The first question in Two for the Ice’s Ask the Expert series turns to the process of short dance creation, with ice dance coach and choreographer Carol Lane — an element of whose 2015-16 short dance with Juris Razgulajevs for Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier has been proposed for adaptation as a future march compulsory…
With the dance field expanded to 10 couples apiece for the first time since the 2010-11 season, competitors saw additional opportunity — though some absences for those guaranteed at least one spot are also worth noting. Pairs, which remains at eight teams apiece due to additional regulations (only four teams allowed per warm-up session), was…
The ISU figure skating powers-that-be meet this Wednesday and Thursday to set out the coming season’s Grand Prix assignments across six events — this year, in a minor shake-up of schedule, Skate America, Skate Canada International, Rostelecom Cup, the renamed Trophée de France, Cup of China and NHK Trophy. With only eight slots per event…
by Jacquelyn Thayer One could say that the reports of Canadian ice dancer Thomas Williams’s retirement were an exaggeration. “I planned on continuing—that was my original plan all along,” said Williams, who split from partner Nicole Orford in early 2015. Certain reports, however, suggested that he had publicly concluded his career. “I never announced anything…
by Jacquelyn Thayer It was a classic quote of much-debated origin — “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts” — that concluded the ice dance team’s reflective Facebook post, a season wrap-up tradition begun in the wake of a devastating Canadian Nationals, where an element error…
by Jacquelyn Thayer This week, senior dance at the Canadian Tire National Skating Championships will include a pair of training mates with a history of their own. In 2012, Mariposa School of Skating’s Lauren Collins and Danny Seymour became Canada’s novice ice dance champions. Four years later, the skaters will make their national senior debuts…
In this PCS series as in all analytical articles, it has generally been TFTI’s aim to provide some deeper insight into the numbers presented — related or not to on-ice performance. But in the matter of Grades of Execution in this first half of the 2015-16 season, our mission may have failed. It should first,…
For reigning Canadian dance champions Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, next week’s Canadian Tire National Skating Championships in Halifax marks a full circle moment — the couple made their national, and senior, debut together there at 2007’s event, capturing a surprise bronze medal alongside Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon and Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.…
In recognition of the Year That Was, Two for the Ice highlights ten of its favorite 2015-16 programs from the U.S. and Canada’s senior dance and pairs couples — and we invite our readers to share their own favorites by tweeting us at @twofortheice or commenting below. ICE DANCE 1. Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker,…
Note: While the Grand Prix Final was called the Champions Series Final in its first three seasons, the event is considered here the GPF for the sake of simplification. North American dance and pairs entries, Grand Prix Final: 7 Dance: Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (CAN), Madison Chock & Evan Bates, Maia & Alex Shibutani,…
