European Championships 2015 - The Ice-Dance Final
Yesterday in the short dance, Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron finished on first place, clearly on their way to winning their first ever European gold medal. The couple who currently holds the title, Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte, finished on third, visibly troubled by the results. However, the difference between the French and the Italians is less than two points, so anything can happen. On that note, we should also keep in mind that Elena Ilinykh & Ruslan Zhiganshin, currently on second place, are looking for their first European victory too.
We'll have to start with bad news, I'm afraid. Great Britain's Penny Coomes & Nicholas Buckland were forced to withdraw because Nicholas has fallen ill. We wish him a quick recovery.
I have previously said that the words in Sara Hurtado/Adria Diaz's free dance are distracting. Well, I must have got used to them because this time around, they do not bother me. I also love the steps between the first and second position of the twizzles. Their music is from Cirque du Soleil and Atonement. Their score: 93.22. Overall: 155.81.
Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri's Lord of the Dance was as merry as you'd expect; they managed to recreate the party atmosphere that traditional Irish music always brings with it. They're also much improved in their twizzles and lifts, which are quite daring. The only thing I wish I'd seen more of is actual Irish dance steps. They get 92.51 points. Overall: 154.61.
Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Sorensen are a new couple from Denmark who are going places! Their routine, set to music by Frank Sinatra, is very elegant, but what really stands out for me is the second lift, which they use as an exit out of the spin - very ingenuous and pretty. Their score: 88.84. Overall: 150.33.
If he lived, Tchaikovski might not appreciate the modern version of Swan Lake that Nelli Zhiganshina/Alexander Gazsi chose for their free dance, but I certainly do. It's a bold interpretation of a classic and it suits them perfectly. The costumes are also fabulous and clever (he's wearing leather, while she's wearing black lace). Unfortunately, the twizzles aren't that great. They get 90.59 points. Overall: 152.57.
I am too worried about his health to pay a lot of attention to Elena Ilinykh/Ruslan Zhiganshin's performance. Here's what happened: they attempted the curb lift, but her skate cut through his trouser, so they couldn't actually do it. The twizzles were also a mess and he stumbled right after the failed lift. He seems to be unharmed though if a little shocked. Their score: 89.89. Overall: 159.83.
Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron get a standing ovation. They are flawless despite doing their twizzles at a weird angle, which makes it look as if they're not in unison. Presentation wise, their performance of Mozart's Adagio from Concerto No. 23 is filled with romantic melancholy. They get 108.91 points. Overall: 179.97.
Despite the many nuances of Eleanor Rigby, there's a simplicity about Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin's programme that appeals to me. They just skate to the music, which emphasises the story more than a complicated choreography would have. Their score: 96.00. Overall: 160.95.
Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte look determined to at least grab a medal in Stockholm. As far as the presentation goes, this is more intense than the routine of the French. Luca, in particular, is amazing in his role as the creepy stalker, aka Death. Technically though, their lifts are a lot easier than their rivals'. They get 101.89 points. Overall: 171.52.
Federica Testa/Lucas Csolley are turning out to be a very pleasant surprise. They have a circus theme for the long dance and it is every bit as creative as the other themes we've seen in this last group. That says a lot because it puts them on the same level, at least from an artistic point of view, as some of the best skaters in the world. Their drop lift is literally presented as a circus trick with a manic laughter filling the arena right after it, almost saying: 'Ha, we've got you!' And they certainly have. I foresee fantastic things for them in the future. Their score: 87.66. Overall: 150.57.
Congratulations to Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron for their well-deserved gold medal. Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte also did a fantastic job, so they deserve a shout out as well. Last, but not least, Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin unexpectedly take the bronze medal.
We'll have to start with bad news, I'm afraid. Great Britain's Penny Coomes & Nicholas Buckland were forced to withdraw because Nicholas has fallen ill. We wish him a quick recovery.
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| Lifts is something Guignard & Fabbri excel at Photograph: Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Europe |
Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri's Lord of the Dance was as merry as you'd expect; they managed to recreate the party atmosphere that traditional Irish music always brings with it. They're also much improved in their twizzles and lifts, which are quite daring. The only thing I wish I'd seen more of is actual Irish dance steps. They get 92.51 points. Overall: 154.61.
Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Nikolaj Sorensen are a new couple from Denmark who are going places! Their routine, set to music by Frank Sinatra, is very elegant, but what really stands out for me is the second lift, which they use as an exit out of the spin - very ingenuous and pretty. Their score: 88.84. Overall: 150.33.
If he lived, Tchaikovski might not appreciate the modern version of Swan Lake that Nelli Zhiganshina/Alexander Gazsi chose for their free dance, but I certainly do. It's a bold interpretation of a classic and it suits them perfectly. The costumes are also fabulous and clever (he's wearing leather, while she's wearing black lace). Unfortunately, the twizzles aren't that great. They get 90.59 points. Overall: 152.57.
I am too worried about his health to pay a lot of attention to Elena Ilinykh/Ruslan Zhiganshin's performance. Here's what happened: they attempted the curb lift, but her skate cut through his trouser, so they couldn't actually do it. The twizzles were also a mess and he stumbled right after the failed lift. He seems to be unharmed though if a little shocked. Their score: 89.89. Overall: 159.83.
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| Papadakis & Cizeron have brought France back on the highest step of the European podium Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images Europe |
Despite the many nuances of Eleanor Rigby, there's a simplicity about Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin's programme that appeals to me. They just skate to the music, which emphasises the story more than a complicated choreography would have. Their score: 96.00. Overall: 160.95.
Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte look determined to at least grab a medal in Stockholm. As far as the presentation goes, this is more intense than the routine of the French. Luca, in particular, is amazing in his role as the creepy stalker, aka Death. Technically though, their lifts are a lot easier than their rivals'. They get 101.89 points. Overall: 171.52.
Federica Testa/Lucas Csolley are turning out to be a very pleasant surprise. They have a circus theme for the long dance and it is every bit as creative as the other themes we've seen in this last group. That says a lot because it puts them on the same level, at least from an artistic point of view, as some of the best skaters in the world. Their drop lift is literally presented as a circus trick with a manic laughter filling the arena right after it, almost saying: 'Ha, we've got you!' And they certainly have. I foresee fantastic things for them in the future. Their score: 87.66. Overall: 150.57.
Congratulations to Gabriella Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron for their well-deserved gold medal. Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte also did a fantastic job, so they deserve a shout out as well. Last, but not least, Alexandra Stepanova & Ivan Bukin unexpectedly take the bronze medal.
1) Lena and Ruslan rocks, that's good result, next year's gonna be a silver
ReplyDelete2) Yay for Sasha and Vania!!!!!!!!!!!!!! best ECh debut EVER (no ice dance team in the last 20 years got a medal the first time competing at ECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
3) I still have problems in remembering the names of the French team, but they are great, congrats to them