I liked Doris's thread of the Dance Awards so much that I've done half of Pairs. It's really fun to view them. As in Dance, the award doesn't always go to the Pair who won the competition.
Here again are the criteria for the US Professional Skaters Performance Awards:
https://skatepsa.com/best-performance-awards
Best Performance Pairs
2020 - Jessica Calalang/Brian Johnson – Championship Pairs Free Skate Program
PSA Coaches – Todd Sand, Jenni Meno Sand, Christine Fowler-Binder
Choreographer – Cindy Stuart
Music Selection – “You are the Reason” by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis
Costume Designer – Lisa McKinnon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9POsXi4DN1g - 4CC 2020 performance
Although I'm not a fan of this program per se, Jessica and Brian perform it with such gorgeous elements and tenderness that it becomes more. They make it more. Keep in mind that they both landed all the jumps at Nationals.
2019 - Ashley Cain /Timothy LeDuc - Championship Pairs Free Program
PSA Coaches – Peter Cain, Darlene Cain, Nina Mozer
Choreographer – Pasquale Camerlengo
Music Selection – Music from the W.E. soundtrack by Abel Korzeniowski
Costume Design – Denyse Frey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPy2gCIWC6E&t=2s
This performance is exquisite in Ashley & Tim's expression, emotion, and attention to the music. It shines. If you ever wonder why SBS jumps are important, be in the arena when a pair lands them like this. They're as difficult to do and as impressive as big lifts. A&T's unison and awareness of each other, their connection throughout this skate is awesome. Great 3twist, too.
2018 - Tarah Kayne / Danny O’Shea – Championship Pairs Free Program
PSA Coaches – Jim Peterson, Amanda Evora
Choreographer – Shae–Lynn Bourne
Music Selection – “Swan Lake” by Pytor ILyich Tchaikovsky (selected and edited by Jim Peterson)
Costume Designers – Tarah Kayne, Jim Peterson, Dawn Imperatore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-avphCZGA3g&list=PLY1LXqVQXDQQr9bx9-cjqYZc6vcAmw15b&index=3&t=0s – 4CC 2020 performance
Tarah and Danny really shine here and show why they're so enduring as a pair. The last lift is awesome, with Danny in spread eagle and Tarah's air positions. My favorite lift ever of theirs was in their SP (All I ask of You). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRyj8TVTRHM
2017 - Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc – Championship Pairs Short Program
PSA Coaches – Darlene and Peter Cain
Choreographer – Serge Onik
Music Selection –“I've Put a Spell on You” by Annie Lennox
Costume Designer – Denyse Frey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNlkN7bhk6k&t=213s
I was in the arena for this performance, and it was the first of the evening to bring electricity and energy to the audience. And it was the best. A&T here are winning the SP at Nationals in their first 9 months together.
2016 - Tarah Kayne and Danny O’Shea – Championship Free Skate Program
PSA Coaches – Jim Peterson and Amanda Evora
Choreographer – Jim Peterson
Music Selection – "Music of the Night" Michael Crawford, Barbara Streisand
Costume Designer – Dawn Imperatore, Tarah Kayne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3CaxIjFze8 – at 23:50.
In both their SP and FS, Tarah and Danny were the last pair to skate, and the only pair to skate without falls or other big errors. That alone was thrilling (again, especially in the arena), but also both programs suit them to a T and show a great contrast. You can get a better sense of how complete their triumph is here if you watch the whole 35-minute video, with the last 4 pairs.
2015 - Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim – Championship Short Program
PSA Coaches – Dalilah Sappenfield, Laureano Ibarra
Choreographer – Julie Marcotte
Music Selection – "Tango de Roxanne" from Moulin Rouge
Costume Designer – Elena from Luda Designs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buycqcJOD9g
I love the drama and acting that Alexa and Chris show in this program. A completely clean SP from them, with only an uncharacteristic bobble or two.
2014 - Felicia Zhang & Nathan Bartholomay – Championship Free Skating
Coaches – Jim Peterson, Lyndon Johnston, Amanda Evora
Choreographer – Jim Peterson
Music – Symphonic Pieces from “Les Misérables” by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Costume Design – Jim Peterson and Dawn Imperatore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnkV-2-E8no
Felicia and Nate always give me chills here. The building feeling as they gain strength and beauty throughout the skate is wonderful; it's one of the things that makes a great skating program transcend the sum of its parts. Their joy and passion really shine.
2013 - Alexa Scimeca and Christopher Knierim – Championship Pairs Free Skate
Coaches – Dalilah Sappenfield, Larry Ibarra
Choreographer – Dalilah Sappenfield, Larry Ibarra
Music – “La Vita E Bella (Life is Beautiful)” by Nicola Piovani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY1ueehSTHI
Gorgeous, beautiful skating from Alexa and Chris. Pairs elements are divine. They skated this at Nationals when they'd been skating together only 9 months.
2012 - Gretchen Donlan and Andrew Speroff – Championship Pairs Free Skate
Coaches – Bobby Martin and Carrie Wall
Choreographer – Sheryl Franks with assistance from Deidre Williams (ballet movements)
Music – “Sleeping Beauty”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTEdwrH1ZMs
This is one of the skating performances when you could hear a pin drop, and you know it's because the audience is mesmerized. There's murmuring at some really exquisite moments: the lifts, the throws. You can feel everyone being caught up in the beauty and delicacy. This program came in 4th, and still, Gretchen and Andrew deserve every accolade!
2011 - Caitlin Yankowskas & John Coughlin – Long Program
Coaches – Dalilah Sappenfield, Larry Ibarra
Choreographer – Marina Zoueva, Damon Allen, Dalilah Sappenfield
Music – “Ava Maria” by Franz Schubert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=incIOswvkv0
This is another pin-drop performance, because of the emotion and also because Caitlin's skating just quietly draws you in. Her artistry is tangible.
2010 - Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett – Free Skate
Coaches – Jim Peterson, Lyndon Johnson, Alison Smith
Choreographer – Jim Peterson
Music – “Scheherazade” by Nikolai Rimsky–Korsakov
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4KOlVSoRGE
Caydee Denney shows that she's an undeniable force with this skate. And Jeremy is right there with her. Somehow his energy supports her and they demonstrate team quality: the whole is more than the sum of its parts.
Here again are the criteria for the US Professional Skaters Performance Awards:
https://skatepsa.com/best-performance-awards
Best Performance Pairs
2020 - Jessica Calalang/Brian Johnson – Championship Pairs Free Skate Program
PSA Coaches – Todd Sand, Jenni Meno Sand, Christine Fowler-Binder
Choreographer – Cindy Stuart
Music Selection – “You are the Reason” by Calum Scott and Leona Lewis
Costume Designer – Lisa McKinnon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9POsXi4DN1g - 4CC 2020 performance
Although I'm not a fan of this program per se, Jessica and Brian perform it with such gorgeous elements and tenderness that it becomes more. They make it more. Keep in mind that they both landed all the jumps at Nationals.
2019 - Ashley Cain /Timothy LeDuc - Championship Pairs Free Program
PSA Coaches – Peter Cain, Darlene Cain, Nina Mozer
Choreographer – Pasquale Camerlengo
Music Selection – Music from the W.E. soundtrack by Abel Korzeniowski
Costume Design – Denyse Frey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPy2gCIWC6E&t=2s
This performance is exquisite in Ashley & Tim's expression, emotion, and attention to the music. It shines. If you ever wonder why SBS jumps are important, be in the arena when a pair lands them like this. They're as difficult to do and as impressive as big lifts. A&T's unison and awareness of each other, their connection throughout this skate is awesome. Great 3twist, too.
2018 - Tarah Kayne / Danny O’Shea – Championship Pairs Free Program
PSA Coaches – Jim Peterson, Amanda Evora
Choreographer – Shae–Lynn Bourne
Music Selection – “Swan Lake” by Pytor ILyich Tchaikovsky (selected and edited by Jim Peterson)
Costume Designers – Tarah Kayne, Jim Peterson, Dawn Imperatore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-avphCZGA3g&list=PLY1LXqVQXDQQr9bx9-cjqYZc6vcAmw15b&index=3&t=0s – 4CC 2020 performance
Tarah and Danny really shine here and show why they're so enduring as a pair. The last lift is awesome, with Danny in spread eagle and Tarah's air positions. My favorite lift ever of theirs was in their SP (All I ask of You). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRyj8TVTRHM
2017 - Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc – Championship Pairs Short Program
PSA Coaches – Darlene and Peter Cain
Choreographer – Serge Onik
Music Selection –“I've Put a Spell on You” by Annie Lennox
Costume Designer – Denyse Frey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNlkN7bhk6k&t=213s
I was in the arena for this performance, and it was the first of the evening to bring electricity and energy to the audience. And it was the best. A&T here are winning the SP at Nationals in their first 9 months together.
2016 - Tarah Kayne and Danny O’Shea – Championship Free Skate Program
PSA Coaches – Jim Peterson and Amanda Evora
Choreographer – Jim Peterson
Music Selection – "Music of the Night" Michael Crawford, Barbara Streisand
Costume Designer – Dawn Imperatore, Tarah Kayne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3CaxIjFze8 – at 23:50.
In both their SP and FS, Tarah and Danny were the last pair to skate, and the only pair to skate without falls or other big errors. That alone was thrilling (again, especially in the arena), but also both programs suit them to a T and show a great contrast. You can get a better sense of how complete their triumph is here if you watch the whole 35-minute video, with the last 4 pairs.
2015 - Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim – Championship Short Program
PSA Coaches – Dalilah Sappenfield, Laureano Ibarra
Choreographer – Julie Marcotte
Music Selection – "Tango de Roxanne" from Moulin Rouge
Costume Designer – Elena from Luda Designs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buycqcJOD9g
I love the drama and acting that Alexa and Chris show in this program. A completely clean SP from them, with only an uncharacteristic bobble or two.
2014 - Felicia Zhang & Nathan Bartholomay – Championship Free Skating
Coaches – Jim Peterson, Lyndon Johnston, Amanda Evora
Choreographer – Jim Peterson
Music – Symphonic Pieces from “Les Misérables” by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Costume Design – Jim Peterson and Dawn Imperatore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnkV-2-E8no
Felicia and Nate always give me chills here. The building feeling as they gain strength and beauty throughout the skate is wonderful; it's one of the things that makes a great skating program transcend the sum of its parts. Their joy and passion really shine.
2013 - Alexa Scimeca and Christopher Knierim – Championship Pairs Free Skate
Coaches – Dalilah Sappenfield, Larry Ibarra
Choreographer – Dalilah Sappenfield, Larry Ibarra
Music – “La Vita E Bella (Life is Beautiful)” by Nicola Piovani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY1ueehSTHI
Gorgeous, beautiful skating from Alexa and Chris. Pairs elements are divine. They skated this at Nationals when they'd been skating together only 9 months.
2012 - Gretchen Donlan and Andrew Speroff – Championship Pairs Free Skate
Coaches – Bobby Martin and Carrie Wall
Choreographer – Sheryl Franks with assistance from Deidre Williams (ballet movements)
Music – “Sleeping Beauty”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTEdwrH1ZMs
This is one of the skating performances when you could hear a pin drop, and you know it's because the audience is mesmerized. There's murmuring at some really exquisite moments: the lifts, the throws. You can feel everyone being caught up in the beauty and delicacy. This program came in 4th, and still, Gretchen and Andrew deserve every accolade!
2011 - Caitlin Yankowskas & John Coughlin – Long Program
Coaches – Dalilah Sappenfield, Larry Ibarra
Choreographer – Marina Zoueva, Damon Allen, Dalilah Sappenfield
Music – “Ava Maria” by Franz Schubert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=incIOswvkv0
This is another pin-drop performance, because of the emotion and also because Caitlin's skating just quietly draws you in. Her artistry is tangible.
2010 - Caydee Denney & Jeremy Barrett – Free Skate
Coaches – Jim Peterson, Lyndon Johnson, Alison Smith
Choreographer – Jim Peterson
Music – “Scheherazade” by Nikolai Rimsky–Korsakov
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4KOlVSoRGE
Caydee Denney shows that she's an undeniable force with this skate. And Jeremy is right there with her. Somehow his energy supports her and they demonstrate team quality: the whole is more than the sum of its parts.