2004

World Championships

Dance Event

By Maggie Doyle

This dance features unique partner positions and holds with specified free leg movements and positions. It needs to be skated with strong edges and deep knee bends and features a slow rhythmic movements and expression. The dance begins with the partners in a reverse backward fox trot hold position. The official ISU music was used and the skaters were directed that the Midnight Blues should be started with the first step of the dance on the side opposite the Judges Stand. Highlights include the Ina Bauer, a Swoop and a Layover/Layback maneuver.

Since Worlds 2004 was the first time they competed this dance, most of the competitors began intensive training after either Europeans or Four Continents.

Albena Denkova & Maxim Staviski of Bulgaria took the lead with an elegant blues performance for the second group of compulsory dance competitors. She said, "We feel at home here in Germany and we are grateful for the warm welcome the audience gave us. I think there wasn’t enough time for learning this new dance."

Elena Grushina & Ruslan Goncharov of the Ukraine skated well although slightly tentatively for their blues. "It is better we just have one dance now because it was hard to wait all day. I don’t like that we have two groups because now it seems like the competition starts in the original dance, as one cannot really compare couples, said Grushina. He adds," We had a good start because the ice is very good here in Dortmund and I like that there is only one compulsory dance."

Marie-France DuBreuil & Patrice Lauzon of Canada felt they gained an advantage by training in Lyon with another team that already knew the Midnight Blues. "They already had good technique on it so it was easier for us since we saw what the dance was supposed to look like, we had a reference, " said Dubreuil. Their coach was also familiar with this compulsory dance.

Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto of USA skated their blues with good execution but this time finished behind the French – Canadians. "We felt very confident with the Blues even though it was a new dance for us. Ben and I want to add our own personality to ice dancing and be unique," said Belbin. Agosto added, "This dance is an open clean canvas. We tried to get to the core of the blues, feel it and bring it out." This duo felt it was good to have some time between four continents and this event. "It was good for us. It gave us time to work on some details that needed it and make the programs fresh by tweaking some areas," added Belbin.

For the original dance, which will use swing combo rhythms on Thursday afternoon, Dubreuil & Lauzon will be the final competitors

This dance features unique partner positions and holds with specified free leg movements and positions. It needs to be skated with strong edges and deep knee bends and features a slow rhythmic movements and expression. The dance begins with the partners in a reverse backward fox trot hold position. The official ISU music was used and the skaters were directed that the Midnight Blues should be started with the first step of the dance on the side opposite the Judges Stand. Highlights include the Ina Bauer, a Swoop and a Layover/Layback manuever.

Since Worlds 2004 was the first time they competed this dance, most of the competitors began intensive training after either Europeans or Four Continents.

Tatiana Navka & Roman Kostomarov of Russia skated with deep knees and gave their blues a sultry feel to take the lead at this competition stage. Navka said of their performance, "We skated really well, especially because this it the first time we skated this new dance (competitively.) Navka points out one problem, "The only thing at the end I hit Roman in the nose on the final pose." Her partner adds, "Luckily my nose didn’t start to bleed!" Because this dance is so new, they skaters feel some uncertainty. Kostomarov said," We didn’t know what the judges are looking for in this dance and that made us nervous."

Kati Winkler & Rene Lohse of Germany came back after Lohse’s knee injury and competed strongly before a home crowd. "I’m really happy that my injury healed so quickly (right knee’s torn ligament). We really fought to come to Dortmund. I am so happy that I had the strength to do it," said Lohse.

They both appreciated the audience support. "The best thing is that we are in Germany. We practiced so hard to skate well here in Dortmund and it worked out. All the fans motivated us to give our best."

Isabelle Delobel & Oliver Schoenfelder of France stayed up in the top three with their rendition of the Midnight Blues in tasteful black costumes and were the speediest of the teams. "We felt very strong going into the competition and we started practicing the Midnight Blues after the European Championships," said Delobel.

Schoenfelder competed with a hand injury from his partner’s skate blade. "I still feel a little bit handicapped since I cut part of the muscle in my left hand just two weeks ago in practice. That makes gripping my partner a bit difficult but we are almost used to this situation now so it didn’t bother us (today)," he explained.

Just under the top three radar is Galit Chait & Sergei Sakhovski of Israel in fourth place for a factored placement of 1.6. This team is competing at the world level for the 10^th time. "We are very excited to have a full Israeli team at this worlds," said Chait. They also talked about that a second rink is under consideration to be built in Israel with Tel

Americans Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov were the first team to skate this new dance in a senior level competition. In their first world championships, this team placed seventh in group B. "We like the Midnight Blues very much. It suits our style," said Gregory. Her husband added, "We like the slow style and this dance is very emotional and we like that."

This year’s original dance rhythm is the "Swing Combo" and the skaters chose either two or three rhythms from the following selections: swing, jive, boogie-woogie, jitterbug, rock ‘n roll, or blues rhythms. This two minute and 30 second program must include one diagonal step sequence, and one midline step sequence. Only two lifts are permitted and one dance spin and combined lifts - spins are not permitted. The original dance counts for 30% of their total score. The first set of marks is for composition/required elements and the second set is for presentation.

Tatiana Navka & Roman Kostomarov of Russia began with the blues rhythm to "Ain’t No Sunshine" performed by Al Jerreau, opening with a dance lift which they followed with their midline step sequence. This team skated their "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley rock ‘n roll rhythm with good speed and energy to take the lead here over the Bulgarian team. They train in New Jersey with Alexander Zhulin who Navka married in 2000. This team will be the final dance competitors on Friday.

Albena Denkova & Maxim Staviski of Bulgaria start with the blues using "It’s a Man’s, Man’s World" by James Brown and opening their program with a spin followed by a lift. They next performed the Swing rhythm to "Big and Bad" by Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy, ending their program with their midline step sequence followed by their closing lift. They train with Alexei Gorshkov. Staviski said, "We gave it all we had, emotionally and technically. I think it is a very good performance, probably the best of the season."

Elena Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov of the Ukraine opened with the Swing rhythm to the fast –paced "Sing, Sing, Sing" followed by the blues which used the music," Summer" and then they returned to their swing music to conclude the original dance with all selections all produced by Robert Taft. This team who have been married since 1995 train with Nikolai Morozov. "We did a very good original dance today. I am satisfied with that and we like the theme of swing combo very much," she said.

Kati Winkler & Rene Lohse of Germany began with the swing to "Musical swing" by Casey MacGill &Michael Gruber, opening their program with Midline step sequences.

They then skated to an unidentified blues segment followed by "Stuff Like That There" by Livingston, Evans, and Goldsen for their Jive. They train with Martin Skotnicky.

"It felt very good today. Everything worked and we fought from the beginning until the end," said Winkler. Lohse added, "The crowd made me feel as if I was skating for ten thousand people."

Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto of the USA who train with Igor Shpilband and Marina Zueva in Canton, Michigan moved up from the compulsory rounds, passing three teams.

They opened their jitterbug rhythm that utilizes "5 months, 2 weeks, 2 days" by Louie Prima with their diagonal step sequence =, its difficulty should grab the judges’ attention.

For the blues they skate to "Give Me some Money Too" by Lenny Hester that features their optional lift and spin. They switch to the swing, performing to "Hey Pachuco" by Royal Crown Review. This duo did well with this program all season long, particularly under the code of points system. "Even though we are one of the younger teams, we always try to tell stories in our programs. We want to show we are a mature couple already," said Belbin. Her partner added "We felt great energy tonight."

Americans team mates Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov skated seventeenth in the skating order and finished 11^th in the original dance and 12^th overall at this competition stage. This is their first world competition and they train with Nikolai Morozov and Shae Lynn Bourne this season.

They opened with "Rock Around the Clock" for their rock ‘n roll rhythm, skated to Harem Nocturne Blues for the blues and then concluded with "Great Balls of Fire" by J.S. Bach. A highlight was their diagonal footwork. Gregory said, "(As part of our coaching team) Shae Lynn Bourne helps to push us. She and Nikolai know that we can do it they have a confidence in us that we are now starting to believe."

The USA needed a combined total of 28 points or better to keep two spots for the 2005 Worlds but they are in an excellent position for that with a total of 16 points. For three entries, they would need to gain three more points in the standings in Friday’s free dance.

For the first time Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov of Russia made the World’s podium, flying right to the top to become the 2004 World dance champions at the Westfalenhalle Dortmund. They won easily with nine 6.0’s for presentation for their lighthearted "Pink Panther" and "Austin Powers" free dance, receiving all first place ordinals except for one second place.

Navka said after their original dance marks, "Once I saw that 6.0 (original dance) I couldn’t see anything else." Apparently this was true again as she was shocked when she learned how many 6.0’s they had for their free dance. Navka said during the press conference, "Nine? Really? Wow! I am really excited!" She was moved to tears in kiss and cry once she learned they were in first place.

This team opened their program with strong twizzles with excellent unison and included seven lifts several with nice level changes and two spins. Their circular step sequence was fast.

Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski of Bulgaria skated to "Suite No.4, in D-Minor" By Handel for the silver medal. They did interesting moves but their performance was much slower than that of the new champions. Their comparative lack of speed was particularly noticeable on the circular step sequence. Their marks ranged from 5.7 – 5.9 and their presentation marks were strong with a range of 5.7 to 6.0. This team received two 6.0’s for presentation. " I always dreamed about getting a 6.0. If we had not skated so early we might have gotten more 6.0’s," said Denkova after the press conference. She also said, " We have a lot of fans in Germany and there were many Bulgarian flags in the crowd."

Germany’s Kati Winkler & Rene Lohse also were treated to one 6.0 mark for presentation and they owned the audience with their energetic "Night and Day" free program that took home the bronze medal in their native land . They opened their program with a carry lift and included a pair style spin. The audience embraced the German performers but was also very supportive to any competitor who skated well.

The German team said of their performance, "I can hardly speak right now. I can’t believe it and even a 6.0. It is beyond believe," said Winkler. Her partner added, "It’s incredible. We knew it could be possible but we didn’t really believe it."

The Ukraine’s Elena Grushina & Ruslan Goncharov skated a very dramatic free dance to "Hanging Escape" by Golshtain. Highlights included their twizzles, a good straight-line sequence and their turning her around his waist lift that concludes the program. They had solid marks of 5.4 to 5.8 for technical merit and 5.7 to 5.9 for presentation. "We were a little nervous because we hoped to medal. After a few days relaxing, we will think about building a new program and then go back to the Ukraine for a vacation," said Grushina.

Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto brought "West Side Story" to Germany for their free dance. This musical is now currently playing at a local theater in Dortmund but their coach Igor Shpilband assures that he had no idea of that coincidence ahead of time. The German audience was into the music, clapping along and this young team skated the program very well. Their program featured very nice unison on their twizzles, and a fantastic straight-line step sequence. "I think our theme "West Side Story" came across all the way," she said. Belbin said," It was just one flow of motion for us. We loved the audience here in Dortmund," added her partner.

American teammates Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov continue to improve under the tutelage of Nikolai Morozov and skated with lightness, good flow and improved speed.

Their marks ranged from 4.5 – 5.2 for technical merit and their presentation marks were 4.7 – 5.4 "We have been working hard all season and this was probably our best program so far. It is our first worlds and we are happy with what we have accomplished," said Gregory.

2004 World Championships Dance Medalists