Best and Worst of 2012/2013, Part 6
You've probably noticed how figure skating is changing every year; the rules get a little less strict (who else is excited about lyrics in single and pairs competition starting 2014/2015?), programmes get a little riskier and skaters are trying new elements each year (remember Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy's thrown triple Axel?). Ice dance in particular is an area where you can bring as many innovations as you'd like, but some skaters take that opportunity and dress it up in something ridiculous they then call originality. Others know that innovation is like pepper: you use a teaspoon and it adds flavour, you use a fistful and it sets you on fire.
Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje are no strangers to using new regulations in their programmes; whether they're using a prop (i.e.: Kaitlyn's scarf for the 2007/2008 original dance) or using iconic words to set the scene (Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman's voices at the start of their Moulin Rouge routine back in 2010/2011), they know exactly what to add to make their programmes more interesting. This year, they built an amazing story on their FD music, showing us what originality should always look like. But let's start with the beginning.
For a long time, I thought the Canadians had chosen the wrong theme for their polka (Sound of Music) because they didn't seem to be as passionate about it as they'd been in previous years about other themes. Then Kaitlyn got an injury and due to months of absence, the programme was almost erased from my memory. But they returned at the World Championships and all of a sudden it was like they had a brand new short dance, proving that what I had been disappointed about was simply something they didn't have time to perfect. Once they did, you could almost see the characters themselves on ice. From Kaitlyn's blue dress, to the flower in her hair, to the choreography, to the presentation, this short dance is their best so far.
The same thing can be said about their free dance. They've been brilliant before (Moulin Rouge was a masterpiece, Je suis malade had so much emotion it brought tears to everyone's eyes), but never quite like this. The story of the man who fell in love with his own creation was full of subtleties the two interpreted very well. First of all, this was not a love story, it was a story about pride, the story of the artist who finds such artistry in his work he imagines it coming to life. It was a story about obsession, about always wanting more. It was a metaphor for humankind, just like the song's title suggests (Humanity in Motion by Nathan Lanier). Some parts of the choreography showed the union between him, the sculptor, and her, the statue, others matched the music so perfectly you might never be able to listen to the song again without seeing them skate to it. This was if not the best, then at least the second best free dance of the season. For a moment there, it was magic on ice, and when that happens, you know the skaters are writing history.
Unfortunately, history can't remember only the great routines because once in a blue moon, a programme comes along that is so out of place, you have to immortalize it. Imagine then what happens if there are two routines of that sort performed in the same season by the same couple.
When Elena Ilinykh/Nikita Katsalapov made their debut this season at Rostelecom Cup, the first thing that must have popped into your head was "What on Earth are they wearing?" The answer came seconds after, upon realising the costumes were traditional Uzbek clothes. Then a more pressing question followed: "What does that have to do with polka?" I'm afraid that question has yet to be answered.
Don't get me wrong, the programme would have been great if the imposed rhythms had been traditional rhythms, but in a polka season, this looked as strange as a whale in the dessert. They tried to be original about it, but they took it a step too far. The programme was hard to follow because it was so outrageous you were too busy wondering how they had come up with it. The only thing that stopped it from being a complete fiasco were the skaters themselves who are, after all, Russia's new ice dance stars and, as all Russian stars, have great technical skills.
Their free dance was all about romance, as they've got us used to, and choreographically and technically, it was beautiful. But then all of a sudden you start hearing Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore talking, and it's not an iconic dialogue (like in Kaitlyn and Andrew's Moulin Rouge); no, it's just a sweet dialogue any normal couple has on a regular basis. Then the scene of Patrick's character dying comes in and more words cut through the music, except that this time you can't even understand them. Then Demi Moore starts screaming. All of those scenes could have been expressed with just music in the background and the programme would have bordered masterpiece, but by trying to be original, they overdid it again. Once more, there was something distracting you from the routine itself. Honestly, the fact that they came so close to beating Bobrova/Soloviev at the Europeans is almost an insult to the other Russian couple, who had two excellent programmes. Elena and Nikita truly are talented, so here's hoping next season they'll stick to what's been proven and tested instead of trying to revolutionize ice dance with daft ideas.
Kaitlyn Weaver/Andrew Poje are no strangers to using new regulations in their programmes; whether they're using a prop (i.e.: Kaitlyn's scarf for the 2007/2008 original dance) or using iconic words to set the scene (Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman's voices at the start of their Moulin Rouge routine back in 2010/2011), they know exactly what to add to make their programmes more interesting. This year, they built an amazing story on their FD music, showing us what originality should always look like. But let's start with the beginning.
For a long time, I thought the Canadians had chosen the wrong theme for their polka (Sound of Music) because they didn't seem to be as passionate about it as they'd been in previous years about other themes. Then Kaitlyn got an injury and due to months of absence, the programme was almost erased from my memory. But they returned at the World Championships and all of a sudden it was like they had a brand new short dance, proving that what I had been disappointed about was simply something they didn't have time to perfect. Once they did, you could almost see the characters themselves on ice. From Kaitlyn's blue dress, to the flower in her hair, to the choreography, to the presentation, this short dance is their best so far.The same thing can be said about their free dance. They've been brilliant before (Moulin Rouge was a masterpiece, Je suis malade had so much emotion it brought tears to everyone's eyes), but never quite like this. The story of the man who fell in love with his own creation was full of subtleties the two interpreted very well. First of all, this was not a love story, it was a story about pride, the story of the artist who finds such artistry in his work he imagines it coming to life. It was a story about obsession, about always wanting more. It was a metaphor for humankind, just like the song's title suggests (Humanity in Motion by Nathan Lanier). Some parts of the choreography showed the union between him, the sculptor, and her, the statue, others matched the music so perfectly you might never be able to listen to the song again without seeing them skate to it. This was if not the best, then at least the second best free dance of the season. For a moment there, it was magic on ice, and when that happens, you know the skaters are writing history.
Unfortunately, history can't remember only the great routines because once in a blue moon, a programme comes along that is so out of place, you have to immortalize it. Imagine then what happens if there are two routines of that sort performed in the same season by the same couple.
When Elena Ilinykh/Nikita Katsalapov made their debut this season at Rostelecom Cup, the first thing that must have popped into your head was "What on Earth are they wearing?" The answer came seconds after, upon realising the costumes were traditional Uzbek clothes. Then a more pressing question followed: "What does that have to do with polka?" I'm afraid that question has yet to be answered.Don't get me wrong, the programme would have been great if the imposed rhythms had been traditional rhythms, but in a polka season, this looked as strange as a whale in the dessert. They tried to be original about it, but they took it a step too far. The programme was hard to follow because it was so outrageous you were too busy wondering how they had come up with it. The only thing that stopped it from being a complete fiasco were the skaters themselves who are, after all, Russia's new ice dance stars and, as all Russian stars, have great technical skills.
Their free dance was all about romance, as they've got us used to, and choreographically and technically, it was beautiful. But then all of a sudden you start hearing Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore talking, and it's not an iconic dialogue (like in Kaitlyn and Andrew's Moulin Rouge); no, it's just a sweet dialogue any normal couple has on a regular basis. Then the scene of Patrick's character dying comes in and more words cut through the music, except that this time you can't even understand them. Then Demi Moore starts screaming. All of those scenes could have been expressed with just music in the background and the programme would have bordered masterpiece, but by trying to be original, they overdid it again. Once more, there was something distracting you from the routine itself. Honestly, the fact that they came so close to beating Bobrova/Soloviev at the Europeans is almost an insult to the other Russian couple, who had two excellent programmes. Elena and Nikita truly are talented, so here's hoping next season they'll stick to what's been proven and tested instead of trying to revolutionize ice dance with daft ideas.
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