#VM dance evolution

[tutuandscoot]

I wonder if you could do a similar post with your insights on how Tessa’s dancing changed after their move to Montreal? Loved the one you did for Scott.

Yes of course!!

This one might not be as long since I talked about them both quite generally in the previous post so I’ll focus in on T. (I say that now wait till the end😅).

The biggest thing for me more than any technical dancing aspect was her confidence. This isn’t fully my opinion but others have said (both constructively but also quite nastily) she didn’t have the star quality that Scott had as a skater- she was the better dancer but had to be brought out of her shell and that’s purely what Carmen was.. I think all of that is bull shit. They were both stars! But they were specifically stars together. They balanced one another’s weaknesses out and improved together as a team. I don’t think they would’ve shone so bright skating with anyone else. Speaking from the perspecive of people watching them 10 years ago not knowing what program was coming next each year, it seems easy to worry about them being typecast and everyone would’ve had a opinion on what kind of team they should be. Looking back at it now it was just the process of them maturing and the journey they were on. You can’t fast track confidence and maturity. They were incredibly mature from a very young ages but there’s no innate injection of life experience that can alter your performances between each competition. In retrospect, they were exactly where they needed to be, let alone all the outside factors they couldn’t control as well as the role her injuries played on their progress- it’s mind boggling they were as good as they were and pushed the sport they way they did with her more often than not skating in some sort of pain or discomfort.

The time away from skating really served her well. It gave her proper time off for her legs to properly recover from 17 years of increasingly harder training, and as they say so point-blank in their comeback video, she got to a point where she didn’t really know why she was skating, it wasn’t satisfying to her and just hoping each time they won it would make her happy, but it didn’t. That moment at 2012 worlds where she completely broke down with her mum was probably a big eye opener for her and when they came back to competitions she knew that couldn’t happen. Knowing every time she danced- practice or performance why she was doing it and that she truly loved it shone so bright in her eyes.

Sorry I know it seems I’m not talking about dance yet but as I said with Scott, it’s the mental approach that changed them more than anything and affected their dancing in more ways then any one class would.

As with Scott them moving away from more traditional ballroom styles I think allowed her to get back to her roots a bit as a dancer, even though ballet was her thing. You could tell she loved that Prince program and that stylised rather than generic hip hop movement. I don’t think there was any way that season they were going to do the ‘safer’ jive/blues option. Her push for the super sexy cat suit.. that fascination for them in flirting with gender roles.. I didn’t really say in relation to Prince in the other post but it kinda is in there as well- as they say the balance and fluidity of masculine and feminine movement. She had just really grown into herself as a woman, and the way Scott handled and danced with her now really showed that, a small element of them will always see each other as those little kids nervous to hold hands but now physically they handled each other as a man and woman still with all the care and love in the world. I know that bit of him calling her an ‘unbelievable woman’ is from later after the olys but from their first GP it was like ‘ok, they’re adults now’. Fully secure in themselves and.. sorry it’s just part of what they do.. their sexuality together and expressing that through movement- never sleazy or over the top, very subtly and because they always were comfortable together exploring new movement even if it was a bit foreign to them at first just came off as so natural in their performances.

She always had incredible posture but now I get there was this more refined sense of.. I think actually the best way to describe it would be woman-ness. She was no longer just this beautiful balletic dancer that could also do every style in the book exceptionally, but now she really felt it in her body. Especially their Olympic programs. Yesterday I watched all the Torino 2006 OD (which was Latin) and afterwards I watched just about every comp of VM’s SFTD as well as their 2011/12 Latin sd, both to compare to the 2006 teams (there is no comparison, again.. TS are on a completely different planet to everyone else). But also between their two Latin programs.. HHCC is fantastic but there is lightyears difference between that and SFTD in terms of confidence, sensuality, refined style and it sitting in their bodies so much better- not just dancing it because they have to but really loving the feeling I’ve moving that way together. A lot of that is just their maturity and understanding their bodies better. Not just being told what to do but feeling how it comes out of them and then what they picture looks like from the outside.

I always talk about how Scott is the leader on the ice. He (I feel) is in charge both occupationally and through their dancing he is leading her which is what I like to see in a m/f partnership, but their comeback programs gave them the chance to play with those roles and I think as result got to move out of that ‘couple’ persona and explore movement as two dancers together. That’s a very hard thing to explain but it’s when the media refers to a *certain other team* as being this ‘modern dance duo’ and TS exclusively as a ‘couple’, well through their comeback programs TS proved that they can do both. As I’ve said Latch is not a romantic love story- it’s a story about human connection and survival- needing your person to help you survive. It’s genderless in its theme- only in the facilitation of lifts is it gendered. Prince as well there is that slight gender fluidity. Then of course for the olys both their programs are sexually (in terms of heterosexual attraction) driven. So they proved they can do both- I hate how the media tried to create that narrative for the people in the audience that didn’t have two eyes and a brain making it out as though the playing field was equal and it just depends who you like 🙄. My point of this is I feel through the movement they explored that gave T a different way of approaching her shared space with Scott, as not how it is in more ballroom/classical based programs, she wasn’t being put on a pedestal and framed like a gemstone in the same way. In terms of teammates they were always on the same level of applied effort/commitment but it now choreographically and thematically they were on the same level in-terms of entities in their shared space. What makes them better than anyone is that they could do that and STILL maintain this once in infinity level of chemistry. So it’s not that I want to say T was ‘stepping up’ in any kind of way, but it was just a different partnership dynamic- at least to watch and study I don’t know if that’s how they approached it- Scott would still say it’s his job to make sure people look at her and he did so wonderfully, but it’s just different to most of their other programs.. does that make sense??

Then for MR which IS her Oscar winning role, the fact that she just fell so in love with the story and music, and probably an essence of that character lived in her body for so long.. she just BECAME Satine.. her character informed the way she approached all the movement. The vulnerability, the power, fear, command of an audience, seduction, allowing herself to feel being controlled, feeling herself falling in love, how just through self talk she can turn herself from a shining star to a frail, dying women in the matter of 4 minutes.. I mean I can’t even imagine how much they practiced that program and the mental focus it took them to find that nuance. This program especially for Tessa was the culmination of every style they had ever trained, her experiences of finding her love for performing, the fear that came with her injuries, the judgement others tried to pass on her, taking time away to find herself and retuning as this truly unstoppable, terrifying athlete.

Ok I should probably make some more dance specific notes:

As I said her posture was always stunning but for every one on those 4 comeback programs she really adapted well into the style of each in her body. Their Prince program being a more stylised take on hip hop suited them well, them being very classically trained they didn’t have to get too down and dirty, but I really felt she found that groove by the end, same with Scott I don’t think she could’ve done that program any time before this, she needed that new perseverance to come back and not be afraid to try anything. Latch she was stunning. She felt physically like a contemporary dancer. Her groundedness, then while still having this beautiful upper body quality she had this strength through back which even though they can’t do anything on the ground was indicative of floor movement.. that’s hard to explain.. she just danced that program really well, they didn’t live as any specific characters, they were just themselves being vulnerable artists. I think that program was also incredible for her to confront a lot of emotions and let them out, with what was happening in the background with Scott as well that amplified their equality in her being more of a constant rock in their partnership (that’s been discussed before). SFTD just the way she expressed her sensuality was inspiring. Her movements were so clean and refined but she was also just having so much fun and felt that latin movement in such a natural way. Then MR the tango moments which they were always so suited to and amazing at, then in the second half- a born ballerina, the most exquisite lines, posture, expression- completely different quality to Latch- legs more energised and turned out, where in latch the movements was more grounded, MR was lighter as if she was dancing on pointe.

So I feel like I really didn’t get into any specific ‘dance things’.. she just got so much better.. and that didn’t seem possible after 2010 and then 2014, but they just did, and they could’ve probably kept getting better still, however they couldn’t keep training like this forever- they had a big wide world to explore and so many other things to become amazing at. It’s hard with T because I see so much of myself in her (I actually do Scott as well- the emotional factor and how I see in him his journey of vulnerability and artistry I understand and wish I could’ve done) but T I view more technically, hours standing in front of the mirror defining her craft to fully embody what ever character/style she was taking on. There is of course tiny little nit-picky things I see like ‘oh I’d just love to tell her to rotate her elbow a bit’ but really it pails in comparison to just the way she has with musicality and expressing emotion. She has the most incredibly gorgeous face for stage and dance- she’s beautiful but can also just emote anything honestly- not everyone can do that. I often focus on Scott when talking about partnering but the fact is T played as much of a role as he did, she being just as amazing gave him the opportunity to shine. Her being so strong, not relying on him to hold her up- I love how they both respectively joke about each other holding them up (S when asked how does he stay on balance jokes that T holds him up and T saying she’s so clumsy she doesn’t know how she got through a skating career- it was just having Scott to hold onto 😭😩).

I watch them all the time with my mum and she professes every time that they are DANCING. Yes physically they are skating, but artistically and emotionally they are dancing.. and no one else does in any where near the same respect. They embody all those typically corny dance quotes like ‘dance like no body’s watching’ and ‘dance is the hidden language of the soul’. No matter if there was no one watching you can still imagine them dancing like this- because it’s each other that drives them to move and emote. And so often it feels so easy and natural for them to just dance it is as if they are just having a conversation. I will shout into the abyss forever that dance was their love language.

[icevirtuemoir]

Hello! Since you’ve been following VM for a longer time, do you have any suggestions or playlists of their performances? I would love to see their evolution from young kids to successful olympians. Also, it would be nice if they did a documentary about them.

Hello! I also would love to see a documentary about their whole journey. That being said the CBC Roxanne documetary did a good job at capturing their prep for the 2017/18 season. There is also the tv show, but you have to take that whole thing with a grain of salt, a critical eye and a sense of humour.

As for recommendations, there are some links below the cut and for the 2014 onwards ones if you google it you'll find the best one available in your region. Depending on how much time you have, watching all these videos can easily kill a whole day. I would recommend watching at least one of each program and if you want a masterclass in pattern dances watch their CDs. If that's too much then here are my recommendations for hitting the best points of their competitive carrer with bolds being the ones you absolutely can't miss because the list was still very long:

1998 First competition | 2004 Canadians FD | 2005 Nationals FD | 2005 Junior Worlds Ex or 2006 Nationals Ex | 2006 Junior Worlds FD | 2007 Worlds OD | 2007 Worlds FD | 2008 Nationals FD | 2008 Worlds FD | 2009 Worlds FD | 2009 TEB Ex | 2010 Olympics CD | 2010 Olympics OD | 2010 Olympics FD | 2010 Olympics Ex | 2010 Worlds CD | 2011 Worlds SD | 2011 Worlds FD | 2012 Worlds SD | 2012 Worlds FD | 2012 Skate Canada FD | 2013 4CC SD | 2013 Worlds FD | 2014 GPF FD | 2014 Olympics SD | 2014 Olympics FD | 2014 Olympics Ex | 2016 Skate Canada RD | 2016 NHK FD | 2016 GPF RD | 2016 GPF FD | 2017 Nationals RD | 2017 Nationals FD | 2017 4CC FD | 2017 Worlds RD | 2017 Worlds FD | 2017 Skate Canada RD | 2017 GPF FD | 2018 Nationals RD | 2018 Nationals FD | 2018 Olympics RD | 2018 Olympics Team FD | 2018 Olympics RD | 2018 Olympics FD | 2018 Olympics Ex

Thankfully, the lovely @ohyeahvirtuemoirgifs made this amazing masterpost of all of Tessa and Scott's programs from 2003-2014. I did a quick check and all the links I tested still work! The quality for some of the older ones the quality is not great but the CBC recently uploaded their 2007 Worlds FD and 2008 Worlds FD in higher quality.

To add some content from pre-2003 that is not on that masterpost:

1998 - Their first competition ever

2000 - Ilderton skating show

2001 - Ilderton skating show (Grease (both), Tessa, Scott, Bows) and Pre-Novice National Championships

2002ish - Demonstrating a Pattern

2003 - JGP Slovakia OD, FD

If you want to watch through the evolution of Moulin Rouge I also found this post I made with links to all it's outings:

Post-2014 in the professional circuit they did so many shows and there are so many videos I can't link them all there but if you want to search them here are the program names (and the show if they're specific to a certain tour):

2014 - Top Hat and Tails, Into the Mystic, Try (Stars on Ice Canada)

2015 - How Will I Know, Good Kisser, Hip Hip Chin Chin (Stars on Ice Canada)

2016 - What's Love Got To Do With It, Sorry

2017 - Purple Rain

2018 - Long Time Running, Moulin Rouge, Shape of You (Stars on Ice Canada), Fields of Gold (Stars on Ice Canada), You Rock My World

There is also the 2018 Thank You Canada Tour and the 2019 Rock The RInk Tour which they produced and are worth watching in full!

[saucylittlesmile]

Anonymous said:

Not entirely sure if these quotes regarding Tessa and Scott and Meryl and Charlie are new but I can’t say I agree with her. Seems like she’s implying that Tessa and Scott didn’t skate with power and speed which I don’t see as true. What are your thoughts? gulfshorelife(.)com/2020/12/07/cutting-edge/

Well, Marina has her own opinions and... shall we say, agendas.  Also, as a magazine about the ‘gulf life’, I think we can assume that the magazine was happy to have a pro-American slant to work with, LOL.  Let’s take a look at the pertinent quotes:

At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Zoueva’s Canadian pupils Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir tangoed seamlessly on the ice and dazzled the judges and the crowd with the shapes they created with their bodies in motion. They stunned the world when they became the first North American gold medalists in ice dancing. “Tessa and Scott are art on ice,” Zoueva says. “When you watch them, you feel the love. Their chemistry is key. I emphasize this side of them, to bring out the best in them.”

Okay, this is pretty standard Marina-speak for VM.  She’s given the same kind of answers for many years.  She loved to emphasize their connection, their chemistry, their magic.

Zoueva struck gold again, in 2014, when her dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White—the top rivals of Virtue and Moir—became the first Americans to capture the gold in ice dancing, at the Winter Olympics in Sochi (the pair had notched the silver in Vancouver). Zoueva had composed choreography for White when he’d competed as a single, but he won fame as part of a pair.

In 2014, Davis and White danced with arresting urgency, as in their free program set to Music of the Night from the Broadway show The Phantom of the Opera. “I saw so much sport in his spirit—he’s an athlete,” Zoueva says. The fact that White had a background as an ice hockey player was not lost on Zoueva; she immediately grasped the value of an interdisciplinary approach that would later inform her coaching in Southwest Florida.

Well, I had no idea that she choreographed for Charlie in his early days, LOL.  I am amused that she is using Charlie’s hockey background, but I don’t know - perhaps it really did influence her. 

The dancer inspires not only the dance. White’s personal qualities helped advance the form itself. On the ice, he at once radiates muscularity, charisma and theatricality, and his crown of blond ringlets gives him a presence like no other.

Crown of blond ringlets - not going to deny that it was a signature Charlie thing but LOL - ice dance has had them many times.  I misread muscularity as masculinity the first time - still, I am not sure I ever looked at Charlie and thought muscle-man.

Between 2010 and 2014, Zoueva contributed to an important evolution on the ice: “Before Charlie, ice dancing was more art, but with him there was a balance between art and sport. It’s the total opposite of Tessa and Scott. For Meryl and Charlie, it’s about power, speed, emotion. Together, they’re like a hurricane—very impressive, no question. Men started to ice dance after seeing what Meryl and Charlie could do.”  Davis and White grew up together as kids in Michigan. They have been training and competing since 1997 and are the longest lasting pair in ice dancing.

Ah, here we go.  Um.  Okay.  Before Charlie was basically, before COP - both VM and DW hit seniors right about the time that the changeover between the 6.0 skaters and the 10.0 skaters really kicked in - some stuck around through Vancouver, but there was a real shift around Vancouver and just post-Vancouver when you could see the kids who had grown up with the “new” system really taking over and being comfortable with twizzles and athletic lifts and even the no-touching step sequences (which highlighted the strength or weakness of individuals).  

So, in a way, it’s true that ‘before Charlie’ it was more about the art, but it is a correlation, not a cause-and-effect that ice dance became more athletic.  That said, funnily enough, at the time, the narrative was that DW were the athletes/technicians and VM were the artists.*  It was, I think, a comforting narrative, as it is like any story in which there are two opposing characters and each must embody opposite personality traits to tell a story.  But it was, at the time and continues to be, a false one, as it diminishes the accomplishments of both teams.  DW were not as elegant and didn’t have such a ‘romantic’ chemistry, but they used their speed to impress - and for many, that was a very admirable factor to their skating and something to emulate. 

But to imply that there was a balance of art and athleticism for DW that was lacking in VM, is simply untrue - if I may say, DW did difficult things, but we could see how difficult it was.  VM were very smooth, which then could almost hide how fast they were, and they made things look easy.  But even all that aside, for anyone to look at, for particular example, Carmen, and still claim they weren’t athletic?  VM struggled that season with the program, and possibly their confidence, but it was such an ambitious dance that it was understandable. 

As well, around the 2012/2013 season start, I remember that very, very suddenly, DW were being re-imagined as the team that had it all.  By that, I mean that after their “surprising” loss at Worlds 2012 it was touted as DW somehow, over the summer I guess, having solved any chemistry issues and they were now a complete package - this is what we were told, and therefore, it must have been true.   At Skate America, there was an awful post-skate choreographed moment that they subsequently removed (thank goodness).  Basically, even as there were negative stories about VM being circulated (their work ethic, their athleticism, their readiness), the stories about DW being unbeatable were being touted, and the closer everyone got to Sochi, the more the stories were cemented.   

I would say that ice dance, in general, had a real increase in North America due to the VM/DW success.  So, yes I would say that boys started ice dancing more because of him (and Scott).  

To be honest, while it’s a little insulting towards VM, I’m more offended for Meryl, LOL.  I mean, I don’t know if there were more quotes about her that didn’t get into the article, but this makes it sound like Charlie was the star of the team and Meryl was the afterthought and just lucky to be there.

*Always ironic to me that for as often as the VM/DW rivalry was sold as VM as the artists who couldn’t keep up technically, and that was used to sell the Sochi silver, there was a big switch in the narrative during the comeback, in which VM were the technicians who struggled with their artistry compared to PC and really deserved to lose in PyeongChang because of that.  Amazing, isn’t it?

[ntmists]

vm prince??? jk i know what your answer will be 😂 pls still do that one if you want hahah but i’ll give you a couple others too: vm sympathy for the devil, vm funny face, shibs paradise, hd......r&j

vm prince:

throw the whole thing in the trash / dislike it / neutral / like it / love it / i have decided to stan forever / i may not be able to do it for myself but i’ll always do it for the prince sd

what do you think my answer will be?! 😂 that this short dance conceived me, birthed me, raised me as one of their own? that tessa’s game face before the program starts makes me ptfo? that whenever i hear kiss’s opening strums and that UGH! anywhere i bang my head as if i have a flow? that the dald no touch died so this could be immortal? that the point during “i’ll show you what it’s all about” is a gunshot to a judge’s head? that scott’s control in using a besti as transition has me in a chokehold? that scott and tessa are the only team to no hand the 3 turn and therefore are the only team ever? they could’ve rested on laurels and brought out old standbys but no - they debuted a new curve lift that progresses throughout the season, by inches and centimeters, until it’s become signature v/m, and this strive for excellence is what truly separates them from the pack. this is the superbowl tribute prince deserved!! petition for midnight blues to be renamed moirnight virtues, and to quote besp, fifteen seconds into worlds: THEY’VE WON IT ALREADY IT BEING MY HEART

vm sympathy for the devil:

throw the whole thing in the trash / dislike it / neutral / like it / love it / i have decided to stan forever / made me feel grown

disclaimer: every vm program is gonna get an i have decided to stan forever but not gonna lie i had to think about this one….i think it may be because of the pattern. their edgework is always spectacular for gravity is their best friend but we’ve also seen them do rhumba thrice in their senior career (SO FAR) when there are other patterns in they haven’t got to do that i’d rather see (turning silver samba into golden for example). that being said, i appreciate them so much for choosing music selections from the auntie and uncle rock stations over a sea of despacitos and i’m sure we thank them all for the choreographic ticks that spices up this program. it’s not even the neck kiss face caress combo heard all over the world: i’m talking about the ina bauer samba rolls, the partial step sequence in the above gif that dares judges not to put them first, how perfectly the rotational lift fits with oye como’s beats. still - ”we don’t remember pyeongchang short dance choreo” translates to “rhumba lives don’t matter” and frankly i agree

vm funny face:

throw the whole thing in the trash / dislike it / neutral / like it / love it / i have decided to stan forever / if you want a broadway pattern isu it’s right here

here’s the thing. if this free dance we’re from any other team, it would be their best free dance. but this is v/m and we all know they operate on another level so i understand why it’s lower-tiered among everyone’s ranks, especially when it’s in between brilliant incredible hip hip chin chin and amazing show stopping carmen. i still like it a lot because it’s another notch to their versatility portfolio and if this were on the hands of a different team it may come off as cheesy but tessa and scott are just the right amount of cheeky here hehe; i miss their combination lifts and the straight line rotational combo at the end is one of my faves, and the s’wonderful step sequence subtly takes my breath away it’s so lovely to watch i love their holds and as usual they leave no music note untouched….so i guess this is me coming out as a funny face apologist

shibs paradise:

throw the whole thing in the trash / dislike it / neutral / like it / love it / i have decided to stan forever

if we’re ranking the trilogy fds i’d put this after fix you and before evolution; i really liked this fd a lot but i wasn’t completely sold on it at first because they were struggling on both elements and interpretation during the season? but BOY did they come through when it mattered the most (aka the olympics individual event we love our silver bronze medalists); everyone talks about shib twizzles and rightfully so they are truly the best in that element but! look at this stationary lift level 4 tho: look at how solid alex is and how maia extends her arms and points her toes….i miss them and i want them to be the first ice dance gold medalists from the usa :)

hd….r&j?

leaving you with this it’s what you deserve

[chelsanitys]

anon post

for all 3 of my fans

i live for ur wit and sass

thx n same

Dont fuck with the best! Kate works hard to get the craziest anons to post in her yard, and I've got nothing but respect. There's no fan in the fandom as genuine and earnest as she is. Wishing her and her cats a long and healthy life!

lmao yall need to quit

you've probably answered this already but what do you think will give vm the best shot at the OG?

a good short dance + a good free dance + gui missing the catch-foot on his twizzle again

Are you taking the bar exam this summer?

no i just finished my first yr

I will cry if T&S end up together, They would be a horrible match. Surely I'm not the only one who sees this??

i am ashamed that this is the level of trollin i get. step up ur game!!

"i hope tessa marries semple so i can see all the shippers cry tbh" Poor Alex! Marrying him would probably restore his self confidence and prompt a return to the cfl! Still holding out hope!

honestly alex was the hottest of all her bfs. fedor is balding, has a dad bod n is wearing khakis on the beach now. and semple was always fug. also rl talk i didnt know canada had its own football league until this guy came around. thats so cute for canada

"i hope tessa marries semple so i can see all the shippers cry tbh" I want her with the Bitove guy. His family looks like the type that will post tons about them on sm afterward.

lmao yall know his grandfather started the toronto raptors?? i knew this brodie’s last name sounded familiar. also apparenty he and his fam golf at trump’s resort @ mar-a-lago VOM. tessa is 500% going to end up with a smarmy, filthy rich trust fund kid like him like its not even a question

Hey now. I want shippers to get overthemselves, too, but Tessa marrying Semple, god no. Basically, Tessa, open your eyes and save yourself.

lol i actually wish she was still dating him so all this mindless speculation rn would stop

Bitter and hateful is what I come here for. Anons should just fuck off and go to the Disney website if that's what they want.

vm fans are so damn soft n sensitive about everything lol, i rly wish some of yall would stop taking everything i say so seriously

Please come back, without your snark the fandom is controlled by the most delusional shippers.

i’ll post more when there r actually things 2 talk about. being around here when nothing is happening and ur all screaming into a vacuum about the same things over and over is like being institutionalized in a loony bin

why are you always up so late?

nhf for this east coast bias, it is a perfectly reasonable time in california

Which of the current/rising juniors do you see making tbe most impact next quad?

carreira/ponomarenko are going to win a olympic medal in 2022. even if the shibs, h/d and bock don’t retire, i see them easily rising through the pack - they just have the Look and aren’t without talent. i’m iffy on the rest - mcnamara/carpenter are too creepy and weird, parsons have no height difference and are siblings, both are coached by an unproven staff, everyone else are varying levels of mediocre. hawayek/baker will go to worlds 2018 if they’re lucky and prob never again if no one else retires.

i wouldn't take h/d's music choices as an indicator of what vm will have. they are the c team and vm are the a team in that camp. look at last season... h/d got stuck with marie-france's lame ass idea of the evolution of music and vm got prince.

true..... altho i think personal taste is important too. tessa would die b4 she ever approved an ‘evolution of dance’ sd

I want Tessa to steal Fedor back from Meryl. All that drama would be hilarious. Fedor lost his looks and is butt ugly now so he is exactly Tessa's type, even more so than in 2009.

i nvr thought he was that cute but he literally looks like he goes door to door selling pool cleaner now

I noticed that when Tessa shakes hands or kisses someone on the cheek (like during medal ceremony or interviews) Scott often puts a hand on her lower back even though there had not been any physical contact between the two of them before said handshake or kiss. It just always surprises me and I'm not sure I understand why he'd do this. What's your take on it ?

lmao ik u want me 2 say its bc his subconscious is screaming out in jealousy and he wants to covertly claim her and show the world she still belongs to him but i rly think they r just touchy ppl who like to touch. or hes makin sure she doesnt lose balance and fall off the podium as she’s leanin over

moulin rouge would've been a much cooler choice in 11/12 for their musical fd instead of funny face, but i don't see them doing it for their olympic fd. it's a bit tacky and overdone. i figure they'd want to do something that's a little bit more special and unique then that.

ia it wouldnt have been a bad filler fd for an off year. i just dont see it doing it for their Last Ever and for the olympics. its such a warhorse - what could they possibly say with it thats original? and its such a character piece - they r such overly emo, earnest ppl, i dont think they’d want to do something that different from themselves for their Last Ever. 

huh what, vm don't stand a chance against moonlight sonata?? Pls... that would be a flop, such an overused piece of music everywhere, it's like Für Elise - hearing the first notes of it makes me vomit in my mouth a little

ya bc no one’s ever won a gold medal skating to a warhorse before

it sounds more believable to me than vm and moulin rouge tho

What interpretation? PC will just float around. They can do that in any key and judges will eat it up.

true, gui gui is a demon

No way. The judges will think they're watching Gordeeva/Grinkov again and just hand the gold to them immediately.

remember when pc said they didnt even know who torvill and dean and g/g were lmao

If scott doesn't cut his disgusting gutter frat boy hair I'm renouncing my Canadian citizenship and moving 2 Peru

was legit lookin @ pics from autumn classic n skate canada and i cant believe how short his hair was then, i can not believe i was complainin so much. i am honestly such a whiny bitch lmao this is my punishment

i have mixed feelings because Prince is the best short dance of VM's career so far but then Latch was one of the worst lol. It dragged in a lot of areas, especially the middle, and it never felt complete. I don't hate it by any means but considering we only had 2 free dances left and that was one of them... :| so I'm torn between trusting MF, and then thinking she's one misguided song choice away from ruining VM's swan song.

the thought of mf picking out the music for vm’s last ever fd makes me kind of sad. like yall have no ideas? at all?? ur relying on instagram suggestions and mf’s adult lite fm spotify playlists for inspiration? im surprised n disappointed tbh, like they arent kids anymore, i thought they would take more ownership of their careers. 

but idk we’ll see. whenever i complain a lot, i usually like their material later lol

why do i feel like vm are gonna come out in their sd with despacito... the justin bieber version...

ok who is this person who keeps sending me despacito questions?? you sound like you want it to happen more than anyone else and are trying to will it into existence

It's funny because Tessa is SO cautious about everything she/they say, that she comes off/is rehearsed--I don't understand why she cares so much. They are not politicians or even super famous. Plus most people who watch (excluding Tumblr fans bc they're all extra) watch during high times like Worlds and Olympics. Most people don't watch interviews and press conferences. If they do watch one, it's usually only the fun "game" interviews or the mainstream ones like etalk which they are not tons of

idk what this is in reference to but ok lol. it prob matters to her bc its her life and she cares bc its happening to her? just spitballin here

Oh no what has Max Trankov said I'm scared to know now. If he's a Trump fan I might have to #nopeout lol he’s russian and a male chauvinist pig. he once said he wouldnt do a quad with tati until she had a baby for him...”and then maybe we try”

still gonna stan his trash ass to the end of time tho

Speaking of bad music cuts I could not stand the way HD's music was cut this year. Like I like all the songs they used individually but it just felt so weirdly put together like the songs didn't flow well into the next. The only part I liked was the last part with earned it.

really? i thought earned it was the part that seemed completely out of step with the first 2 pieces of music. the transition was way off and the tempo was so much faster than the other 2

The Facebook q&a is the first time I felt vm are actually compatible enough to be a couple.

should’ve published this steaming hot take when u sent it a month ago bc i have no idea what this is in reference to now

what do you look like?

tired mostly

haha funny how we went from vm are in a relationship to they hate each other.

dont ‘we’ me bitch i have nothing to do with this fandom’s daily emotional yo-yo-ing

Can you explain the Tessa/Kaitlyn Weaver friendship? Are they really friends? Kaitlyn seems like the kind of girl Tessa would make fun of behind her back.

more like kaitlyn weaver is tracy flick and is trying to bring down everyone in her path tbh

I get a bit of a superiority, cold vibe with Tessa, don't you?

no but i dont have self esteem issues

I think people who find Tessa cold and snobby do not get her at all. Yes, she is far from perfect and her feminism is all (...) but to call her cold and unfeeling means you haven't been paying attention at all. Like get off her dick and/or stop following her career.

i dont think shes cold either. standoffish maybe, but i dont feel like thats from superiority or aloofness. some ppl just want to mind their own business and chill?? not everyone’s a chatty cathy like scott

Music stresses me out. The only thing I've gathered from all of the various discussions is they should be exciting but not too exciting because it's an Olympic season. But they shouldn't also be too safe. Like I know you have mentioned various choices that would be good but what would be in your mind the ideal program, both SD and FD. It's their third Olympics, so how do they build on the past while still being fresh but also them. Or do they just not and give the audience what they want?

something original thats not a warhorse but is also audience friendly and is instantly musically palatable to a lot of ppl

so basically mahler

Which songs from moulin rouge should they use?

if they were doing mr (which i doubt), the orchestral score is 500x better than the cheesy ass nonsense from the soundtrack. like come what may with nicole kidman’s tremulous bird vocals and ewan mcgregor literally straining not to pop a vein would almost be too dramatic and Too Much. i think that kind of thing only works for a v specific kitschy, performative kind of team (a la russians) and wouldnt vibe with vm’s super earnest approach at all. but the orchestral score is genuinely moving and effective in a less garish way

but i dont think they’re doing moulin rouge lol

"the movies honestly made it hard 4 me to interpret hermione’s undying loyalty and devotion to harry as anything other than latent sexual attraction tbh lmao" Hahaha, pretty much. Plus, the whole Harry and Ginny thing, even more so in the movies, seemed to come out of nowhere and was cliche as fuck.

is bonnie wright still acting? i’ve seen dead fish more alive than her on screen

LMAO someone posted a clip from VM's show when they were having dinner with WP and they were talking about how WP live together and they ask VM how they deal with one another and LOL I stg I started loling cause their reactions were #priceless. S literally just had a WTF look on his face while he said something hella awkward & T looked like she wanted to slap him. Her follow up that she doesn't think they could ever spend all their time together just cements why they'll never date for me.

lmao that whole scene is so stupid. kaitlyn n andrew r such good friends i swear

Thanks for setting that anon straight. Set some boundaries so that they don't egg on shippers?? WTF. They're fine with doing what they're doing, and if they're dating others, those others are obviously fine with it too. Besides, it's not like they're filming porn or something. If you can't handle it, stop watching them.

idek what these r in reference to anymore but it sounds dumb as hell lmao

Wow I cannot believe that people actually think VM owe fans any explanation for their relationship/partnership. Like we don't know them, we're never going to know them or be friends with them? Why the fuck do they owe fans a detailed explanation of their personal business? I stg these shippers have lost their damn minds. As long as VM continue to put out good programs and do well I couldn't care less what they're doing off ice. Whatever it is it's clearly working for them. You do you VM.

the entitlement of some fans is insane. its STILL happening now with tessa’s ig now too. why dont yall just let her live n let her white-girl post to her hearts content. she is literally doing nothing differently to what every other skater does, idg this absurd criticism

Fr tho both of them have such nice teeth and I've never seen pics of them with braces, like how??!?!

tessa’s r so nice i cant believe she’s never had braces. and they r such a natural white? like u can tell w most skaters that they get it professionally whitened but hers dont have that artificial look at all

Are you in college? Your bio says 23 but it said that last year too.

i actually turned 24 a while ago im just 2 lazy to change it. im in law school currently

I just read an ancient interview with vm where they said Mahler was about getting married or something... WHAT

ya i cant remember if it was them that said or marina that said it tho. i remember a story about a guy who wrote them saying he and his gf were watching mahler at the olympics and once it was over, he was so moved he got down on one knee and proposed to her and marina was like ‘thats what that program is meant to do’ lol

Do you think Zach is a good skater and partner? I keep changing my mind on him.....

he is such a bland, wet noodle - no taste, no flavor, just empty white carbs. its up to madi to add any spark to the team bc she’s the real star, he just stands there and is tall and can lift her

Why the fuck are so many people freaking out because Tessa did not attend a wedding with Scott. 1. They are not dating so there are no reason for Scott to bring her. 2. She has people visiting 3. I bet they don't even hang out off ice 4. I think Scott has a secret girl in Ilderton. 5. TS not dating. I wish people would claim down.

this is so far back in my inbox i have no idea whats happening

I love it that whenever Tessa posts an IG story the fandom goes crazy analyzing and speculating about Scott what there even when he is clearly not Then there there are talks about TS wedding. WTF Soon it will be TS having babies. I am wondering if maybe the fandom (new fans) are mixing reality with those fanfics.

honestly no clue

I know this has been discussed before but I don't get how Scott and Jess even communicated. Jess could barely seem to understand English back then and Scott couldn't speak French. I wonder if them not being able to speak to each other is part of why they lasted so long actually

lol bryce davison actually learned french so he could communicate w/ her. not scott tho lol

I don't think T cares too much about fs friendships the way other skaters do. Of course she's friendly with a lot of them but she's not really close with anyone except her partner, which doesn't really count lol. She has her own friend group outside of skating and that's what she seems to stick to. It's funny you mention Meryl, Brooke, Tanith, and Lauren because they're all still really good friends.

honestly i think skating stressed (stresses?) her out so much back then that she really hated being in that world for too long. i dont blame her for wanting to disconnect and not having to hang out with skaters who just talk about other skaters and skating 24/7

I don't mean this in a mean way. Watching Avatar.  If you paint Meryl's face blue she could be in the movie 

it kills me when ppl say she looks like a disney princess? ya the ant queen from a bugs life maybe

I think Tessa sometimes forget that Scott is a huge part of why they are successful and she wouldn't have all of these deals w amazing brands if they weren't so strong+didn't win everything. it's easy to put her on the pedestal bc she's gorg and can dance, but he should get/deserves just as much credit-- i mean he is the one lifting her and she could not do any of this by herself. sometimes i get the vibe that she thinks she's too good for him. maybe he's not as fancy, but he has a heart of gold

i’ve literally never gotten that she thinks she’s too good for him...? they go out of their way to pay each other compliments all the time and dont even jokingly diss on each other. its actually kind of weird that after knowing each other so long their relationship isnt just one long roast section where they talk shit about each other bc thats what my relationship w/ all my lifelong friends r like....but then again im a flinty bitch and they’re super earnest and emo like all the time. like i bet they both cry during sex

i find it kinda gross, disturbing and a bit pathetic that so many people feel the need to write erotic fan fiction about Tessa and Scott--like they are real people not characters, and it's kinda creepy that people spend so much time writing and reading them. Also, i would pay a million dollars to have someone show TS what people write about them--they would literally die and so would i--some fans are kinda extreme crazy

u know how on graham norton when he’s always showing celebs really erotic fanfic and fanart of themselves and they’re just dying of embarrassment?? i would literally pay everything in my bank account (so like....twenty dollars) for someone to do that to vm

omg it's gonna be so awk when tessa and scott have to see klawes...poor klawes, she just could not hold a candle to tessa. still don't know why klawes still follows tessa's insta--like i would unfollow and would not wanna see some of the pics t posts of TS giving each other lovey looks/touchy regardless of whether ts are together or not. also, it's never like t and klawes would actually be friends bc they're polar opposites

v disappointed that the olympic summit did not deliver on this #drama

tessa and kl were real friends tho, i think its sweet. and its nice they still keep in touch even tho scott is a dog

Are you a fan of tessa's style? She wears so much expensive yet ugly shit in my opinion.

lmao no. i think some of her casual wear is cute, but she wears some of the most hideous high fashion shit ever when she’s going out. like that blue carpet jumpsuit? yall know wht im talking about. those hideous trousers??? also she wears an unbelievable amount of boring black dresses

also gf needs to do smth with her hair. tired of her high bun and slick pony. she looks way cuter w/ her hair down imo

Do you think Tessa pays for all the Adidas stuff she wears?

no she def gets it for free. i was a walk-on my freshman yr of college for half a second and even i got a bunch of free shit from nike

How do u as an ed sheeran unstanner feel about ts doing these songs their obviously using him for the sd next season and i wouldnt be suprised if they use him for the fd as well

reading this made my cholesterol go up

really hope they're exhausting all the ed sheeran options now so they won't actually use it for comps lol

ngl i do kind of dig that embarrassing white boy rapping galway girl song but that cld prob just be my girl saorise ronan hypnotizing me like she always does

Minus the horrific man bun, do you think Scott's hot? Also, do you think Tessa finds him attractive?

no and probably yes now that hes so fug

Do you think Scott's attractive?? Also, do you think Tessa being told she's beautiful constantly on sm has made her get a big head--she often comes across as a bit cold and stuck up prancing around in her $1000 + outfits? Love her and she's gorgeous but...

some of yall need to stop projecting your shit onto tessa for real 

Power plays of the figure skating journalists. Inside Skating does a very literal interview and article with P/C which blows up and then they go to Jackie Wong so he can basically write up a damage control press release. Kind of fascinating to see both journalists doing their thing with the same content. Hard to believe Inside Skating didn't think their article would create a storm. Interesting.

speaking of jackie, skaters r really going to him for their exclusives now huh? dying that ashley gave him her big la la land fluff piece instead of tsl. pays 2 be nice and kiss ass

Doesn't look like KH/JLB will have much of a chance to advance cuzis so crowded with the current seniors not retiring and juniors moving up. KH/JLB needs to work on their twizzles, thier lines, skating skills, chemistry looks promising. Some of those junior and senior teams should consider representingif they want a chance at aCanada doesn't have any promising teams once VM-WP retire. I feel like CB, SS, HD ain't retiring till they win Wch or OG which may never with PC around.

hawayek/baker could prob skate for gb because jean-luc has citizenship and carreira/ponomarenko could prob skate for canada bc she’s from montreal but i doubt the us fed is letting either of them go. they’ve invested way too much at this point. i don’t think c/p need to move tho, i think they’re talented to rise organically through the ranks. i think they’re more likely to be us #1 instead of not tbh

I don't understand the whole David and Tessa affair; like some people say it happened after he was separated and others talk like it was a full blown affair. The only thing I do know is that her being called a "homewrecker" or anything else of that nature makes me want to punch something because it's disgusting, and it's society go-to response. Be cruel to the woman and basically give the man a free pass. But maybe he received shit, too? I just never heard about it.

i think he was basically separated but not divorced when it happened

Do you think if TS and Cappelini and Lanotte switched partners they would be a good team?

lol no. anna’s not a great skater and luca looks like he’s shorter than tessa

Wait is that Tessa's ex Semple in that photo you posted of her pre and post nose job? Cause if so damn does she lowball herself. Like she could have such better looking guys I do not understand. Girl is very pretty she needs someone to help her pick better guys.

~we accept the love we think we deserve~~

I think T is cringeworthy as a speaker bc she's sooo gd rehearsed. Not a things she says comes across like she didn't practice it in the bathroom mirror 75 times that morning. She would be pretty good if she could lose even half the pretension in her delivery and tossed out the eye rolly words she keeps littering the sentences with like privilege and journey.

they honestly both suck. she’s worse than he is, but they’re both super stiff. and they always do this forced banter bit at the start which just seems so awkward lol

That one anon pointing that some have denied the nose surgery - this is exactly what annoys me about those shipper blogs, not that they are shippers (you can want them two to be together- that by itself doesn't bother me), but their ways and how they always have to insist on vm's perfect image - they all get so upset and aggressive when you point some issue out, like why would you deny Tessa has done a nose job... so out of touch! vm are interesting exactly cause they're real people with flaws

i can not believe ppl r denying her nose job. like yo its right there. it does lend credence to my theory that all shipprs r just hallucinating n seeing things that arent there tho

If Tessa and Scott did hook up while officially with SOs I have a feeling they wouldn't consider it cheating.

ok lmao??? im sure something extremely profound i said provoked this

how rich do u think scott and tessa are???

prob millionaires by the time 2018 comes around if they get their sponsorships

-

i might do part 2 later if i can be bothered... but nothing really makes sense out of context lol, its like watching charlie kaufman do slam poetry

[tutuandscoot]

Can you talk about how Scott's dancing changed when VM moved to IAM from Canton?

LONG POST AHEAD

I sure can!!

I’ve wanted to do a post for so long about more generally how they changed during the comeback bc I think it’s so fascinating. But I’ll focus on this part of it for now.

This is just my feelings and speculation and thoughts on what they’ve said so don’t take any of this as pure fact.

Comparing environments: Canton/MTL

I can only make presumptions on the training environment in Canton based on limited footage (I take the stupid show with about 15 grains of salt) but it just feels like there was less of a safe environment to explore and create- for them at least with the intimate nature of their chemistry and storytelling, it seemed very technical and competitive (in a way that wasn’t the most conductive for creative expression in the way MTL was). A number of things may have contributed to this; them being younger and growing up in that environment from juniors to seniors- so not being the top team when they arrived, (coming to MTL, even being away from comps 2 years it was like ‘the goats’ have arrived and they got to contribute immensely to that being a really positive and creative environment pushing everyone to be their best). The coaching style in Canton (they’ve said M+I were strict.. Russians so its on par), a lot of teams were training there but also it seems other skaters as well from other disciplines, their perspective through that 10-14 quad, T’s injuries,having to prioritise her health, etc. Also with different training environments often you don’t know that there is better or something that is better suited to you out there till you leave your current school, so I’m sure for a long time they were really happy and felt they were thriving.. until they weren’t and often you realise too late.. (they have kinda talked about that in their book. From Tessa.. it’s quite confronting to hear her say that she really didn’t want to go for the 2014 games at one point because she had lost almost all faith in Marina.. desperately want more info on all of that). With Marie and Patch now it was so obvious what a safe and nurturing little circle of trust they had with them (literally their circle of trust at every comp) and when Tessa says when they came back they wanted to be with people who truly loved them.. i think that shows. They could go out and do what they loved together and the people they would see immediately before and after they knew loved them, that would give him (both of them)…. that matters a lot when you are putting your heart on the line. TS do that for each other, but knowing they had people who would loved them no matter what supporting and encouraging their vulnerability would’ve meant everything to them, Scott getting very choked up at his hometown star speech talking to Patch about how much he had done for him.. i think that tells you everything about the role model and male confidant Scott needed and forget dance but just as a person he evolved so much.

Skating style and gender roles

With the comeback them moving away from more traditional in hold skating a bit as well as more traditional ice dance styles (ballroom) there was much more space for them to explore movement both together and apart in complementary to each other. He was always fabulous in that leading man role throughout.. really all their programs, probably Pink Floyd being an obvious exemption and to an extent Carmen (but largely still that male/female dynamic with a lot of in-hold partnering) but in their comeback programs (latch/prince) it wasn’t so much reliant on the fact they were male and female, they were just two people dancing, which allowed them to really explore how they can convey a relationship that isn’t constrained by gender identity for the necessity of the story. I’m sure it was scary for him, having always grown up dancing next to Tessa and being compared to her, the thing with traditional styles is you are dancing with each other, not so much next to each other, so now really choreographically and as adults exploring that.. still always dancing WITH each other but choreographically more separate-and not always unison moments. He just seemed more relaxed, I don’t want to say he was self conscious before the comeback but there was just a slight more stiffness in him in the canton days, where as comeback it felt as though he (both of them actually) were just freely moving. On the matter. Of gender roles, i don’t know if this was something they considered/discussed/wanted to explore in especially Latch, but I love watching it that way. Latch is so obviously their story- their actual story told as so emotionally raw with incredibly painful moments as well as jubilation. None of that in the abstract way they are telling it relies on the fact they are opposite genders- it is just about two humans who need each other and have gone through everything together. Only choreographically in the sense of lifts does it become occupationally obvious it is a man and a woman. Whether they ever did explore that (not literally exploring gender fluidity but unlike FF or MR or SFTD where the relationship they where portraying was a heterosexual one, the emotions in Latch are genderless).. anyway,, thats for another post.

Becoming the dancers they always wanted to be

In Canton, specifically after 2010 they’ve said they felt they had to be the team everyone wanted them to be but now in MTL they could just be themselves, their true, pure emotions were able to come through their movement rather than trying to fit a mould, which is ironic since IAM started developing a bit of a mould and style which makes it hard for teams to differentiate themselves- but even if VM were skating now I don’t think that would happen to them, they stood out no matter what even with compulsories.

Dance training

The way they have discussed their training in MTL it seams they weren’t doing as much ballet - i can’t recall them saying they did but i’m sure they did do some occasionally, instead they were working with Sam a lot with hip hop through their pro career pre-comeback and as they returned, during 2017/18 they worked with their ballroom person (Gigi?), then I’m sure there was some contemporary in there as well.. i know we all like to keep record of everything they’ve shared (on socials) and think thats exactly all that happens but theres A LOT that they didn’t share (how could they possibly share all of it) so just because we didn’t see stuff.. they worked 6 days a week about 11 months a year they can’t share everything so the record painted on social media is not a comprehensive one. I don’t know their full training schedule obviously but all these things would be in there and be essential to them. Then of course intense gym training, Pilates etc.. if they were doing less ballet, pilaties is essentially the next best thing- it works a lot of the same muscles and is specifically a form of exercise that lengthens your body which is what makes great dancers when they are so strong but their lines are to die for (literally ALL -BOTH their lines in Moulin Rogue at the Olys). (I wouldn’t be surprised if Scott ended up doing a lot of Pilates leading up to the olys with the way his lines were perfected).

(Sorry i’ve kinda been talking abut them more generally rather than just Scott but it’s so hard when they are so intwined with each other- i see them as one).

Mental approach and comeback psychology

More than anything though their mindset they took into their comeback was the biggest thing. I know, that shouldn’t have much to do with how his dance ability/style changed.. but its incredibly important. That comeback trailer is incredible because its really them marking their return to the ID world: and under no uncertain terms will they do anything that doesn’t. 100% come from their hearts. “This time its going to be for Us”.. that is everything to me. That is such a powerful and liberating statement. They will only be dancing for themselves and each other. Once you let go of the idea that you ‘should’ do this for someone else or for some other reason that doesn’t align with your values, you dance lighter and with less tension. Thats why they thrived- because while they were dong this for each other, it wasn’t because they felt they ‘should’ be doing it. T’s injures in 2009/2010 essentially left her as having to keep fighting for Scott, she didn’t really have a choice- she didn’t give herself that choice, even though she wanted it just as much..there was a matter of having to do it despite the pain she was in. Now… one of the most powerful things about their partnership is they didn’t have to worry so much about wanting it for themselves, looking after themselves in that respect, because they are doing that whole heartedly for each other- they were protecting and nurturing each other’s dreams, so even on the hardest days.. when they may not have the power to do it for themselves, they will always do it for each other. 😭😭😭

Specific dance notes

I don’t know if he could’ve done Prince anytime before the comeback. I think he needed that freedom to shake off his exquisite ballroom/leading man/Fred Astire-esk persona he always had through all their previous competitive programs so he could really just groove and let go, while of course maintaining beautiful posture, charisma, and being the best partner in the world. Latch I would say some of his arm lines could’ve been better. I will forever be mad at him for always rolling the sleeves up on his costume because it made him look like he was wearing a boys’ ballet exam unitard with half sleeves. At the first two competitions i felt his arm lines were much better but it might have been the full length sleeves. He could’ve stretched though his hands a bit more, this was the same pre-comeback for a while he would often hold tension in his hands (go watch Valse Triste at 2007 worlds and MR olys and watch his beautiful balletic hand lines.. in between these times they sometimes got a bit unfinished) either in a tight almost fist position or sometimes too energised in a splade-finger/jazz hands position. Its very hard to see from a distance but its those small things i pick up on. This remained both throughout MR until really Nationals and then the olys his hands were STUNNING.. i don’t know what he did to fix it but omg just about any picture from the olys THAT MAN HAS THE EXTENSIONS OF A BALLERINA AND I LOVE HIM FOR THAT!! (Sometimes i thought i could see at the boards as he often did his lil bouncy squat warm up, Marie gently placing her hands on top of his and idk but i can just picture her working tirelessly with him getting to release the tension in his hands.. i like the thought of that so i’m gonna go with it). I also found he had a bit of tension in his posture through the comeback year that (almost) immediately went away by their return for the oly season. I put this down to an obvious change in his physicality- he became more broad and muscular in his back- before this he always had a more petite frame. Just that change and getting use to dancing with a different figure can take time- this may have contributed to his shaky twizzles in 16/17. It wasn’t anything bad but just between 16/17 and 17/18 it was something i noticed. His acting had always been exquisite.. really from Funny Face onwards. I will defend that program till my dying day it did wonders for both of them but especially him- where Carmen was T’s break out role Funny Face was his. From there on every heavily characterised program (Carmen, DALD, MR) he was spectacular. I love at GPF 2013 after the SD the besp uncles say ‘you could take him straight to HollyWood’ becuase he is so natural and genuine and never once distracts from Tessa. That kind of performance confidence he carried through every single program they ever did after that. Latch isn’t a program you would say is a “acting” heavy program.. but the emotion he exudes both through movement and expressively legitimately makes me cry. I can’t help myself i bring it up every time but the outside stuff he was dealing with that season.. I don’t know if he did or not but using that deep emotion in their performances.. inevitably, he is such a beautifully emotionally available person i’m sure it was there a bit, and although it was awful for him (and Tessa did such a wonderful job of looking after him), took Latch from a stunning, modern free dance to a heart achingly beautiful human experience playing out on an ice rink. That kind of connection with deep, real emotion i feel was his moment of release of any, even unconsciously self imposed constraints he had on himself as a dancer. He took that through next season to MR and… i mean he is undoubtably one of the most exquisite male performers (specifically dancers) i have ever seen.

So more and more, at this highest of high levels they reached by the end but were always at compared to the rest of the field since they won in 2010 (i will confidently argue watching worlds 2007, they have best performance and pure dance quality of any team there- doesn’t mean they should’ve won, but their burning talent was clear as day, they just had to wait for everyone else to realise it and the scoring to catch up to them), their technique they trained so hard for everyday and were never satisfied, that was brilliant, they are brilliant dancers. Specifically brilliant ice dancers- off ice is very different because their lower bodies are trained to do completely different coordination/steps on the ice. So no i would not be throwing them onstage with the Royal Ballet corps, but in their own right, in their own unique way they are incredible and the best in their SPORT. They both improved immensely through every stage of their career but for Scott especially, the sweet little darling just wanted to always do his best for his best friend and never let her down. He wanted to be the best partner he could for her. Dance was not something he trained specifically for at a young age like T had so that was his thing to work 10 times as hard at.. probably as he would say just to not look bad next to her, but in his own way became this stunning artist who had a way with expressing movement that moved you like nothing else.. i hope he knows how special he is in that respect.

[tutuandscoot]

I think it was really interesting early in the interview Rod starts talking about the state of figure skating and a bit of the history of it and how it’s popularity has really dropped off and lost it’s wow factor recently both domestically and internationally and how VM really were the golden age where 🇨🇦 was so strong across all disciplines, and the generation/s before had these stars like Kurt and Elvis. Then Scott jumps in and asks quite broadly if FS is an accessible sport for the general public to watch and people to get interested/active in, and Rod starts to nod affirmatively like ‘yes absolutely it is’ and the way Scott posed the question was kind of rhetorical because straight away he says ‘no it’s not really’.

Now there are those who know far more about FS than me (and Rod) but as a sportscaster he had been around it for a long time whether he knew the details of it or not, he saw the evolution of it and more from a viewer/media perspective, but it’s just interesting those two very differing perspectives of Rod’s yes, it is accessible and Scott’s no it isn’t- but they need to make it accessible again.

It’s very obvious FS has dropped off the radar esp in the last olys the interest was way down and the only thing that tuned people in was the doping fiasco- which it’s never a good thing when it’s doping or judging or Nancy and Tonya that makes people watch the sport coz then it becomes not about the sport- it’s about the artificial headlines. There was of course many years of accessibility brought on the talent of skaters like VM, Yuna, Yuzu and earlier skaters like Michelle, Sasha, maybe even some of the Russian men..? and others also.

It’s the kind of thing where there’s got to be something truly interesting about it on its own- no scandals, for it to be accessible to casual viewers. There’s got to be the skaters with the excitement and wow factor that makes people who don’t know much about the sport and just see the jumps and the spins and the pretty costumes and thinks it looks easy when really it is one of the hardest sports you can possibly do, find satisfaction in watching it. This last cycle or so esp in ice dance I think that has become really obvious- singles has had the increase in the jumps which to laymen is pretty impressive, but ice dance doesn’t have that built in physical wow factor- teams have to create that themselves and this is kinda jumping off the post I wrote the other day about Canadian nationals that it’s just boring now for the casual viewer. It’s nice and pretty but there’s no wow factor. It was the same with the 2022 olys.

VM have their own way of justifying it in that the stories they tell are universal so people can relate to them but also people related to them coz they were two humans just dancing together, and also had this unbelievable athleticism. That’s one of the other things that puts them in that top echelon of skaters. They were different. At that top level all teams are nice and good but for the average viewer across the board there is no excitement there.

So when Scott says is it accessible? not really, I think he’s looking at it from both the inside workings of the judging and politics and the affect that has on an event’s legitimacy but also creating athletes that reach beyond the boards of a rink and make it interesting for the casual viewer. I think that’s gonna take a long time and very few will actually achieve it and blatantly I don’t think anyone will ever do it like VM.

I think the sport as a whole is really going through a period of redefining it’s self maybe like it never has before because of the change in media environment as well, you can watch stuff anytime any where/ some 5 second clip of a 13yr old doing a quad, but that’s all you get and that’s what today’s entertainment is designed for- you don’t have to put a full package together coz peoples’ attention spans don’t last that long- so to hold an audience for 4 minutes is getting harder and harder. (On this note T also made some great remarks on the entertainment environment being so saturated with options, there’s only so many ice shows you can go to- either Stars or Disney on Ice type shows before it just gets repetitive. That’s where they made a small indent with their tours but the industry needs more reinvention like that).

I just thought those were some interesting points and a really honest self-examination of the work he and the skating community has ahead of them.

Again just some of my own person thoughts I don’t claim to know everything about the inner workings of this sport

[saucylittlesmile]

Do you know how the gala/exhibition dance came about? Just think it's quite demanding and a bit strange that skaters have to do a 3rd new dance after competing 2 dances already. Great for the audience of course but it's not like the skaters get points (or money?) out of it. Trying to think of other sports which have an exhibition element immediately after competition but can't think of any. Thanks for sharing all your skating and VM knowledge.

No, I have no idea when exhibitions started, but they’ve been around for as long as I can remember.  But since figure skating is part sport, part art - it seems a natural evolution, and aside from being fun for a lot of the skaters and audience, it was probably seen by the ISU as a way to keep people interested and entertained - a way to see the fun stuff, at comps, not just at shows that the ISU can’t control.

Technically, the skaters do get money out of it, because there is prize money for competing, and in the rules, you have to participate in the exhibition (barring medical exemptions) if asked, or else you will lose some of your prize money.  (If you are asked to skate, but didn’t win prize money due to your placement, you are paid a nominal amount to skate, instead.)

This, for example, was from the Skate Canada International 2018 event - it is an ISU Grand Prix event, so it would be the same at all six of the events.

Link, under ‘announcement’. 

(Also, just as a point of interest - please note that prize money is paid to the skaters' Federation, not the skaters themselves... Federations have a lot of power over their skaters.)