This year Tom McGinnis choreographed the opening and closing numbers. The opening number was very simple. Local skaters (including a few from my club) came out carrying flags (USA, Russia, Canada, USA Olympic) and did a few circles and then each skater came out and bowed as they were introduced by name.
I didn't get a program so I don't have the full names of the local skaters but I scribbled down their credentials so I will eventually figure them out. First was Melaine, who won New Englands in Intermediate this year. She had some nice doubles, smooth skating and was a good spinner. I have her music as 'torch song.' My music ID brain was not on all cylinders tonight so forgive.
Katherine Hadford started the stars portion of the show but I'm embarrased to say I don't know her at all. She barrelled her way through some very familiar classical music and seemed incredibly nervous. She has a lovely layback but fell hard on a triple toe.
Matt Lind looked alot better than when I saw him in Novice about 2 years ago. He skated to a generic boy ballad. He has lovely body positions and posture and still has that Scotvold look of strong back and good technique. He did a nice triple toe and sal but was under rotated on a triple lutz.
Loren Galler-Rabinowitz/David Mitchell did what must be the free dance. The music was Arabic (perhaps by a Western composer, though) which should have won me over but they were rather slow. I think the dance is good and she has good body control in her positions, she doesn't flail about, but they need to press on the gas pedal. I've seen them improve each year and I think they are getting better but right now it's speed they need.
Louann Donovan dragged out that old fave, Orange Coloured Sky. Despite the music choice, I really like her. Nice snap in her jumps, a triple toe and sal and good split jumps. The program was mired in 70's choreography but she is definitely a talent. Hope she has a good season.
Evan Lysaeck did NOT do a Sept 11th program, as he did last year, so it was already a big improvement. He had a shirt Sasha Abt would be proud of; blousy with lots of flowy tattered bits. He skated to Time to Say Goodbye and really did the music well; very flowy, good speed, the flouncy bits of shirt got to flutter in the wind! A very sweet triple lutz, confident and smooth in his presentation, I liked it a lot.
Melanie Lambert and Fred Palsacek (Nancy informed us they are soon to be married) wore the Roxanne costumes but skated to what I can only call a jock jam. Driving beats and all adagio moves. The people around me had clearly not seen much skating and were in jaw drop land. One guy behind me kept saying "Oh, no, no WAY". It was fun. The program as well. Plenty of Mel's head flying toward the ice at great speed. I hope a few pictures of it come out.
Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto lived up to my worse fears from the costume; an Elvis Presley medley. Ugh. They are clearly very talented dancers but I can't get past his hideous Elvis in Vegas suit and the posing and just HATING the music with every fiber of my being. Yeah, I suppose it is a good dance and possibly it will even win Nationals but UGH. I just hated it. Maybe I can love their OD this year.....
To cleanse my palate after this monstrosity, Hula Hoops. So much better than I expected. It was a Vegas act, clearly, but really neat. Skating with flexible hula hoops was cool, Violetta wrapped one around in her various flexible spin positions but then we had Pete spining a giant (at least 4 feet on a side) metal cube as he skated, Violetta spining about ten hoops on various body parts that Pete was throwing onto her and Violetta spinning a giant hula hoop/slinky in glowing neon. It ended with Pete spinnning Violetta on his neck via one of those twisting rings used in trapeze acts so she spun like a top off of his neck ring. I can't even describe it. Oh yea, and they did a Detrioter with her resting on his head. Wild, not really skating but just very cool. Guy behind me was again blown away!
Roman Serov followed this up with a HUGE triple axel (only one of the night) to some dark piano music. He was fast, a bit sloppy but with great jumps. Paul mentioned something about him planning to become a US citizen and skate for the USA. Now, if there is a roadblock to the top in Russia, I don't think the USA is much better. It's not as deep now but it's still pretty full.
The Protopopovs were lovely, as always. They skated to Two Guitars, I think. Could have been Galinka. Sorry. Two different death spirals and lots of lovely footwork. We eat them up at Evening each year and they are so sweet and radiant it's easy to enjoy it.
The first half ended with the Haydenettes doing a ballet type number. We decieded that a sea of pink tights and pink leg warmers is not the best look but they are very good. The formations are changing all the time and very well synchronized. They did a group spin that was perfectly in unison.
A break to resurface and on to the second half.
Local skater Stephen something; New England Intermediate winner did R.O.C.K in the U.S.A that has Tom McGinnis written all over it, though I have no idea who his coach is. He was very pre-teen, all arms and legs, but entertaining.
Kelly O'Grady, was noted as North Atlantic Novice winner. I wondered if she was still training here and found out she now represents a club somewhere in New York but still trains in Boston with Tom McGinnis. A very tenative double axel and fall out of very under rotated triple toe. Her music was West Side Story. She is, as she has been, an excellent spinner but the jump technique could use some cleaning up. We'll see if she makes it past Easterns this year.
Kylie Gleason, must be a local skater but I caught her last name, looked amazingly nervous and had some bone thunking falls on jumps. Her music might have been Nightmare before Christmas.
I've really taken to Stephanie Kalasevich and Aaron Parchem, although Paul managed to totally managle the names. They skated to a ballad, good throw triple sal and some adagio moves. Their skating is smooth and I think they are improving all the time. With the US title totally up for grabs, I think they have as good a shot as anyone.
Parker Pennington skated to yet another ballad. (Eyes glaze over). There was an ina to a death drop (it's in my notes but I'm trying to recall how that was done now) and a good triple flip but he still has some junior skater about him.
Jenny Kirk did the generic female ballad but in her cool Danse Macabre dress with the verterbae sequins up the back. Lovely triple toe and sal. Last year I really saw a major change in her but this year it was more of a good but not spectaular improvement. Still love her jump technqiue and strong back.
What is up with UDel? Are they in a time warp? Tiffany Scott/Philip Dulebohn skated to Le Miz. I thought that music had finally gone away. Perhaps they are trying to be more like a Canadian pair team. When I saw them practice, I thought they looked faster and stronger but it didn't show up as much here. A rather dull program (I'm guessing it is the short program) with one brief gender bender move (if you blink, you'll miss it) and I think they have to do better than a throw triple toe (they did a double here) to place well at competitions. I finally just thought, they are what they are.
Lucinda Ruh is a goddess. She was the one many around me came to see and she did not dissapoint. She did the only September 11th tribute program and it was ethereal. She was in a gold lame bodysuit that also covered her head. The music was haunting. The program was all gliding and flexibilty and her array of incredible spins. Only standing ovation of the night and incredibly well deserved. Sometimes I think she is only skater doing anything innovative and exciting in pro or amatuer ranks. I'm so glad she is finally getting some credit for what she does well in her pro career.
Irina Lobacheva/Illia Averbukh went for the props. She sat in a chair on the edge of rink and he hammed it at center ice to Business of Love and then she joined him. It was fun but it was just all their same exhibiton tricks. Later the program morphed into Tutti Frutti, which is also good but I've seen it before. Many times! Would have liked to see some new stuff or at least the free dance from last year.
To end the show, Nancy Kerrigan skated a tango program. Well, it was tango music and the dress was awesome but this the Nancester. Not much tango expression but nice triple toe and double axel and she does seem to enjoy herself much more than she ever did as an amatuer. I always like watching her because her technique is so precise.
The finale brought out all of Tom's great Disco colection. I was hoping for a few fours moves but no such luck. Need some Canadian pairs (or Calla Urbanski) for that. Paul Wylie did a spin that travelled for about 10 feet and it was all over for another year. All in all, a really fun show and nice to have the big crowd back again. Let's hope they can convince WGBH or some local station to film it next year.
Photos will be scanned at a later date.
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