Four Continents 2016: The Ravensburger Waltz (Short Dance)
The Four Continents usually get overlooked by a lot of top skaters because they'd rather 'focus on the Worlds.' This is why in recent years this competition has proven to be the place for the underdogs to shine in every discipline but ice-dance.
Ice dancers, no matter how high they get on other podiums, seem bent on not over-looking the Four Continents, and thank God for it. It provides them with a chance to compare their routines against some of their toughest rivals' and therefore polish whatever rusty parts they may still have. For the people in the stands (and in front of the screens), it's a spectacle not to be missed.
Couples like Emi Hirai/Marien de la Asuncion are one of the reasons I enjoy watching the Four Continents. It gives me the chance to become familiar with some skaters I otherwise rarely see on ice. She loses her balance during the twizzles, which is probably why she seems rather rigid during the Ravensburger waltz section. Their score: 47.09.
Rebeka Kim/Kirill Minov's sudden fall at the very end of the programme shocks me. The rest of the routine is quite lovely, especially the rise and fall during the first part of the twizzles. I also like their costumes - are black polka dots on white fabric really French or do they only appear French when paired with French music? Either way, classy looks from the two. They get 44.69 points.
Beautiful interpretation of Hallelujah from Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue. Their Ravensburger waltz is full of expansive moves to match the flowing quality of the song and suggestive gestures to mirror the lyrics. The entrance into the twizzles is difficult with no preparation to it, which is going to get them a nice mark. Well done! Their score: 69.36.
Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu's musical pair seems rather odd to me - pairing one of the most melancholic songs to have ever been written, Piano Man, with the sexy vibe of Michael Buble's Fever makes for a mismatch from where I stand. I do like the way she throws seductive glances at the judges, but maybe they should interact like that with each other instead. They get 56.49 points.
Did you see Madison Chock/Evan Bates lip sync Unchained Melody? That's how you know the music is perfect for a skater. Love how their poses at the beginning and end of the routine look like cut-outs from film posters. He can't get hold of his skate during the first section of the twizzles. Their score: 67.05.
Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier are what happens when you put two creative people together. You get a lot of original routines that don't look like anything you've ever seen. These two are super comfortable around each other (unlike other couples we've seen today) which gives them the confidence to fool around on music by The Beatles in a Ravensburger Waltz season. They get 63.92 points.
Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani have the most flawless timing of the day so far. From the Ravensburger waltz to the twizzles to the rotational lift, everything is in tune today. Difficult entry in that lift with only one arm. There are not many people present today in the ice rink, but they sure do their best to show their support for these two. And well-deserved it is. Their score: 72.86.
Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje still have my favourite waltz of the season. Every time I think there's one I like more (i.e. Cappellini/Lanotte's), they prove me wrong. Their transaitions are basically a lesson in 7 steps of how to use little lifts to punctuate the music. They get 72.42 points. P.S: I'm also a big fan of their attitude - in case you haven't heard, Kaitlyn's happy with 72.
And why shouldn't she be? The Canadians are less than half a point behind the surprising leaders, the Shibutani siblings. However, the really big surprise of the day is on third: Hubbell and Donohue get a better score than Evan and Bates, and might just win the bronze medal. It's definitely not a sure bet though which will make for a very interesting final.
Ice dancers, no matter how high they get on other podiums, seem bent on not over-looking the Four Continents, and thank God for it. It provides them with a chance to compare their routines against some of their toughest rivals' and therefore polish whatever rusty parts they may still have. For the people in the stands (and in front of the screens), it's a spectacle not to be missed.
Couples like Emi Hirai/Marien de la Asuncion are one of the reasons I enjoy watching the Four Continents. It gives me the chance to become familiar with some skaters I otherwise rarely see on ice. She loses her balance during the twizzles, which is probably why she seems rather rigid during the Ravensburger waltz section. Their score: 47.09.
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| The Shibutani siblings, aka the new US Champions, take the lead Photo: Hannah Foslien / Getty Images North America |
Rebeka Kim/Kirill Minov's sudden fall at the very end of the programme shocks me. The rest of the routine is quite lovely, especially the rise and fall during the first part of the twizzles. I also like their costumes - are black polka dots on white fabric really French or do they only appear French when paired with French music? Either way, classy looks from the two. They get 44.69 points.
Beautiful interpretation of Hallelujah from Madison Hubbell/Zachary Donohue. Their Ravensburger waltz is full of expansive moves to match the flowing quality of the song and suggestive gestures to mirror the lyrics. The entrance into the twizzles is difficult with no preparation to it, which is going to get them a nice mark. Well done! Their score: 69.36.
Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu's musical pair seems rather odd to me - pairing one of the most melancholic songs to have ever been written, Piano Man, with the sexy vibe of Michael Buble's Fever makes for a mismatch from where I stand. I do like the way she throws seductive glances at the judges, but maybe they should interact like that with each other instead. They get 56.49 points.
Did you see Madison Chock/Evan Bates lip sync Unchained Melody? That's how you know the music is perfect for a skater. Love how their poses at the beginning and end of the routine look like cut-outs from film posters. He can't get hold of his skate during the first section of the twizzles. Their score: 67.05.
Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier are what happens when you put two creative people together. You get a lot of original routines that don't look like anything you've ever seen. These two are super comfortable around each other (unlike other couples we've seen today) which gives them the confidence to fool around on music by The Beatles in a Ravensburger Waltz season. They get 63.92 points.
Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani have the most flawless timing of the day so far. From the Ravensburger waltz to the twizzles to the rotational lift, everything is in tune today. Difficult entry in that lift with only one arm. There are not many people present today in the ice rink, but they sure do their best to show their support for these two. And well-deserved it is. Their score: 72.86.
Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje still have my favourite waltz of the season. Every time I think there's one I like more (i.e. Cappellini/Lanotte's), they prove me wrong. Their transaitions are basically a lesson in 7 steps of how to use little lifts to punctuate the music. They get 72.42 points. P.S: I'm also a big fan of their attitude - in case you haven't heard, Kaitlyn's happy with 72.
And why shouldn't she be? The Canadians are less than half a point behind the surprising leaders, the Shibutani siblings. However, the really big surprise of the day is on third: Hubbell and Donohue get a better score than Evan and Bates, and might just win the bronze medal. It's definitely not a sure bet though which will make for a very interesting final.
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