2015 Cup of China Free Dance

[mylifeback]

I prefer C/B & their romantic program but congratulations to the winners and their fans.

Igor needs to figure out how to raise their technical scores on the step sequences, their PCS is always fine. SD was a disappointment yesterday with the brutal level on the twizzles, but I absolutely adore the program. Same issue with the TES, though.

 

[Alex D]

I disagree, I found that lift to be so beautiful and impressive! I don't think we are in danger of seeing many like it in dance because almost no one else could actually do it.

The backwards straight line on one leg, with the lady up?

Weaver / Poje have one, the basics are at least the same, the lady position is different. It´s incredible hard to do, to find the balance and not knowing where you go to, tough - tough! But it does not look as spectacular as many Russian lifts, so a lot of people most likely see it as "less good", while its harder.

 

[cptnhastings]

I can not judge this, as I tend to sign off when the fighting happens (don´t like negativity), but I think Chock - Bates have an amazing SD this season, my favorite so far. I also like their Free Dance, to me they have a huge quality in their transitions, it always looks fluent and like one dance and not several like at other couples. I do not like programs that have too many gaps if that makes any sense to you? I want a seamless performance, of equally important dancers and this Madison and Evan deliver.

That said, I am not a technical specialist or a skater, but more a dancer and musician so my opinion is heavily influenced on this.

I love C/B's SD 100%. My favorite. C/L, in my opinion, was better on the FD this time, but that FD from C/B is GOOD. That can be improved for sure.

 

[Mao88]

Videos now in the videos & results thread

 

[caitie]

I felt that way too when I saw it early in the season, but they've re-tooled it. Did you see their performance of it at Skate Canada? Absolutely breathtaking. Ovation. Tears.

Yeah, I did... I do appreciate the new music cut, but I still don't especially like it. I *was* moved at the end, but by Alex's reaction to their skate and not the skate itself.

ETA: C/B needs to rework the end of their FD. I don't like it, especially the part where he carries her with his feet on the beat of the music. And I think they added (or were they always there?) these swoopy accents to the music, but unless the audio was poorly synced they weren't actually hitting the choreography on time.

 

[Florencito]

Congratulations C/L :clapper:


After watching the top teams this year (is it sure that P/C won't compete?), the Shibs' programs are my favourites

P/C will be back next week at TEB. Time to start a prayer circle for them.

 

[WeakAnkles]

C/B lost it in the step sequences. Only level 2 for both of them. There's your difference technically. It looks like the GOEs are pretty comparable.

Good for C/L, particularly after the debacle of last season. Nice to see them back in the game. The year in Ice Dance got much more interesting. Well at least the scoring and placements did. I'm still not quite so sure about the programs...

YMMV of course.

 

[caitie]

The year in Ice Dance got much more interesting. Well at least the scoring and placements did. I'm still not quite so sure about the programs...

:thumbsup:

 

[semosk8tfan]

Color me surprised, I really thought C/B would pull off a victory here (dance is my favorite discipline and yet it has been so cruel to my predictions). They did not give their best in China, twizzles and step sequence levels did them in. But oh so much better to muck it up here than at Worlds.

But I have to be happy for C/L, her joy after the disappointments of last season was nice to see.

Looking forward to next week's installment of dance drama!!

 

[gravy]

I never thought I'd be so satisfied with the fact that the team who stole my Nathalie's world title in 2014 won a competition. More European ice dance on top plz!

Igor must be pissed off that Marina is upping her politicking ways.

Don't worry Igor, come to me and I can comfort you.

 

[Kinga]

Alex, I absolutely agree w you about C/B's fluidity and exquisite transitions. They have a flow, ease, and grace that none of the other teams in this competition have.

I find Anna and Luca adorable, fun, and they did bring it technically tonight. But they also tend to be a bit stiff, wooden, and overdone with the facial expressions. Their skating skills are not all that strong.

I agree with you. I am not a fan of C/B (last year FD was really not my cup of tea), but I loved the smoothness of this program. Everything was so graceful and fluid.
C/L seemed slow, especially during step sequences.
But overall both teams were good

 

[WeakAnkles]

Costume failure for Ruslena?

Costume failure and extended lift. Those floral headpieces can be so unreliable!

 

[humbaba]

I haven't finished reading the rest of the thread, but I am sure there is Gloating Galore over the result. Ah well, there is de gustibus non est disputandum and then there is schadenfreude. Not pretty.

A few years back the Shibs were viewed by many as the heirs apparent to D/W. Some people have never forgiven C/B for passing them. Anyway, congrats to all the medalists and congrats to Madi and Evan for nailing down a GPF spot.

Even though I love Chock and Bates, I'm a C/L fan as well. It was great to see them do well.

 

[Alex D]

I love C/B's SD 100%. My favorite. C/L, in my opinion, was better on the FD this time, but that FD from C/B is GOOD. That can be improved for sure.

Cappellini - Lanotte, I agree. The win is in my opinion correct and the Americans need to polish their FD a bit to not lose out in the technical department. Three less in base value is too much, but they also lost in the technical score, the Twizzles can be done better, as example at Skate Canada in the SD, that was perfect.

As for the PC´s,

I would had given Madison & Evan a tad more there in Interpretation, Performance and Choreography. I just didn't see how the Italians were stronger there, but I think being the final couple plays some role there too (not saying they were pushed, but the gap is too big, either even or 0.05 less / more in total, like at the SS.

In total however, the Italians had the stronger skate, they work very well together and while they might not be the "best" dancers in the world, they do what they do, very clean and in good harmony, with high technical difficulties.

 

[WeakAnkles]

A few years back the Shibs were viewed by many as the heirs apparent to D/W. Some people have never forgiven C/B for passing them. Anyway, congrats to all the medalists and congrats to Madi and Evan for nailing down a GPF spot.

Even though I love Chock and Bates, I'm a C/L fan as well. It was great to see them do well.

So am I. I am Pleased As Punch to see them come back so strongly. I just don't like to see someone boost their particular favorite by being mean-spirited about their competition. Not classy.

 

[WeakAnkles]

Cappellini - Lanotte, I agree. The win is in my opinion correct and the Americans need to polish their FD a bit to not lose out in the technical department. Three less in base value is too much, but they also lost in the technical score, the Twizzles can be done better, as example at Skate Canada in the SD, that was perfect.

As for the PC´s,

I would had given Madison & Evan a tad more there in Interpretation, Performance and Choreography. I just didn't see how the Italians were stronger there, but I think being the final couple plays some role there too (not saying they were pushed, but the gap is too big, either even or 0.05 less / more in total, like at the SS.

In total however, the Italians had the stronger skate, they work very well together and while they might not be the "best" dancers in the world, they do what they do, very clean and in good harmony, with high technical difficulties.

The twizzles in the FD were pretty scored pretty identically. As I said, it was the two step sequences that made the difference between 1st and 2nd.

 

[Alex D]

The twizzles in the FD were pretty scored pretty identically. As I said, it was the two step sequences that made the difference between 1st and 2nd.

They lost 0.34 in the Twizzle, yes it´s not a lot but I am pretty sure it is what they will look at as "needs to be improved". But yes, they lost too much in the base value, even with those three points - they would had lost though , as the Italians also outscored them in GOE and PC´s.

 

[auser]

I haven't finished reading the rest of the thread, but I am sure there is Gloating Galore over the result. Ah well, there is de gustibus non est disputandum and then there is schadenfreude. Not pretty.

Latin quoter and tarot reader :cool2:. I must have missed the anti C/B posts(will catch up later). I feel fortunate to be able to watch the varied expressions of beauty all these dancers bring . And all I had to do is turn on my computer and web browser(if only laziness was an art form. Erm, I mean conservation of energy).

 

[WeakAnkles]

They lost 0.34 in the Twizzle, yes it´s not a lot but I am pretty sure it is what they will look at as "needs to be improved". But yes, they lost too much in the base value, even with those three points - they would had lost though , as the Italians also outscored them in GOE and PC´s.

That seems fair to me. If your level drops I think your GOEs and PCs should reflect that.

I wouldn't be surprised if Igor rechoreographs the two step sequences. They do have a nice chunk of time before the GPF.

I'm very sorry about Hawayek, but I completely understand I've had food poisoning and dude, I could hardly lift my head out of the porcelain throne, let alone do twizzles and get flung about in a lift. Here's hoping to a speedy recovery.

 

[Alex D]

Latin quoter and tarot reader :cool2:. I must have missed the anti C/B posts(will catch up later). I feel fortunate to be able to watch the varied expressions of beauty all these dancers bring . And all I had to do is turn on my computer and web browser(if only laziness was an art form. Erm, I mean conservation of energy).

There was a lot of variety indeed, Ice Dance is a great sport - pity it´s not receiving too much attention these days.