by Anne Calder | Photos by Daphne Backman
RHYTHM DANCE
The U.S. National Championship Senior Rhythm Dance was carried out for the primary time and not using a sample. It was changed by the Choreographic Rhythm Sequence with a base worth of two.00.
Reigning U.S. Ice Dance Champions, Madison Chock & Evan Bates closed the Rhythm Dance phase with samba, rhumba, samba to “Let’s Dance by David Bowie (Remix by Ben Liebrand). The Montreal-based group earned degree 4 for the twizzles, raise and Pattern Steps. Both Midline Step Sequences had been degree 3. The new Choreographic Rhythm Sequence acquired all 4 and 5 GOE marks and a complete panel rating of 9.07. The program totaled 91.90.
Chock defined their music. “It’s a twist on Latin. We were looking for something unique that we hadn’t heard before.”
Caroline Green & Michael Parsons scored 81.40 for his or her program to “Vocalizando” by Alessandro Oliviato, “Historia De Un Amor” by Cesaria Evora and “Boutique” by Watazu. The dance earned degree 4 for the twizzles and raise. Both Midline Step Sequences had been degree 3. The group made a significant transfer this season from their long-time WISA coaching web site to the Michigan Ice Dance Academy (MIDA) in Canton.
“In a year of lots of change for us, it feels good to be back in a familiar place,” Parsons mentioned. “We’re really very happy with the progression of our season. We’ve done a lot this year in terms of growth as a team, and we really showed that on the ice today. It’s a good first step.”
“We definitely left some points on the table in terms of the technical side of things, but it gives us clarity with what we need to work on and shift the focus [to the Free Dance] now that we’re comfortable out there and feeling all the energy of a Nationals,” Green mentioned.
The vary of scores for the subsequent seven groups was 78.18 – 72-80 – solely 5.38 factors separated groups three to 9.
Making their U.S. National Championships debut, Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik danced into third place to “Congo” by Gloria Estefan, “Tan Sola” by Sole Gimenez and “Congo” by Meek Mill. Their raise and Pattern Steps earned degree 4. The group scored 78.18.
Kolesnik is the 2020 Junior World Champion with accomplice Avonley Nguyen. Zingas spent 13 years honing her expertise in singles prior to creating the transfer to ice dance.
“The first time I skated with Emy, I felt something special. I felt I can be myself and skate the way I want to skate. That’s how it comes out,” Kolesnik defined about his extra carefree and new-found freedom to his skating.
“We had an amazing time performing today,” Zingas mentioned. “This is our first Nationals together and my first Nationals as an ice dancer. It’s also our first Senior National experience.”
Christina Carreira & Anthony Ponomarenko chosen “Kind of Latin Rhythm” by the Juju Orchestra, “Where do I Begin” by Shirley Bassey and “Samba” by Gloria Estefan. The duo’s raise and her twizzle acquired degree 4. Both Midline Step Sequences had been degree 3. The Pattern Steps and his twizzle had been degree 2. The whole phase scored 77.37. The group trains in London, Ontario Canada with I.AM.
“The score is a translation of what we’ve done leading up to the event,” Ponomarenko mentioned. “All the preparation we’ve done working on our skating skills. We had a major mistake [his twizzle], but overall we’re still very happy with the progress we’re making and look to capitalize on that.”
Lorraine McNamara & Anton Spiridonov danced to “Careless Whisper” by George Michaels and scored 76.23. The twizzles and raise earned degree 4. The Pattern Steps and his Midline Step Sequence had been degree 3. The Virginia-based group is contemporary off successful the silver medal on the latest 2023 World Winter University Games in Lake Placid.
“We thought the score would be a bit higher, but that’s ok because we showed a great improvement over last year,” Spiridonov famous. “The scores don’t matter. It’s not an Olympic year. Ever since we got back to training after last year, we’ve been improving, and we’ll continue to improve. We know where we want to move. We have a plan.”
Canton, Michigan primarily based (MIDA) Emily Bratti & Ian Somerville selected the music of “Gadda Rio” and “Hip Hip Chin Chin” by Club Des Belugas, “Con mi Sombra” by S-Tone Inc. for his or her dance. The twizzles and raise had been degree 4. The Pattern Steps and her Midline Step Sequence had been degree 3. The whole phase scored 75.91.
Eva Pate & Logan Bye carried out to “Beautiful Creatures” by Barbatuques, Andy Garcia and Rita Moreno, “Fly Love” by Jamie Foxx and “Real in Rio” by the Rio Singers. The raise, his twizzle and Midline Step Sequence earned degree 4. The Pattern step, her twizzle and Midline Step Sequence had been degree 3. The phase scored 75.52.
Isabella Flores & Ivan Desyatov danced to “Tiburon” by Proyecto Uno and “03 Bonnie and Clyde” by Jay-Z and Beyoncé. The raise, twizzles and his Midline Step Sequence earned degree 4. The Colorado Springs-based duo scored 73.91 whereas skating at their first US Championships collectively as a senior group.
“We were focusing on just performing,” Flores mentioned. “Skating in front of such a large audience made it very special for us. On a stage like this where everyone is so talented, it’s easy to doubt yourself, and you start skating down. It’s something we did well today, and it’s something we’ll work on in our future competitions.”
Oona Brown & Gage Brown selected “Bones” by Imagine Dragons for his or her senior debut on the US Nationals. The reigning World Junior Champions earned degree 3 for the twizzles, Pattern steps, and his Diagonal Step Sequence. The raise earned degree 4. The whole phase scored 72.80.
“There were a few small mistakes, but over all we’re pretty pleased component wise,” Gage mentioned. “As for being confident,” Oona added “even if we’re not confident, it’s important to make it look like we are.” “In this case we were confident,” added Gage.
Rafaella Koncius & Alexey Shchepetov withdrew from the competitors.
SENIOR FREE DANCE
The Free Dance started Saturday morning at 10:45 a.m. with Chock & Bates in a commanding 10-point lead. The order of podium positions would rely upon the ultimate performances by the dancers.
Three hours later the medals had been awarded to the next: Chock & Bates (gold), Green & Parsons (silver) Carreira & Ponomarenko (bronze) and Zingas & Kolesnik (pewter)
Chock & Bates danced final, however completed first to “Souffrance” by Orange Blossom and “Tectoniques” by Jorane, a Montreal artist. The story was initially impressed by their engagement and her 1920 classic ring that belonged to somebody very way back. It bought them considering how love transcends the bodily and religious world, and the way you will discover each other. Since Skate America, this system has advanced right into a relationship extra between the spirits of fireplace and air and not possible survival for one with out the opposite.
“We’re very happy with the way our program has developed since the beginning of the season,” Chock mentioned. “It’s found its groove. We’ve let the program speak to us, and we’ve evolved with it. We’ve not been afraid to adapt and work with new material and keep pushing ourselves to make something that we feel is very special.”
The 2022 World silver medalists acquired all however two GOE marks of 4 and 5 and 15 excellent 10.00s for Program Components. All the required components earned degree 4 besides their Level 3 One foot Turns. The phase scored 137.85 and totaled 229.75. The margin between first and second place was 22.29.
“This is probably the best we’ve ever skated in our careers,” Bates mentioned on NBC. “I think that’s the statement that we wanted to make.”
Green & Parsons received silver with a inventive Jazz Age dance to George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”. The MIDA skilled group earned degree 4 twizzles, spin and lifts. GEOs had been all three, 4 and 5. The Program Components averaged above 9. The 2022 Four Continents gold medalists scored 126.06 for the Free Dance and a complete of 207.46
“This was a very significant National Championship to us because of the way we’ve approached the season and how we wanted to redirect ourselves as a team,” Parsons mentioned. “I don’t think we could have put out a better skate today, and I’m so happy with the work we we’ve put in the past few months with our new coaches.”
Carreira & Ponomarenko are the 2023 bronze medalists. Their music choice contains “Rainy Streets” and “Public Disquiet” by Backbone and two variations of George Gershwin’s “Summertime” one by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald and the opposite by 101 String Orchestra.
The twizzles, rotational and curve lifts, dance spin and his One Foot Turn earned degree 4. Both Diagonal Step Sequences and her One Foot Turn had been degree 3. The phase scored 121.08 and totaled 198.45.
In February 2022, Ponomarenko underwent surgical procedure and rehab in Colorado Springs for an previous ankle sprain that additionally precipitated joint harm. Meanwhile Carreira continued to coach in London, Ontario till he returned in May. The group resumed coaching in June. Since their preparation for the brand new season was delayed, they didn’t compete till November 11-13 on the GP Series occasion in Sheffield, Great Britain, the place they completed fourth.
“We are really honored to be on this podium since the US Ice Dance is so strong now,” mentioned Carreira. We’ve been working actually arduous these previous couple of months and we’re actually pleased with how we skated at this time. We’re actually excited.”
Zingas & Kolesnik carried out their Free Dance to Music from Phillip Glass. The pewter medalists earned degree 4 for the spin, lifts, and twizzles. The Diagonal Step and One Foot Turns had been all degree 3. The phase scored 119.95 and totaled 198.13, narrowly lacking the bronze by .32 factors.
“We changed our Free Dance so much that it’s unrecognizable,” mentioned Zingas. “Now it’s a little bit more modern.”
The former singles skater received the 2018 US National Novice silver medal the final time the occasion was held in San Jose.
On being again on the U.S. Championships once more in San Jose, Zingas famous, “It’s been really surreal for me. I competed here at Nationals five years ago as a novice, so it’s been a full circle. I feel extremely honored to be here and to stand next to the people we sat next to at the press conference.”
Emily Bratti & Ian Somerville (189.84) dancing to La La Land choices and Lorraine McNamara & Anton Spiridonov (189.15) dancing to ”Rain, In Your Black Eyes” by Ezio Bosso had been a really shut fifth and sixth, separated by solely .69 factors.
CALIFORNIA CLIPS
- Chock & Bates set two U.S. Championship data for highest-ever FD and whole scores.
- Chock & Bates have stood on the Podium 11 occasions – all however one had been first or second. (2018, third place)
- Green & Parsons earned their best-ever senior end result on the U.S. Championships, setting new private bests for the free skate and general rating.
- Carreira & Ponomarenko earned their best-ever senior end result on the U.S. Championships, setting new private bests for the free skate and over all rating.
- Zingas & Kolesnik earned their first U.S. Championships medal, setting new private bests for the free skate and general rating.
- Caroline Green spoke about her Free Dance costume shade change to sizzling deep pink. “In the beginning we thought about this color, but decided “Rhapsody in Blue” ought to have a blue gown. I don’t know if the ice is so vivid, however I felt the blue shade we selected pale into the background. We wanted one thing eye catching. Royal blue was within the dialog, however it was a joint group effort, and that is what got here out of it.”
- At the 2022 Ice Dance Final, Cara Murphy and Joshua Levitt missed the National’s qualifier by .26. When Molly Cesanek & Yegor Yegoror withdrew in mid December, the Pittsburg-based group bought the decision. After the Final, they’d felt their finest FD and whole rating had been a great finish to the season. They had been very excited to have one other
likelihood to enhance the Rhythm Dance rating. They modified the complete first tune to “Last Dance” by Donna Summer and moved the twizzles to the second ingredient. Their modifications improved the rating by over two factors. - Caroline Depietri & TJ Carey didn’t qualify for the 2023 U.S. Nationals. Depietri continued coaching and Carey formally retired. Then Kaitlin Hawayek & Jean-Luc Baker withdrew from Nationals. Depietri was in Florida, and Carey had simply returned from volunteering on the University Games in Lake Place. On January 17 an e-mail arrived inviting them to San Jose. The former companions agreed it was doable. Depietri flew dwelling, they usually skilled each day till arriving at Nationals for his or her senior group debut.
- The Senior ice dancers had solely apply on Friday, however Vadym Kolesnik doesn’t wish to exit and do one thing till after the competitors ends. “It’s something in my nature,” he mentioned. “I don’t like to go out because one time I did and twisted my ankle trying to get out of a chair, so I try not to go.”
- On the opposite hand, after their disappointing Rhythm Dance, Junior Ice Dance Champions Leah Neset & Artem Markelov visualized this system, The Pirates of the Caribbean, and went to the ocean. A great place to visualise.