Dance

Starting Order - Compulsory Dance

Results for the Compulsory Dance

(Viennese Waltz)

Starting Order - Original Dance

Results for the Original Dance

(Latin Combination)

Notes:

Skate America was the first major senior level competition in which the new combination rhythm dance was skated.  In this dance each couple skates to 2 or 3 Latin rhythms from a allowed group of 5.  A different piece of music is used for each rhythm and vocal music is allowed.  In general the dances were a lot more interesting than in just one rhythm was used by all the couples.  The original dance is now three minutes long and is more like a free dance than it was previously.  It increases the difficulty of the dance event.  In general the skaters appear to like it, although some couples are concerned that with the required elements it is difficult to capture the spirit of the rhythms with the appropriate movements while meeting all the technical requirements that are now imposed on the dance.  Because of the several required elements in the dance, the OD now also has somewhat the character of a singles and pairs short program.

The original dance and the compulsory dance were both skated on the same day, with the Viennese Waltz skated in the morning and the original dance in the evening.

Lobacheva & Averbukh won both the compulsory dance and the original dance.  Their OD consisted of a samba rhythm followed by the rumba and then returned to the samba.  Skating in orange and black costumes it was a herky-jerky, over-the-top, eccentric number.

Placing second in both the CD and the OD were Fusar-Poli & Margaglio.   Their OD was fast ann lively, but with a lot of dancing in place which is a practice that the ISU is trying to move couples away from.

Lang & Tchernyshev placed fourth in the CD but moved up to third in the OD and ended the day in third place.  Their OD was also a lively number and consisted of three distinct and clearly different rhythms, unlike many of the other couples who repeated the first rhythm in the third section of the dances.  They received particularly good second marks for a U.S. team - in the range 5.1 to 5.4.   Overall they made a good impression.

In moving up to third, Lang & Tchrenyshev bypassed Winler & Lohse whose OD was very rough and consisted of two rhythms both of which were skated to in more or less the same style.

Silverstein & Pekarek skated well though in a program of lesser difficulty than the top teams.  Still, what they put on the ice was well done and they appear to be coming along nicely in their move up from the junior level.

Starting Order - Free Dance

Final Results

Notes:

In the final warmup of the free dance, Winkler & Lohse led off with a techno style program with a millenium theme.  The program was gimmicky and included a lot of clock-hand gestures.  At best the program was uninteresting and far too frequently it was unattractive and irritating.

Fusar-Poli & Margaglio skated next with a Celtic themed program.  This style of music has been overdone in recent years, making this a risky choice.  The couple came through magnificently though, presenting a dance skated with flair and emotion.   The only weakness to the program was Fusar-Poli's occasional tendency to let her physical strength get a little bit away from her.  The first and third sections captured the spirit of the music without resorting to the stereotypical steps and the middle section was softer and more emotional with a hint of Anissina & Peizerat.   Afterwards Margaglio accepted the comparison to the French team saying that both teams draw from the same cultural background in developing the programs they bring to the ice.  He said that he and Peizerat are good friends and that they have similar thoughts on what ice dancing is/should be about.

Following the Italians, Lobacheva & Averbukh had a tough act to follow.  Their free dance this year is a departure from previous programs which have relied on ethnic and folk music themes.  Technically the dance was skated well but artistically it fell flat.  It was a nondescript and boring routine devoid of presence or intensity.   When they were done it seemed clear the Italians had won, but dance was being what it is there was the suspense of whether the judges would displace the higher ranked Russian team.  The judges did, so maybe with the new dance competition format their is some hope for dance after all.

Last to skate were Lang & Tchernyshev.  Skating in costumes in shades of turquoise the skated a somber, intense program with a commanding presence.  This routine is their best effort thus far and easily outclassed the German couple.

The second American team, Silverstein & Pekarek skated first but the judges did not forget about them.  They skated a soulful routine with good speed and presentation and placed fifth.  At this point it appears this couple has a good chance to take the silver medal at U.S. Nationals this season and make the U.S. World Team.

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