Homage to Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig--Part 2

Here is the delightful short program from last season to Gershwin's "The Man I Love." This performance was skated at Cup of China during the 2011 Grand Prix Season. Enjoy!

Homage to Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig--part 1

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!

Daisuke Takahashi's "Cyber Swan"

Very cool! Takahashi has recently announced his return to coach/choreographer Nikolai Morozov, who created this program. Can we expect more ice-breaking performances like this in the fall?

Michelle Kwan's "Carmina Burana"

Magnificent.

Happy 27th Birthday to Evan Lysacek!

In wishing the reigning Olympic Champion a Happy Birthday, I'd like to post one of his best freeskates: his 2006 Olympic Games freeskate to Carmen. With this courageous freeskate, he moved up from 10th after a disastrous short program to coming up just short of a medal in 4th behind bronze medalist Jeffrey Buttle of Canada. This is one of my favorites! Evan was always a phenomenal competitor, who truly knew how to rise to the occasion. This performance makes me want to clap! As Sandra Bezic says, "...he sustained the emotional commitment from beginning to end...brilliant!" Happy 27th Birthday, Evan!

Evgeny Plushenko's Comeback!

Evgeny Plushenko is still king! Check out the 2006 Olympic Champion's exciting freeskate at the 2012 European Championships in Sheffield England in January. At 29-year-old, Plushenko doesn't seem to have lost much of his technical ability. Quads were absent from this freeskate as Plushenko was set to have knee surgery following the competition,but he plans to bring back the four-revolution jumps in his continued comeback this season the road to the Sochi Games in his home country two years away. Having watched Plushenko skate for more than a decade now, I have to say, it never gets old. I still love his skating! Enjoy!

3rd Annual Young Artist's Showcase

Young Artist's Showcase is a competition for budding choreographers. I found out about the showcases and viewed some of the stellar performances on another skating blog that I follow. Here I'm posting two--as the British would say--"cracking" performances. One is choreographed and performed by British skater Mark Hanretty. The second is choreographed by Garrett Kling, performed by junior skater Madison Vinci. Do yourselves a favor and watch both of these stellar performances!