Cup of China 2024 Free Dance PBP - Dance Me to the End of the Robot

[PRlady]

TBH ChoBat’s jazz FD is going to be the best of the top lot unless Piper and Paul get a clue and start from scratch. Both F/G’s and LaLa’s FD choreo doesn’t live up to the music. It’s only in the Mid-ranked teams that the FDs get interesting.

Proving that he is still an amateur dance fan, DH actually liked DavSmo. I told him the only opinions he is allowed to have for dance are mine.

 

[marbri]

Interesting to see some people loving that ChockBates FD. I vastly prefer Gilles/Poirier at this stage of the season.
That can flip in the new year but right now I find the jazz FD a snooze. G/P have the only FD of the top 4 I like at this point.

But Lajoie/Lagha's FD gives me chills and Smart/Dieck's FD is clearly the coolest FD this season and Olivia wins the diva of the season award. And should win costume of the season if that silly award show still exists

 

[BlueRidge]

I'm in the group that likes GilPo's FD. They need to get rid of that damn cutout on Paul's costume. And it could use some more tension in it but I think it has a lot of potential. But I like Whiter Shade of Pale.

I haven't really watched Chock & Bates to have any impression I guess. I mean I saw it.

I hated the exhibition version of GuiFab's program, I actually like the FD version better and with the changed costumes more so, but I'm not a fan of it.

I like Fear & Gibson's FD. I like the Beyonce music and it has the crowd pleasing elements they do so well. I see no reason not to enjoy it.

 

[NinjaTurtles]

Probably was already known but surprise, surprise that Zak Lagha did not like the free dance music in the beginning and had to be convinced that it would be good. Isn't that a similar story every season?

Should have stuck with his instincts; Disturbed’s cover sucks, I don’t get why it’s so popular.


I’m not convinced that Guignard/Fabbri’s FD is a loser. I think it can be tweaked. There are some really interesting moments and shapes beyond their quality blade work. It’s like all of the elements are in the wrong place and things aren’t hitting the highlights in the music. Some of it is the layout of the program, but part of it may also be that their style of skating doesn’t lend towards staccato movements? Or maybe it’s simply that if they get off time they really struggle to recover…all their sharp choreography movements felt 15 seconds off the music.

 

[peibeck]

After seeing the Finn's tango, I don't know how anyone can appreciate the midsection of G/P's FD. And don't get me started on the literal "cartwheel" and "seasick" choreography in the opening. "Innovative" that free dance is NOT.

I do like their RD but, like all their cutesy RDs, I think by season's end it will have worn out its welcome.

 

[HaNguyen]

All I can say is that Gui/Fab’s FD kept my interest while I wandered off during Car/Pom and La/La.

 

[MacMadame]

After seeing the Finn's tango, I don't know how anyone can appreciate the midsection of G/P's FD. And don't get me started on the literal "cartwheel" and "seasick" choreography in the opening. "Innovative" that free dance is NOT.

I like the feeling they invoke. But the actually dance itself needs work and feels BTDT

I do like their RD but, like all their cutesy RDs, I think by season's end it will have worn out its welcome.

What if they rework it to not be so stop and go? I like the idea but it needs work.

 

[Kaz7714]

So, who had SmaDie as GPF Alternates on their pre-season ice dance bingo card?!

I never had a "like Smart and Dieck and am rooting for them" on my Bingo card. Absolute respect for the choreography and concept of the program. Fits them like a glove, highlights their strengths, is unique and engaging. I love Dune anyway, but this is actually among my favourite FPs this season. (Gushing about Dieck.... definitely not on my Bingo card ....ever).

 

[manhn]

Wait, people actually like the C&B’s FD? I just assumed people like it best in the “best of the worst” sense.

 

[Karen-W]

Wait, people actually like the C&B’s FD? I just assumed people like it best in the “best of the worst” sense.

I don't dislike it. It's not their best work, but it's not nearly as awful as people are saying - last season's Pink Floyd was worse for me. YMMV.

 

[PRlady]

I don't dislike it. It's not their best work, but it's not nearly as awful as people are saying - last season's Pink Floyd was worse for me. YMMV.

I like the music, which helps, and by now I know that with C/B at this ancient stage in their lives, they’re undertrained at the start of the season. I expect it to give more of a jazz club vibe as time goes on.

 

[manhn]

No one is going to convince me that Take Five is somehow brilliant art while at the same time bemoaning the Robots and Annie Lennox. I can see they all suck in their own ways.

 

[mtnskater]

Just watched. Was entertained by so many of the free dances here.

I actually surprised myself and enjoyed Davis & Smolkin’s free dance (sorry PRlady) Mainly because he is so good. I don’t think her dancing is in the same league but the program had some unique moves. Placement was right overall.

Green and Parson’s free dance was beautiful and mesmerizing. Michael’s line and position are stellar. Would love Caroline to be able to match it. MIDA programs are good but kind of missing the cool factor that comes out of Montreal.

So I missed Skate America and Skate Canada since I was traveling. This was my first look at Dune from S&D. I pretty much hate all the single skater Dune programs this year including Adam’s. To me Chock’s costume design for Olivia makes this program. Can you imagine this program with some of the other Dune costumes we’ve seen on the women’s single skaters? Chock is a design genius. The program is really cool but her costume takes it to next level cool. Not sure I would have had it over C&P though based on the actual skating.

The Finns are just magnificent. Love everything they do. So effective in their expression of dance in whatever genre they are doing. I would have had less angry biting face from Julia this time is my only critique. A little snarling is fine

C&P…I was buying what they were selling. I groaned when I heard they were doing Carmen earlier this season, but I like it from them very much and think they could take it even further.

L&L…lines matched better and skating skills a bit better than C&P. I like that dance until the music gets too intense for them near the end and then it kind of lost me because that part didn’t seem to fit them. And as Mark
pointed out they keep recycling a lot of the same moves when other teams aren’t. But the softer beginning was so lovely on them.

G&F… still major dislike for this “dance”. I don’t think I would know the theme was robots from these costumes and I disliked the previous costumes even more. Seems more like just generic science fiction. I wonder what Chock would design for her??? Some of the program gets rather flowy and then cheerleader lifts at the end where she is on his shoulders. Not working for me. If you are going for robots, keep the movement the same all the way through.

Hmmmm, I’m in the camp that thinks C&B have the best free dance of the top teams so far, but we will see how all the dances develop.

 

[Coco]

Have Piper and Paul commented on the 'story' in their FD? If I didn't know better, I would say they were satirizing ice dance.

 

[Matryeshka]

I don't think F/G's program is bad, I just think it's bad for them. Their skating is too smooth, too refined for what this program requires. Not every skater can do every style, and I think this is just wrong for them. Yuka and Juho could have hit this concept out of the park.

 

[Frau Muller]

I don't think F/G's program is bad, I just think it's bad for them. Their skating is too smooth, too refined for what this program requires. Not every skater can do every style, and I think this is just wrong for them. Yuka and Juho could have hit this concept out of the park.

F/G, FEOS!!!