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…
TFTI’s Top 10 of 2015
Category: Ice Dance
2015-16 Grand Prix Final Preview: By the Numbers
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:…
Together, Hawayek and Baker Shaping Their Vision
by Jacquelyn Thayer If American ice dancers Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker know their stylistic strengths, they know even better how they aim to expand them — beginning with a season’s debut at this week’s Finlandia Trophy. Their new short…
The 2015 Challenger Series To Dat(a)
Dance This season, Two for the Ice is adding to its analytical series by tracking first events to first events* — how leading dance teams fared in 2014-15’s debut against this season’s. As a matter of further interest, the four…
Behind the Program, Ep. 4: Paul and Islam, 2015-16 Short Dance
by Jacquelyn Thayer Taking on a Ravensburger Waltz with a classical ballet twist was a task Alexandra Paul and Mitch Islam were loath to take lightly. “Any time you tackle a new program, there are countless hours that go into…
For Orford and Hill, Happy Accidents Tell the Tale
by Jacquelyn Thayer A planned West Coast vacation for Canadian ice dancer Asher Hill — journeying from Vegas to L.A. up through Vancouver to meet with skating friends — prompted an unexpected invitation from British Columbia-based Nicole Orford, recently split…
The Pre-Season Primer: BC SummerSkate and the JGP
by Jacquelyn Thayer British Columbia/Yukon Territory Super Series SummerSkate BC SummerSkate is unusual among the pre-season regional competitions for — like a regular season event — holding short and free segments as a combined event; this is due to its…
The Pre-Season Primer: Skate Canada COS Summer Skate
by Jacquelyn Thayer Note: On-site impressions, supplemental to coverage afforded by livestream, were provided by two sources who wish to remain anonymous. Additional teams were contacted for comment, and the article will be updated to reflect their quotes if provided.…
2015 Quebec Summer Championships: The Dancers
by Jacquelyn Thayer Though also well-represented in junior dance (discussed later), the senior dance event at the 2015 Quebec Summer Championships (Championnats québécois d’été 2015) in Pierrefonds was overwhelmed with entries from the Gadbois Centre — five of seven couples…
The Pre-Season Primer: Minto Summer Skate
This year, as in many others, Ottawa’s Minto Summer Skate presented the first major outing for many of Ontario’s dance teams at all levels — including national and international medalists at both junior and senior. With Grand Prix and national…