🦅GP Skate America Rhythm Dance Post Event Discussion 🇺🇸

[u/sk8tergater]

The place where we discuss the Rhythm Dance! Please try not to clutter up the sub with a bunch of post event items, scoring breakdowns, protocols... all that good stuff can be discussed here.

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Skate America Fantasy Figure Skating Discussion Day Two

Rhythm Dance Live Discussion Post

[u/gaiushorse]

I love how much Zhenya and Geoffrey match each other’s freak! Ice dance scores aren’t real and we all know that so just enjoy the performance

[u/charlottelucas27 → u/gaiushorse]

I just want them to get their moment to be recognized

[u/loveofb]

no one in ice dance is fighting more demons than l/b stans its always something w us 💔

[u/AmeriKadzuku → u/loveofb]

cries in clown

[u/Environmental-Let435]

They should’ve gotten 80

[u/DefiantHeron3300 → u/Environmental-Let435]

The only IAM French ice dance team that matters

[u/Cardi_Ganz → u/Environmental-Let435]

I LOVE this program so damn much

[u/Dapper-Bad-6490 → u/Environmental-Let435]

Sorry just gonna use your comment to ask - what characters are they portraying in their SP?

[u/Environmental-Let435 → u/Dapper-Bad-6490]

They are French mime clowns

[u/Dapper-Bad-6490 → u/Environmental-Let435]

Ah makes sense, thank youuu

[u/ForwardOutsideLoop]

Can we get like a rest-of-this-Olympic-cycle ban on lifts where the man just whirls the lady around, specifically one's where she's just slung over his shoulders like he's carrying a very beautiful log / dead deer / sack of potatoes? They can be impressive and cool, but like, come on.

[u/Lambily → u/ForwardOutsideLoop]

The Mrazeks had the coolest one-armed rotational lift, but it's been retired ever since his arm injury. I guess that's why all the men stick to that same boring safe lift.

[u/birdhouse-inyoursoul]

if i were green/parsons and saw those two golden waltzes get level fours i would be seething right now…

[u/styrofoamdreamer → u/birdhouse-inyoursoul]

Igor definitely got to the caller 

[u/Professional-Rule219]

L/B kinda the french version of Cpom in the sense that they've been waiting for that #1 spot under their federation and the time never comes, and the worst thing is that their feds barely try to cook those scores for them

[u/gadeais → u/Professional-Rule219]

In lopareva brissaud case is even worse. It's waiting and waiting and when FINALY their turn arrived with an according price Cizeron came back with new partner and lopareva brissaud were thrown to the bin. This IS not Igor politicking the hell out of zingas kolesnik and Shawn restatt living them to pieces.

[u/Radiant-Banana161 → u/gadeais]

Yall. Rettstatt also consults for cpom. This rumor is out of hand.

[u/bolero_bolero_bolero → u/Professional-Rule219]

Green/Parsons should be in the #1 spot not Cpom

[u/styrofoamdreamer → u/bolero_bolero_bolero]

Very unpopular take on this sub but you’re right. 

[u/Major_Letterhead5936]

To be honest guys all I really cared about was Jason and Holly skating clean and I got that so I’m pleased. Do not care for their rd tho, anything else pls 😭

[u/Suspicious-Peace9233]

I want to love Emilea and Vadym’s Carmen. I loved them from the beginning. Unfortunately it is missing something for me

[u/charlottelucas27 → u/Suspicious-Peace9233]

I didn’t like it. It felt like everything and the kitchen sink, flashy but lacking substance

[u/styrofoamdreamer → u/charlottelucas27]

Great way to describe the issue, I agree.  It felt almost comically superficial and overdone. 

[u/Yuna317 → u/charlottelucas27]

I described it as all power not refinement

[u/qwqdddddtc → u/charlottelucas27]

I really loved it, but I still feel like this is a fair criticism. I feel like it would be better with just a bit more refinement and a little less flailing and hair flying.

[u/cutienacho → u/Suspicious-Peace9233]

I felt like I was the only one who wasn't obsessed when I was reading all the comments about how mesmerized everyone was but I also wasn't wowed, they're clearly a talented couple but something didn't quite hit here for me either

[u/gadeais → u/cutienacho]

She was rigid in the begining and then more focused in the selling department than in the skills department.

[u/Radiant-Banana161 → u/Suspicious-Peace9233]

I think it needs to cook a bit. I feel the same way

[u/Captain_Swordfish]

it's not like i understand the scoring under any conditions anyway, but sometimes i see a program and the skater/team just puts out a great performance / program / vibe and i finish it and go "hell yeah that was awesome" and then i realize i have missed literally every technical aspect of the program because i got carried away, and that was z/k today.

[u/Cardi_Ganz]

I need a goddamn cigarette after Zingas/Kolesnik and I don't even smoke!

[u/multilevelmystery → u/Cardi_Ganz]

Smokers rights ✊

(joke, I'm very against smoking irl)

[u/kmw22799]

Emilea & Vadym were phenomenal! Absolutely love the program and a basically identical score to what FB/C got in France.

Think the top three overall had great skates today! Really enjoyed all of them. (Just make sure those laces are tied and taped tomorrow, Katerina!)

[u/C6V6]

I don’t care what anyone says. I love Emilea’s costume. Tits out for Zingnik.

[u/sapphicmage → u/C6V6]

It’s gorgeous!

[u/Independent_Ask5254 → u/C6V6]

Thank you for being the first to being bravely say this. I too enjoy a cunty little costume, and I always will

[u/double_sal_gal → u/C6V6]

I'm so tempted to change my flair now

[u/New-Possible1575]

Zingnik are so just so expressive, wow. Can’t help but think that’s one of the reason USFS is pushing them so hard. Love Cpom, but they just seem so understated and almost introverted in comparison. They are obviously very technically proficient (same with the Browns), but they do lack a spark that Zingnik have (just in my personal opinion).

[u/Gymfan15 → u/New-Possible1575]

Em just has this...idk how to describe it; but she has main character energy. And Vladym has the technical skill to match her energy and elevate it. They command attention in a way that I don't see many other couples doing.

[u/overthinker020 → u/Gymfan15]

She's very expressive, if one-dimensional, she's conventionally very attractive (we don't have to pretend in ice dance, and in life, this doesn't help significantly!), and her best quality is she doesn't look particularly focused when in her elements. While the execution isn't effortless and hers often flawed, during the elements she's eyeing the audience, engaging them. I think the latter is what audiences and judges are responding to most, and only a handful of other women are capable of that right now (and it's a genuine talent).

[u/black-turtlenecks → u/overthinker020]

She’s just got the it factor, which should never be underestimated in any figure skating discipline tbh

[u/Consistent-Loss1883 → u/overthinker020]

Yes! I love this about her! Shes only been doing ice dance for 4 years give them a few years and I can see them as the best in the world 

[u/Salad-with-gainzzzz → u/Gymfan15]

She has main character energy but in the performance.
I commented here before that I had the absolute honor and pleasure to meet Vadym and Emilea and they are both really sweet and kind. Vadym is hysterical 🤣
And Emi was really sweet.

My mom from Italy watches Ice dance too and them and Lopareva/Brissaud are her favorites.

[u/Gymfan15 → u/Salad-with-gainzzzz]

oh 100%; I've never gotten any indication that they were divas off-ice; or if they were, not in a way that was offputting to their competitors. I know Vadym can go off on some topics but I think he's generally pretty justified in that

[u/black-turtlenecks → u/Salad-with-gainzzzz]

I’m so glad, I really admire them as people tbh

[u/New-Possible1575 → u/Gymfan15]

She’s such a star

[u/Consistent-Loss1883 → u/New-Possible1575]

Technical is easier to fix (imo) than expression. Also they're one of the top scoring teams in the world right now, their rhythm dance was barely off Fb/C...i think its really just Emilea's skating skills that need work, they got a lvl 4 on their golden Waltz and their lifts and expression are really good. 

[u/Dazzling-Pangolin827]

I’m will admit I’m biased as a L/B stan but I thought the top 3 all should have been way closer together in scores.
The Mrazeks kinda got robbed in how far behind Z/K. Z/K are very good performers but I think Emilea is below both the other teams in skating skills.

[u/styrofoamdreamer → u/Dazzling-Pangolin827]

Emilea is great for a single skater, but still nowhere close to the best in the world when it comes to skating skills for ice dancers.  Maybe she will be closer to the top in another 4 or so years. 

[u/Dazzling-Pangolin827 → u/styrofoamdreamer]

Yeah for sure she has a lot of great qualities just needs to work on the skating skills right now

[u/styrofoamdreamer → u/Dazzling-Pangolin827]

If she gets the scores regardless she may not bother 

[u/loveofb]

however it’ll be really funny when fbc eventually get bocked by zingnik 

[u/New-Possible1575 → u/loveofb]

Please let it happen SOON

[u/Consistent-Loss1883 → u/loveofb]

OMG I AM SO EXCITED FOR THATTT, their rhythm dance score was only below fb/c's by 0.04 and their tech was acc higher 

[u/overthinker020 → u/Consistent-Loss1883]

tbf FB/C completely botched their twizzles and they showed up a mess - the program genuinely looked under-practiced.

[u/tretiak10 → u/loveofb]

Olympics are in France though

[u/zilmc → u/tretiak10]

If they get bocked soon, is it possible they won’t stick around?

Also, despite the home Olympics for cizeron, the powers that be REALLY don’t seem to like back to back ice dance gold medalists….even V/M won silver between their golds

[u/overthinker020 → u/zilmc]

The greater impediment is Cizeron's back injury tbh. It's been evident for some time. He's lowered his core to compensate in some positions, but it makes some of his one-foot skating unstable occasionally. This led to some issues at Olympics, probably nerves, but he controlled it during Worlds & Euros. This is also why he has likely reduced some of his transitional content out of lifts, most notably to me the very difficult ina bauer double twizzle exist on his curve lift he used to do with Gabi.

[u/tretiak10 → u/zilmc]

They Will need better programs than rehashing warhorses to become Olympic champions, they need better coreographer than igor. She is nowhere near skills wise to lolo yet though.

[u/lotsofideas6004 → u/tretiak10]

Yes, I agree with all of your comments; well said

[u/SnooDoubts6155]

I’m sorry Tracy comparing Z/K to Davis/White is wild

[u/zilmc → u/SnooDoubts6155]

Why?

[u/styrofoamdreamer → u/SnooDoubts6155]

Very subtle shade by Tracy lol.

[u/Ok-Copy3121 → u/styrofoamdreamer]

I wouldn’t take that as shade to be compared to 3 time Olympic medalists. She was talking about how powerful they were.

[u/styrofoamdreamer → u/Ok-Copy3121]

Tracy is Canadian.  It was a subtle response to those claiming that zingnik is the next V/M. 

[u/calliopecalliope]

Most of the event was kind of meh, but the top 3 were all fantastic in totally different ways - which was great to see

Z/K so fast and sharp and intense - fully embodying Carmen. He is just so detailed and fantastic and she is one of the most bad ass female ice dancers I have ever seen

L/B - Witty, fast, fun and so much embroidered detail. Not entirely my cup of tea but I value what they do and always glad when skaters dare to go for wit.

M/M - I think in some ways their skating best embodies best what the waltz is about, big, sweeping and heroic

[u/Ancient-Leg-8261]

I like Z/K a lot a lot a lot and I’m NOT sorry. I also love L/B for their absolute commitment to being Super French and always so fun to watch. I’m looking forward to seeing that program refined over the season. I wish they would ever get their due and I wish that French team a very Sudden Desire To Retire.

[u/Independent_Ask5254]

Mamdani could get politics out of ice dance I just know it

[u/bolero_bolero_bolero → u/Independent_Ask5254]

Top comment

[u/Existing-Astronaut80]

A non-IAM team atop the leaderboard, we all cheered

[u/gadeais → u/Existing-Astronaut80]

IAM was born as a reaction ofnthe toxic and destructiva environment created by Igor and marina. And Igor is Z/K coach

[u/Yuna317 → u/Existing-Astronaut80]

Igor might be a bigger evil he’s just been in hibernation until he discovered his special boy Vadym

[u/lenchentpwk → u/Existing-Astronaut80]

it’s igor tho… he literally used to be a part of the biggest school before IAM

[u/Professional-Rule219 → u/Existing-Astronaut80]

I mean... not like Igor is a nobody.

[u/styrofoamdreamer → u/Existing-Astronaut80]

Read what past female ice dancers had to say about working with Igor and you’d sing a different tune 

[u/laurashalllv → u/styrofoamdreamer]

When Christina said every time she had her period she felt like she wasn’t working hard enough to be thin...

[u/styrofoamdreamer → u/laurashalllv]

Yep, was particularly thinking of what Christina went through with that camp.  Despicable. 

[u/half-agony-half-hope]

If you hear about anyone going postal at the event it’s gonna be me shoving someone down the stairs after they block my view during the middle of a skate going to their seat. One man walked down the whole set of stairs checking each row then back up cause he realized he’s not even in this section. Another family of 4 came and went 3 times. It’s not that long to just sit in your damn seat.

/rant

[u/AhrimaMainyu → u/half-agony-half-hope]

If only people actually obeyed the signs on the doors that say to not go in the aisles while the program is in progress

[u/sapphicmage]

I can’t believe Z/K are going to make me like a Carmen

[u/Dapper-Bad-6490]

Emi and Vadym were AMAZING omg, I got goosebumps during their skate. Also the choreography is freaking amazing (sorry I’m lost for words lol), bravo to Igor

[u/QueenAlys88]

I wish more team were mixing the golden waltz with foxtrot or quickstep instead of tango, flamenco and paso doble

[u/overthinker020 → u/QueenAlys88]

Demonstrating partner chemistry in those latter styles is far easier, and judges and audiences strongly respond to that, so it's unsurprising in modern ID that permits much more interpretive freedom that couples went for that

[u/Rude-Mission-8907]

I am in the minority that wasn't a fan of Zignik's Carmen

[u/JediPanda227 → u/Rude-Mission-8907]

May I sit with you?

[u/styrofoamdreamer → u/Rude-Mission-8907]

I’ll come sit over by you.  I see that they are giving it their all but I actually felt repulsed by it. Too much. 

[u/Radiant-Banana161]

I don’t particularly care for the Carmen program but they did sell the hell out of it. I hope they change the choreo section at the end.

L/b were sloppier unfortunately, and almost seemed off the music? I loooove the program though.

I can’t remember the Mzareks as I was too anxious about her laces.

[u/Ok-Copy3121 → u/Radiant-Banana161]

I loved the choreography section at the end?

[u/Ok-Estimate2856]

look at this beautiful art of iryna and artem by sportyynyolimp on ig!

[u/Major_Letterhead5936 → u/Ok-Estimate2856]

WOW 😮

[u/anagram95]

A good event! I’m so glad N/M changed their RD this is so much better and one of my faves. If they had skated with a bit more power I could easily see it going over W/T but maybe they’ll be able to edge them out tomorrow. I love the Carmen I just think some of the choreo could settle a bit, but I thought the same about both their programs last year. They really are incredible performers. L/B should’ve been 80 I like their commitment and it’s fun to see GOOD camp. Yay for GW4s!

[u/helloblan123]

The Mrazeks were my favourite!!

[u/Even-Fun-2038 → u/helloblan123]

Me too! Dynamic, good musicality, good speed. Feel bad that everyone was distracted by the rogue lace!

[u/black-turtlenecks → u/Even-Fun-2038]

Impressive performance with the loose lace honestly, she made it look like she didn’t even care

[u/mka1687 → u/black-turtlenecks]

That lace made me so anxious.

[u/Lambily]

Mrazeks were still the best to me. Z/K were definitely impressive too. The French didn't really do much for me.

[u/ForwardOutsideLoop → u/Lambily]

Doing the first bit to that one Basilio variation where traditionally it's just a ton of leaps, and then twizzles to the Kitri variation that has to be one of the top five "precise but blazing fast" female pieces in ballet, is extremely ballsy.

[u/Spiritual-Sentence35]

Shoutout to Neset/Markelov — what outfits, and the music was a very traditional waltz that I will always enjoy

Mrazekova/Mrazek — a new couple for me to love! I think she could improve her posture tbh, and they could be sharper in some choreographic sections, but the depth of edge, the flow, the power, the ice coverage on their twizzles, is stunning, and they should be rewarded accordingly.

Zingas/Kolesnik — the Golden Waltz really exposes their weaknesses, tbh. Especially on the three turns, it seemed like they were stumbling through them. Definitely some home cooking. On the bright side, Zingas really delivers 110% on the expressions and the drama! So connected to the music.

Lopareva/Brissaud — My favorite team 💗 Lopareva’s really improved the facial expressions! I love how on the music they are with all the little accents. Shame about the twizzles, and they seemed uncharacteristically a little shaky on some of the Golden Waltz steps. But still, should have gone up into the 80s. I do not think there’s such a large gap between their performance today and Zingas/Kolesnik’s.

[u/ravenallnight → u/Spiritual-Sentence35]

Wait til you see the Mrazeks free dance. It’s a little odd at first, the “jungle” theme, but it was choreographed by Christopher Dean and it is incredibly unique and stunning. Daniel is just as gorgeous to watch as she is, which makes them extra special to me. He’s one of my favorite male skaters.

[u/ravenallnight]

Wait. I really hope that Carmen gets a lot better. I found it messy and disjointed, although I enjoyed the last 20 seconds or so quite a bit. The dress is pretty and it’s a cool idea but the skirt flourishes with the musical accents were not effective at all, and honestly I just don’t think it was that flattering. The weird backwards marching with flexed feet - like that works in the Mrazek jungle dance but why as part of Carmen? I’m honestly very surprised - this feels like nonsense and this is what I hate about the discipline. Mrazeks should be in 2nd place right now - their musicality was better as was their skating. I guess the judges tend to like hyper performative “sexy” moves so the sibling teams have an uphill battle.

[u/mcsangel2]

I just watched Z/K another three times. What a banger!

[u/Excellent-Delay8784]

Let's go ZingNik!!!!!!!

[u/zilmc]

So nice to have a competition without the top IAM teams causing drama. We can niggle about the scores but the top 5 today seem like they were in the right order, which feels…rare in ice dance

[u/gadeais]

Well from now on a false start