2016 Europeans: Lyricism at Its Best (Free Dance)
Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte are very, very close to a second European title, but their victory is very far from assured with Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron breathing down their backs. And what about Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev - will they keep their third place, rise higher or be overrun by another couple?
Isabella Tobias/Ilia Tkachenko are now competing for Israel. They skate to Polovetsian Dances. Love the costumes, but based on what I've seen from other skaters before, I think they might be a bit too ballroom for the theme. Correct me if I'm wrong. Technically, he loses the first position of the twizzles, but the straight-line lift with her upside down and him on one leg is astonishing. Their score: 87.21. Overall: 151.67.
Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri will sure leave a mark in Bratislava. I love the way they express all the pain of Schindler's List throughout the routine, but especially in the diagonal step sequence when they have the freedom to use their body language. The curve lift with her upside down on his shoulders is fabulous. No mistakes. They get 97.71 points. Overall: 162.58.
Penny Coomes/Nicholas Buckland use last season's Muse routine. It's very intense, but it doesn't have the emotion of the Italians'. I'm very glad to see how much their twizzles have improved. I also love her dress, if I haven't already said it last season. Nice dance-hold positions in the mid-line step sequence. Their score: 98.49. Overall: 162.75.
Laurence Foudrier Beaudry/Nicolaj Sorensen are the only ones to do a stationary lift, which surely sets them apart from the rest. Their music is Woman by Shawn Phillips. He loses his balance for a second in the twizzles, but not the position. They get 90.60 points. Overall: 152.79.
Federica Testa/Lucas Csolley are Slovakia's pride and joy, so it's no wonder they get a standing ovation. They deserve it too. Their routine tells the seductive story of Malena. Great mid-line step sequence with dance steps taken from a waltz, a tango and Italian traditional music. The death scene at the end is spot on. Their score: 95.81. Overall: 158.05.
I just realised Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte skate to Italian music a lot. No wonder, they have a vast repertoire to choose from and it's all great-quality. La Dolce Vita is no exception. Their mid-line step sequence is full of little jump steps, which are hard to do on ice, and blown kisses and winks at the audience and judges. This last detail is what makes them so likable - they know how to communicate with the world outside the ice rink. They get 105.70 points. Overall: 178.01.
Ekaterina Bobrova/Dmitri Soloviev are another couple to take a gem out of the cultural riches of their homeland. It's Anna Karenina for them, and just like in the time of Imperial Russia, the circular step sequence is an episode of proper, elegant waltzing with the gentleman leading the lady. Their score: 107.79. Overall: 176.50.
Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin must have an awesome record collection. Last year they skated to the Beatles, this year it's Freddy Mercury's Rachmaninoff's Revenge. This modern classic vibe fits them better than the glamorous 1950s short, in my opinion. The twizzles are breathtaking as usual. They get 98.90 points. Overall: 165.55.
Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron are experts at lyrical performances. Every single element is linked together beautifully so that it's hard to set them apart. The music is Rain in Your Black Eyes. Love the fluid exit out of the twizzles. Their score: 111.97. Overall: 182.71.
Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov skate to Io Ci Saro by Andrea Bocceli. Great twizzles, but the circular step sequence looks emptier than that of, say, the Italians. A lot of large, wide movements and singular twizzles, but that's about it. They get 104.32 points. Overall: 172.65.
As expected at the beginning of the competition, Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron are unstoppable. Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte have to settle for the silver medal, while Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev keep their third place.
Isabella Tobias/Ilia Tkachenko are now competing for Israel. They skate to Polovetsian Dances. Love the costumes, but based on what I've seen from other skaters before, I think they might be a bit too ballroom for the theme. Correct me if I'm wrong. Technically, he loses the first position of the twizzles, but the straight-line lift with her upside down and him on one leg is astonishing. Their score: 87.21. Overall: 151.67.
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| Italy's Guignard/Fabbri have the most emotional performance |
Penny Coomes/Nicholas Buckland use last season's Muse routine. It's very intense, but it doesn't have the emotion of the Italians'. I'm very glad to see how much their twizzles have improved. I also love her dress, if I haven't already said it last season. Nice dance-hold positions in the mid-line step sequence. Their score: 98.49. Overall: 162.75.
Laurence Foudrier Beaudry/Nicolaj Sorensen are the only ones to do a stationary lift, which surely sets them apart from the rest. Their music is Woman by Shawn Phillips. He loses his balance for a second in the twizzles, but not the position. They get 90.60 points. Overall: 152.79.
Federica Testa/Lucas Csolley are Slovakia's pride and joy, so it's no wonder they get a standing ovation. They deserve it too. Their routine tells the seductive story of Malena. Great mid-line step sequence with dance steps taken from a waltz, a tango and Italian traditional music. The death scene at the end is spot on. Their score: 95.81. Overall: 158.05.
I just realised Anna Cappellini/Luca Lanotte skate to Italian music a lot. No wonder, they have a vast repertoire to choose from and it's all great-quality. La Dolce Vita is no exception. Their mid-line step sequence is full of little jump steps, which are hard to do on ice, and blown kisses and winks at the audience and judges. This last detail is what makes them so likable - they know how to communicate with the world outside the ice rink. They get 105.70 points. Overall: 178.01.
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| Bobrova/Soloviev brought a classic on ice |
Alexandra Stepanova/Ivan Bukin must have an awesome record collection. Last year they skated to the Beatles, this year it's Freddy Mercury's Rachmaninoff's Revenge. This modern classic vibe fits them better than the glamorous 1950s short, in my opinion. The twizzles are breathtaking as usual. They get 98.90 points. Overall: 165.55.
Gabriella Papadakis/Guillaume Cizeron are experts at lyrical performances. Every single element is linked together beautifully so that it's hard to set them apart. The music is Rain in Your Black Eyes. Love the fluid exit out of the twizzles. Their score: 111.97. Overall: 182.71.
Victoria Sinitsina/Nikita Katsalapov skate to Io Ci Saro by Andrea Bocceli. Great twizzles, but the circular step sequence looks emptier than that of, say, the Italians. A lot of large, wide movements and singular twizzles, but that's about it. They get 104.32 points. Overall: 172.65.
As expected at the beginning of the competition, Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron are unstoppable. Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte have to settle for the silver medal, while Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev keep their third place.
Anna and Luca were my fav :(
ReplyDeleteThose two are outta control! Never seen anything like it. I can't get over how high he throws her in their twists.
ReplyDeleteGabriella an Guillaume my favourites but loved all the themes.
ReplyDelete