- Joined
- Nov 6, 2014
But given how furiously many posters said that she's not balletic, this was not a good idea.
I think it was a great idea. And the fact that someone doesn't understand something shouldn't prevent people from writing the truth.
But given how furiously many posters said that she's not balletic, this was not a good idea.
I think it was a great idea. And the fact that someone doesn't understand something shouldn't prevent people from writing the truth.
Unlike Lysacek Zagitova had an innovation (though not well received by everyone) and delivered the hardest technical program. She will be at least remembered for the fully backloaded program and the Zagitova rule.
She's not a total forgettable skater like Lysacek.
I thought that this balletic argument was over months ago.
Interestingly, the margin of victory between Lysacek and Plushenko was that Lysacek backloaded 5 jumping passes (including his hardest element, the 3A combo). Plushenko had only 3 jumping passes in the second half, all easy ones.
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...For the record, I never said it was Kitri, or that character is unimportant - nor have I said whether I think Alina’s skating is or isn’t balletic.
But you posted just a video, so you left much space for interpretation of your move. Especially considering that you quote something that was telling about balletic in the beginning and the Kitri character at the end.
Unlike Lysacek Zagitova had an innovation (though not well received by everyone) and delivered the hardest technical program. She will be at least remembered for the fully backloaded program and the Zagitova rule.
She's not a total forgettable skater like Lysacek
I did not think Tavi... was asserting that somebody was not balletic - on the contrary, I thought he was asserting that someone was balletic, by posting a video of that person.
I think it was a great idea. And the fact that someone doesn't understand something shouldn't prevent people from writing the truth.
I agree that Lysacek is seen as an acceptable target, probably one of the most acceptable. Sarah Hughes doesn't get nearly as much.
I don't think there's any shame in trying to excel in the system. It's learnable and skaters shouldn't be blamed for the hacks that the ISU allows by design.
However, that doesn't absolve anyone from being criticized if the skating and programs are not good.
You know what? I take back anything bad I said about Lysacek. He put everything he had into his Olympic performance and came away with the big prize. You can't do anything more than that.
Sarah Hughes, too. In the grand sweep of figure skating history she was not as accomplished a skater as Sonja Henie or katarina Witt. She was not as accomplished a skater as Michelle Kwan or irina Slutskaya, who dominated that era of ladies' skating. But when the chips were down she "got on the good foot" (to quote soul man James Brown) on a day when her rivals didn't. Brava!
I thought that this balletic argument was over months ago.
I don't think Lysacek is totally forgettable, but also something tells me that in 20 years people will remember only Alina's programs from the 2018 Olympics. Even the fans of other ladies.
After some pages of bickering and people declaring they know best, I'm still convinced Alina IS A BALLETIC FIGURE SKATER!
You know that people can criticize a skater + choreography without being "arrogant," right?
I think Alina is very graceful overall, with beautiful use of limbs (that would be more effective if she would hold a pose for longer, IMO) but her carriage/posture leave too much to be desired for me to call her "balletic." There are far less balletic skaters than Alina - such as Liza Tukt, for example - but that doesn't make Alina a ballerina by comparison.
I can't think of any current skaters who are especially balletic, honestly, though maybe the closest would be Satoko Miyahara for her posture/carriage, line, and attention to detail/musicality in choreography. I could envision her doing a "ballet" program rather well.
Alina is still great. But her posture/carriage prevent her from being balletic in my opinion. That doesn't make me arrogant.
I think one poster already explained what balletic suppose to mean in this constellation. And it is to do movements from some ballet on the ice. ...
I think you have stated the question rather than given a definitive answer. Poster Colormyworld240 presented that point and view about what "balletic" is "supposed to mean," and argued persuasively for this opinion.
But it is not shared by everyone even so. I, for one, think it is possible to give a (properly termed) "balletic" performance by incorporating movements and postures that people associate with ballet dancing, yet not be attempting to perform a particular role from a particular opus.
It's not a productive way to reply though. We can all send videos, photos... and then "complain" that we didn't mean what was assumed.
What is better is open to discussion, I don't get it as a fact for the moment...
Even if one accepts that Alina or anyone else is "capable of translating ballet movements and story from the ballet to the ice", that does not mean that everyone has to accept that she or anyone else does it well just because she does it. ...
That's how I've generally thought the word to mean as well, at least in skating context. Performing to ballet music or even borrowing poses or moves from ballet doesn't make one "balletic". Plushenko did a whole program as a tribute to Nijinsky and even called it so, but I find his movement as un-balletic as it can be. OTOH Miyahara hasn't skated to any ballet music, but her ballet / dance training can easily be seen in the way she moves, holds herself and uses her arms etc.I personally have to say that I have long since made my peace with fans who say that ice skaters are "balletic." I think this term, in context, just means that the performer moves gracefully and tries to hit some pretty positions.
If you Google "synonyms for balletic" you see entries like "fluid" and "lithe."