scs
09-28-2003, 04:19 PM
It was an absolutely awesome show, even with some non-skating related difficulties (seat mixups, wrong music playing, announcer introducing the wrong skater at the wrong time)!
I'll write what I remember...perhaps some others could fill in my blanks.
The show opened with a group number to Avril Lavigne (Skate Girrl??)--some current artist--which was quite well done, given that this is not a tour that has long rehearsals. Each skater did one number in each half of the show. There was a finale as well which was brief but well skated (see the previous thread re: Dreams on Ice. Someone has reported on the music for this number.) The order of skate listed below is not totally accurate, but close.
Josef Sabovcek skated typical Josef numbers...loud rock music, jumps with lots of air, if not rotations, and upper body movement. Nothing special, although it's amazing what the human body can perform at his age (he must be 40 or close to it, no?)
Annabel Langlois/Patrice Archetto were introduced as "future stars" with which I disagree... they are stars of today's amateur scene in my opion. No recollection as to the music, but I didn't recognize the numbers they skated (and I go to/watch on tv a lot of skating). One of their numbers was to slower music. I recall reading a review about one of their programs with 2 leaps of faith...this was it. They are good and are becoming more and more refined each year. The influence of David and Jamie is clear, but that (IMHO) is not a bad thing.
Josee Chouinard was somewhat of a disappointment for me...I saw both of these programs last year at Kurt's Gotta Dance. The first one is to the accapella music with the yellow and gray dress (which I personally do not find flattering, but Josee manages to look great all the time!) The second was opera-type music with the red dress. In spite of my disappointment, I still feel that Josee, with regular amateur level training, could be Canadian champ.
Steven Cousins did the same numbers that he used in Gotta Dance as well. The first one is very up beat, with Steven wearing a wild coloured shirt and sun glasses. It took a while for the proper music to be found, but he handled it well. This guy has an abundance of energy and is on everytime I see him. The second number I love (as do most women in the arena), skated to Chris Issak (Don't Want to Fall in Love); he skates it with such a sexiness!
Megan Wing/Aaron Lowe were introduced as "Windsor's own" which I find strange since they are from the west coast, even though they train (or at least did) in Detroit and live in Windsor where they have/had been attending the University of Windsor. Their one program was unfamiliar to me and struck me as being, perhaps, part of their new free dance. No clue about the music. I enjoyed it, but found it to be at one speed where as the music provided many opportunities to speed up/slow down.
Jennifer Robinson skated her Tiger number with a new dress (black) which I much prefer to the hole filled one! She later did a number with a bit of Spanish flare that I have not seen before but reallly did enjoy. Could it be a new, competitive number? Technically, well, it's early in the season...here's hoping things (i.e., jumps) get better and more consistent.
Brian Orser was classic Orser...a real showman...flawless...if there were changes/mistakes in his programs, he didn't let the audience know! First number was a new one to me...very carefree and lighthearted, with Brian a not-too-pleasant-in-the-spotlights beige/greeny outdoor style jacket over a top. His second number was a classic...I believe it is the number that he dedicated to his mom...but the name of the music escapes me...perhaps Neil Diamond or some such singer? Regardless, he was pure Orser, smooth and a treat to watch.
Timothy Gabel may be an Olympic medalist, but he has a ways to go in terms of showmanship. First number was forgetable (not just my lack of memory, but a truly blase program to some Barry Manilow type music...it reminded me of some of Paul Wylie's numbers (and that is not a shot at Paul...I liked his skating, generally). The second number was better...Bye, bye Miss American Pie...with the requisite, glittery American flag on his shirt pocket. Tim had some problems standing up on his jumps, but it's early in the season.
Isabelle Brasseur/Lloyd Eisler. Upfront, I'll admit that I have been impressed by their success, but they were nowhere near the top of my favourite skaters. Last night changed that. Perhaps it has something to do with age and mellowing (on my part and theirs??) First number was something about friends...it seemed so appropriate as their career is winding down (nothing official was said except that this would be their last Dreams on Ice and their last live show in Windsor). It was very touching and their throws/lifts/unique moves were amazing. If indeed they are looking to slowing down with their performances, it was not obvious in their skating which was flawless and full of difficult and unique (and scary!) moves. The second number was skated to a current pop song and was cute; I was blown away by the difficulty of some of their moves...moreso than usual. Isabelle looks more mature and more comfortable with herself on the ice, something I never really felt during their amateur and early pro days. They both looked like they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Jamie Sale/David Pelletier were the highlight for me and many others. I was looking forward to "Loving, Squeezing..." and, although they did not skate it, I was not disappointed in the least. Their first number was to the song Who Wants to Live Forever...(is that Queen? My husband is laughing at me and won't tell me!) It was a change from their more romantic/into each other numbers and was quite powerful. Their second number was even more breathtaking, Come Away With Me by Nora Jones. Exquisitely skated with some new moves...very gentle...very soft...absolutely incredible. Does anyone know who is choreographing for them? Whoever it is, they have come up with two masterpieces!
That's it from me...sorry for the poor memory with the music...and anything else I missed. Since Canadian tv is showing a limited amount of skating this year, I have chosed to attend a few more live shows to fill the gap in my life!! Next up...Bourne and Kraatz's show in London.
I'll write what I remember...perhaps some others could fill in my blanks.
The show opened with a group number to Avril Lavigne (Skate Girrl??)--some current artist--which was quite well done, given that this is not a tour that has long rehearsals. Each skater did one number in each half of the show. There was a finale as well which was brief but well skated (see the previous thread re: Dreams on Ice. Someone has reported on the music for this number.) The order of skate listed below is not totally accurate, but close.
Josef Sabovcek skated typical Josef numbers...loud rock music, jumps with lots of air, if not rotations, and upper body movement. Nothing special, although it's amazing what the human body can perform at his age (he must be 40 or close to it, no?)
Annabel Langlois/Patrice Archetto were introduced as "future stars" with which I disagree... they are stars of today's amateur scene in my opion. No recollection as to the music, but I didn't recognize the numbers they skated (and I go to/watch on tv a lot of skating). One of their numbers was to slower music. I recall reading a review about one of their programs with 2 leaps of faith...this was it. They are good and are becoming more and more refined each year. The influence of David and Jamie is clear, but that (IMHO) is not a bad thing.
Josee Chouinard was somewhat of a disappointment for me...I saw both of these programs last year at Kurt's Gotta Dance. The first one is to the accapella music with the yellow and gray dress (which I personally do not find flattering, but Josee manages to look great all the time!) The second was opera-type music with the red dress. In spite of my disappointment, I still feel that Josee, with regular amateur level training, could be Canadian champ.
Steven Cousins did the same numbers that he used in Gotta Dance as well. The first one is very up beat, with Steven wearing a wild coloured shirt and sun glasses. It took a while for the proper music to be found, but he handled it well. This guy has an abundance of energy and is on everytime I see him. The second number I love (as do most women in the arena), skated to Chris Issak (Don't Want to Fall in Love); he skates it with such a sexiness!
Megan Wing/Aaron Lowe were introduced as "Windsor's own" which I find strange since they are from the west coast, even though they train (or at least did) in Detroit and live in Windsor where they have/had been attending the University of Windsor. Their one program was unfamiliar to me and struck me as being, perhaps, part of their new free dance. No clue about the music. I enjoyed it, but found it to be at one speed where as the music provided many opportunities to speed up/slow down.
Jennifer Robinson skated her Tiger number with a new dress (black) which I much prefer to the hole filled one! She later did a number with a bit of Spanish flare that I have not seen before but reallly did enjoy. Could it be a new, competitive number? Technically, well, it's early in the season...here's hoping things (i.e., jumps) get better and more consistent.
Brian Orser was classic Orser...a real showman...flawless...if there were changes/mistakes in his programs, he didn't let the audience know! First number was a new one to me...very carefree and lighthearted, with Brian a not-too-pleasant-in-the-spotlights beige/greeny outdoor style jacket over a top. His second number was a classic...I believe it is the number that he dedicated to his mom...but the name of the music escapes me...perhaps Neil Diamond or some such singer? Regardless, he was pure Orser, smooth and a treat to watch.
Timothy Gabel may be an Olympic medalist, but he has a ways to go in terms of showmanship. First number was forgetable (not just my lack of memory, but a truly blase program to some Barry Manilow type music...it reminded me of some of Paul Wylie's numbers (and that is not a shot at Paul...I liked his skating, generally). The second number was better...Bye, bye Miss American Pie...with the requisite, glittery American flag on his shirt pocket. Tim had some problems standing up on his jumps, but it's early in the season.
Isabelle Brasseur/Lloyd Eisler. Upfront, I'll admit that I have been impressed by their success, but they were nowhere near the top of my favourite skaters. Last night changed that. Perhaps it has something to do with age and mellowing (on my part and theirs??) First number was something about friends...it seemed so appropriate as their career is winding down (nothing official was said except that this would be their last Dreams on Ice and their last live show in Windsor). It was very touching and their throws/lifts/unique moves were amazing. If indeed they are looking to slowing down with their performances, it was not obvious in their skating which was flawless and full of difficult and unique (and scary!) moves. The second number was skated to a current pop song and was cute; I was blown away by the difficulty of some of their moves...moreso than usual. Isabelle looks more mature and more comfortable with herself on the ice, something I never really felt during their amateur and early pro days. They both looked like they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Jamie Sale/David Pelletier were the highlight for me and many others. I was looking forward to "Loving, Squeezing..." and, although they did not skate it, I was not disappointed in the least. Their first number was to the song Who Wants to Live Forever...(is that Queen? My husband is laughing at me and won't tell me!) It was a change from their more romantic/into each other numbers and was quite powerful. Their second number was even more breathtaking, Come Away With Me by Nora Jones. Exquisitely skated with some new moves...very gentle...very soft...absolutely incredible. Does anyone know who is choreographing for them? Whoever it is, they have come up with two masterpieces!
That's it from me...sorry for the poor memory with the music...and anything else I missed. Since Canadian tv is showing a limited amount of skating this year, I have chosed to attend a few more live shows to fill the gap in my life!! Next up...Bourne and Kraatz's show in London.