2003 U.S. Nationals

Junior Dance

by Lynn Rutherford

The Westminster Waltz, created in the 1930’s and named after a well-known London skating rink, is an elegant dance with one particularly challenging move: a turn from forward to backwards in which the man turns clockwise and the lady counter-clockwise, he on an outside counter, she on an inside rocker. Several of the lower-ranked couples in the competition came to grief on this move, tripping, stumbling and, in one case, falling to the ice.

In contrast, the Silver Samba is a relatively simple dance, recently removed from senior competition because it was deemed too easy. Speed and expression are the factors generally used to separate couples performing this up-tempo compulsory.

Competing at their third junior nationals, the experienced team of Kristen Frisch, 18, and Brent Bommentre, 18, who represented the U.S. in two Junior Grand Prix events last fall, finished first in both dances. Their waltz was characterized by deep edges, good speed and a high level of comfort with the challenging forward to backwards turn. With marks ranging from 4.7 – 5.1 for technique and 4.7 – 5.2 for timing and expression, they captured first-place marks from five of the nine judges.

Good ice coverage and speed set the couple’s samba apart, earning them marks of 4.8-5.1 for technique and 4.9 – 5.1 for timing and expression. Interestingly, they captured only two first-place marks, but won the dance by taking seven second-place marks.

"We’re very happy we won both dances," said Bommentre. "The difference in them is the tempo – the Samba is much faster. Neither dance is too complicated."

His partner agreed. "If you have good speed on the swing roll going into the turn (in the Westminster Waltz), it’s okay. What makes the Silver Samba difficult is the tempo and expression."

"This is the best I’ve seen Kristen and Brent compete all season," said Robert Kaine, who coaches the couple in partnership with Cheryl Demkowski-Snyder. "There was a calmness to their skating. Their expression was good, and they had nice seamless movement during both dances."

Frisch and Bommentre, who are hoping to improve upon their fourth-place finish at junior nationals last year, recently moved their training quarters to the Philadelphia Skating and Humane Society. "The schedule is more flexible and we have incredible ice," said Bommentre. "Also, now that Kirsten has graduated from high school and is going to Villanova, she’s based right in Philadelphia. There’s less stress than when she was commuting four hours a day." He added that he hopes to attend Drexel University part-time this spring.

Dallas hometown favorites Flo Steed, 17, and Augie Hill, 17, who won Midwestern sectionals and represented the U.S. in two Grand Prix events last fall, placed second in both dances. Their waltz had good speed and flow, and they took first-place marks from four of the judges. While their samba did not appear to be quite as fast as Frisch and Bommentre’s, it was skated very close together, and they again captured four first-place votes.

Pacific Coast sectionals champions Carly Donowick, 14, and Leo Ungar, 16, who are coached by 1992 Olympic gold medallists Sergei Ponomarenko and Marina Klimova, placed third in both dances. They skated with good speed, although they maneuvered too close to the boards once during the samba.

Eastern sectional champions Morgan Matthews, 15, and her Russian-born partner Maxim Zavozin, 17, placed fourth in both dances. Victoria Devins, 17, and Kevin O’Keefe, 20, who placed third at Easterns, were fifth in both dances, and Sarah Solomon, 17, and Benjamin Cohen, 17, who were fourth at Easterns, placed seventh in the waltz and sixth in the samba, combining for sixth place overall.

A recurring complaint about dance judging is that there’s rarely any movement among couples between the compulsories, original dance and free dance. Well, the judges at the 2003 U.S. junior dance competition are certainly doing their best to disprove that notion.

This season’s original dance, "Memories of a Grand Ball," requires competitors to choose among waltz, polka, gallop and march rhythms. The goal is to recreate the sumptuous elegance and grace imagined in 19^th and early 20^th century ballrooms.

Today’s winners were Morgan Matthews & Maxim Zavozin, who placed only fourth in yesterday’s compulsories. With excellent timing and good posture throughout, the couple performed an elegant waltz and stately march, although his stumble on the straight-line footwork sequence appeared to go unnoticed by some of the judges. They gained marks of 4.7 to 5.0 for technique and 5.0 to 5.2 for timing and expression, earning first-place marks from three of the nine judges as well as a majority of seconds.

While Kirsten Frisch & Brent Bommentre, who finished first in both compulsory dances yesterday, remain in first place overall, they were second in the original dance. Clad in matching navy blue costumes, the couple skated the march, waltz and polka rhythms with good expression and close holds, although he appeared to get ahead of her at times. Their marks ranged from 4.7 to 5.2 for technique and 4.8 to 5.4 for timing and expression. They, too, gained three first-place marks from the judges.

Dallas hometown favorites Flo Steed & Augie Hill, who placed second in the compulsory dances, finished third in the original dance and dropped to third overall. Skating to waltz and polka rhythms, the couple had an interesting straight-line footwork sequence that kicked off with mirror image twizzles. Incredibly, Steed & Hill also received three first-place marks.

"It was one of the best OD’s we’ve ever done," said Hill.

"We have a high degree of difficulty in our straight-line footwork sequence, with the mirror image twizzles and the cross overs," added Steed. "It goes with the polka theme of our music. We’re dancing with each other, but not touching."

Carly Donowick & Leo Ungar, who placed third in the compulsories, dropped to fourth overall with a fourth placement finish in the original dance. The couple performed their waltz rhythm well, but appeared to fall behind the music during their gallop sequence. Sarah Solomon & Benjamin Cohen, who were tied for sixth after the compulsories, finished fifth in the original dance and stand fifth overall. Victoria Devins & Kevin O’Keefe were fifth in the compulsories, sixth in the original dance, and sixth overall.

Matthews & Zavozin Overcome Poor Compulsories to Win Junior Dance Title

Victoria Devins & Kevin O’Keefe were fifth. Meryl Davis & Charlie White placed sixth.

Compulsory Dance 1

Compulsory Dance 2

Original Dance

Free Dance