When 4-time U.S. pairs medalists Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig announced the end of their 10-year partnership a couple of months ago, I was in the throes of student teaching and grad school and was unable to comment on my blog. Now that I have free time, I would like to make a series of posts dedicated to honoring Amanda and Mark's beautiful partnership. Though this team never finished first at Nationals and never made the World splash they might have been looking for, they nevertheless had a very successful career, highlighted by impressive top-1o finishes at the 2010 Olympic Games and World Championships. Above all, Amanda and Mark were a joyful team. I saw them skate live at the 2009 U.S. Championships in Cleveland and was struck with their genuine performance quality. Amanda, especially, wore her emotions on her sleeves. I was moved by their performance and took notice. The following season, they surprised everyone, including themselves by finishing second at Nationals and making the Olympic team. It's a moment Amanda and Mark and their fans will not soon forget.
The first program of Amanda and Mark's that I'd like to highlight is this season's freeskate to Ravel's "Daphne and Chloe. This freeskate is exquisitely choreographed, peppered with beautiful shapes (note the photo of the opening pose above), interesting movements, and stunning lifts. It's a soft, subtle, mature, elegant piece. This particular performance, skated at Trophee Eric Bompard last fall in Paris isn't without flaw, Amanda goes down on a double axel, but otherwise, it's very well done. One mistake does not detract from the quality of this program.
Enjoy!
When 4-time U.S. pairs medalists Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig announced the end of their 10-year partnership a couple of months ago, I was in the throes of student teaching and grad school and was unable to comment on my blog. Now that I have free time, I would like to make a series of posts dedicated to honoring Amanda and Mark's beautiful partnership. Though this team never finished first at Nationals and never made the World splash they might have been looking for, they nevertheless had a very successful career, highlighted by impressive top-1o finishes at the 2010 Olympic Games and World Championships. Above all, Amanda and Mark were a joyful team. I saw them skate live at the 2009 U.S. Championships in Cleveland and was struck with their genuine performance quality. Amanda, especially, wore her emotions on her sleeves. I was moved by their performance and took notice. The following season, they surprised everyone, including themselves by finishing second at Nationals and making the Olympic team. It's a moment Amanda and Mark and their fans will not soon forget.
The first program of Amanda and Mark's that I'd like to highlight is this season's freeskate to Ravel's "Daphne and Chloe. This freeskate is exquisitely choreographed, peppered with beautiful shapes (note the photo of the opening pose above), interesting movements, and stunning lifts. It's a soft, subtle, mature, elegant piece. This particular performance, skated at Trophee Eric Bompard last fall in Paris isn't without flaw, Amanda goes down on a double axel, but otherwise, it's very well done. One mistake does not detract from the quality of this program.
Enjoy!
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