the Chesapeake Open (June 19-22)?

It's interesting that all the top American Dance Teams will meet up at NHK. It will be like a mini-Nationals.

 

[Wyliefan]

Well, almost all -- Bratti/Somerville are the reigning U.S. bronze medalists.

 

[Rukia]

Well, almost all -- Bratti/Somerville are the reigning U.S. bronze medalists.

that whole free dance feels like a fever dream still (literally for some of the skaters)

 

[Wyliefan]

My dad was just complaining about how disastrously the U.S. Open (golf) is going today, and that free dance was the comparison that immediately popped into my mind.

 

[layman]

Well, almost all -- Bratti/Somerville are the reigning U.S. bronze medalists.

...I should have said all the top American Dance Teams, who have placed in the top ten at the World Championships.

 

[Frau Muller]

Well, almost all -- Bratti/Somerville are the reigning U.S. bronze medalists.

They’re the US dance team that failed to make the free dance?

 

[Sylvia]

March 24:

Emily Bratti shared their Worlds RD video with a message today:

Emily Bratti on Instagram: "This is definitely not the way we hoped to end the amazing season we’ve had. We were so happy with our skate until the end of our rhythm dance. We are very disappointed right now and wish we could have had the opportunity

711 likes, 56 comments - emily.bratti on March 24, 2024: "This is definitely not the way we hoped to end the amazing season we’ve had. We were so happy with our skate until the end of our rhythm dance. We are very disappointed right now and wish we could have had the opportunity to perform our...

www.instagram.com

I remember being impressed with how well Bratti/Somerville were skating... until his slip/fall near the end.

 

[Sylvia]

IDC's New Team Series: Amy Cui & Jonathan Rogers (June 9, 2024):

New Team Series: Amy Cui & Jonathan Rogers – Ice-dance.com

www.ice-dance.com

 

[Trillian]

March 24:

I remember being impressed with how well Bratti/Somerville were skating... until his slip/fall near the end.

I agree. Obviously the fall overshadowed it, but I was loving their performance up to that point. It’s a bummer the season ended that way, but I still think they can and should be major contenders for the U.S. #3 spot again next season.

 

[Dobre]

March 24:

I remember being impressed with how well Bratti/Somerville were skating... until his slip/fall near the end.

I have to admit that I thought it was bound to happen. Both while watching Bratti & Somerville muck up during the exhibition at Nationals, and then when they didn't show up for an early dance practice at Worlds. New coaching error, IMO. When you're attending your first Worlds, you haven't even stood on a GP podium, and you don't have the competitive experience, you need to go get as much experience as you can. There's a great deal of difference between coming up through the ranks the way Green & Parsons and Carreira & Ponomarenko did--fighting for international medals all the way through their careers--and being sent off to Worlds the way Bratti & Somerville, Paradis & Ouellette, and Soucisse & Firus were without that confidence building behind them. It wasn't that B&S couldn't qualify for the FD. They could have. It was that they didn't have the comparable experience at dealing with the competitive pressure in that type of setting relative to other teams fighting to make the cut.

 

[Wyliefan]

Little clip of the Browns getting new choreo. It's not confirmed that this is their music, though the date would fit the RD criteria.

Oona & Gage Brown on Instagram: "New choreography alert! 🚨😉 • #newprograms #iceskating #icedancing #choreography #thebrowns #itstime"

1,061 likes, 65 comments - thebrownsofficial_ on June 15, 2024: "New choreography alert! 🚨😉 • #newprograms #iceskating #icedancing #choreography #thebrowns #itstime".

www.instagram.com

 

[Rukia]

Little clip of the Browns getting new choreo. It's not confirmed that this is their music, though the date would fit the RD criteria.

Oona & Gage Brown on Instagram: "New choreography alert! 🚨😉 • #newprograms #iceskating #icedancing #choreography #thebrowns #itstime"

1,061 likes, 65 comments - thebrownsofficial_ on June 15, 2024: "New choreography alert! 🚨😉 • #newprograms #iceskating #icedancing #choreography #thebrowns #itstime".

www.instagram.com

lol I would actually love it to be to this music

 

[Wyliefan]

So would I.

 

[FishLift]

November 14, 2023 in this thread:

Cross-posting here (also in OTBT) - USFS' Skater Spotlight article (June 11, 2024) on Alex Benoit's May 17th Broadway debut by @Jayar:

Benoit Makes Broadway Debut | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

Googled this and came upon Benoit performing in New York.

- YouTube

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www.youtube.com

 

[bwayrose7]

Googled this and came upon Benoit performing in New York.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

The Notebook really has one of the most underrated scores on Broadway right now (and that song is one of the best in the show IMO), and Alex sounds fantastic singing it! I don't believe he's gone on as Noah yet during the Broadway run, but hopefully he gets the chance to soon.

 

[Jayar]

The Notebook really has one of the most underrated scores on Broadway right now (and that song is one of the best in the show IMO), and Alex sounds fantastic singing it! I don't believe he's gone on as Noah yet during the Broadway run, but hopefully he gets the chance to soon.

He has only gone on for Lon. He has rehearsal early tomorrow morning, so hopefully that means soon?

 

[Wyliefan]

Kaitlin Hawayek is doing makeup consultations with skaters. She did one with Emily Bratti to come up with her look for the FD this season.

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

 

[OrioleBeagle]

More Neset/Markelov wedding photo links are posted here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...world-2022-onwards.109801/page-5#post-6602372

ETA:

Caroline Green’s “May outtakes”:

Caroline Green on Instagram: "May outtakes"

535 likes, 15 comments - caroline.g_103 on June 3, 2024: "May outtakes".

www.instagram.com

Congrats to her brother, Gordon, on his college graduation!

Where did he go to school?

 

[jlai]

Now I want Gordon to come back and dance with somebody

 

[Wyliefan]

Where did he go to school?

His Instagram says Colgate. And now I'm going to put in a request to close this thread, since we've got two U.S. dance threads going at once!