Autumn Skate in Ottawa

[serpentine]

Anyone attending the first big fall competition in Ontario next weekend? or does anyone know who might be competing?

the notable team from last year was langlois and archetto, though there must have been others which have slipped from my memory! i am guessing that since they are training so far away now that they will not show this time, but you can never tell, since autumn skate draws skaters from all over.

[Isabelle]

I believe Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto are competing in the Senior free dance...

[jp1andOnly]

there is also Octoberfest in Barrie. Many skaters will be waiting until October for this competition.

[RedRover]

A skating event held while I'm actually in town! What a treat. I'll try to attend as much as possible & at $8.00 for an all event pass you really can't go wrong....

[serpentine]

just to let anyone who is interested and who is in ottawa...tomorrow AM jayson denommee is skating in the senior mens long event! i haven't seen or heard head or tail of him, so i hope that i make it there to see his program. i know he skates first, so if you go, be sure to go early because both arenas were running about 15 minutes ahead of schedule today.
(schedule can be found at www.skate-eos.on.ca as can daily results)

[legjumper]

Please report on Tanith and Ben! The senior FD is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. on Sunday. :)

[serpentine]

i will try and watch that event but i may have to be watching in the other rink at that time (must consult my schedule more closely in the morning!)...if i recall, they are the only team i would really be interested in seeing compete in that event.

[Sparkey]

I got to see Tanith and Ben's free dance--Great Balls of Fire! A HUGE circular footwork, almost needed a wider ice surface...Eye-popping lifts...Speed, footwork, never slowed down for a moment...whew! And by the way, Jayson wasn't there. :cry: I was really looking forward to seeing him.

[serpentine]

i saw the senior free dance event.

i don't know what is or isn't know about tanith's and ben's FD, so i will just tell you what i recall off the top of my head.

they are skating to a medley of elvis songs (hound dog, heartbreak hotel, ...can't remember which others, it think there are four total). Tanith is sporting a fucshia pink and purplish stylized guitar, which covers her whole front, while the back is illusion fabric, and a matching pink skirt. Ben is wearing a matching shirt with an abstract swirly pink and purplish pattern over black shirt and pants. the shirt flaps all over the place and is actually a bit distracting--i don't think i would find it easy to skate with it as open as he has it.

they were certainly the cream of the crop in the small field at autumn skate. the highlight of their program would be this amazing dip/hydroblading move where ben lies close to the ice on one leg and tanith leans over backwards on ben so that her leg counterbalances his leg. i know i am not doing this move justice in my description...but i tried!
they have a nice dance spin at the beginning, very fast and well matched to the music. also at the beginning they have this spin around lift thing where tanith swings her leg over ben's head--happens so fast you barely see it!! their diagonal step sequence went with the music but i found that it was more skated with the upper body, while the feet and legs did not do much. immediately following it they did some fairly lengthy 'on the spot' posing/lindy moves, which i found looked a bit out of place--i would want to see a continuation of the flow and energy they built up through the SS.

i get the impression that the program is still in its development. in particular, ben was scratchy, (but i am sure this will disappear after a bit more familiarity with the footwork) and i found at times they were searching for each other when they were performing changes in position (esp. in the circular footwork).

nonetheless, they were pleasing to watch and must have had the biggest crowd of the weekend! lots of oooh's and ahhh's and applause.
i have never seen them skate before, and actually i was surprised at how tiny tanith is! she appears a lot taller and 'bigger built' in photos and on television...but as we know, that is often an illusion!

[Reckless]

Thanks for the report, serpentine. I found your description of the costumes interesting. When Ben and Tanith performed at a benefit in California a few months ago, he dressed as Elvis (complete with spangled jumpsuit and wig). I think I'm glad that they dropped that (although Ben did a pretty good Elvis sneer), but the purple/pink shirt sounds pretty bad. Then again, what would we do without bad dance costumes? OOC, are the posing moves to the opening strains of hound dog? IIRC, that's how they opened their exhibition performance and it made for some dramatic poses. But I can see that it might interrupt the flow of the dance if it comes in the middle. I am anxious to see this FD.

[legjumper]

Thank you guys so much for the reports about Tanith and Ben--they are much appreciated. :)

[Isabelle]

Any reviews of any of the other dance events?? (particularly Novice and Junior)

[La Rhumba]

:D A BIG THANK YOU to serpentine and Sparkey for the Freedance descriptions of Tanith and Ben! I'm sure this Rock'n Roll theme will go down a treat at Worlds, and be in slick shape later in the season. Am dying to see it. Thanks again. :D

[NAdancefan]

Just wanted to chime in and say thanks a million for the reports on Tanith and Ben's new FD. Can't wait to see it! :D

[Francis71]

This program is going to be wonderful. Although it is a medly of Elvis songs there aren't any of the slower ones in the combination. I am not even particualrly fond of dance and it was a great pleasure to watch - go go go the whole time.

I actually liked their costumes - sure have seen worse but have to agree that his open shirt was a bit distracting.

There is a part near the end where he actually did a hound dog type imitation (hands like paws by the chin!) nice to see some humour in a program.

They were very friendly and definitely the celebraties of the day.

New fan here for sure.