“There’s nothing new, just skaters of a certain age who have ‘waited their turn’ and are fighting for some medals.” Russian ice dancer David Narizhny on international ice dances
Translation of Irina Khavronina’s and David Narizhny’s comments about ice dance performances in the current season.
original source: Championat
Russian ice dancers Irina Khavronina’s and David Narizhny’s shared their opinions on ice dance performances in the current season in the interview with Championat. Here’s a translation of their comments.
“Irina Khavronina: I really like the free dance of Vanya Bukin and Sasha Stepanova. It’s very sensual, with beautiful music, and the skaters live it. You can see that. Internationally, I liked Madison Chock and Evan Bates; it’s interesting. Also, I enjoyed the ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Gilles/Poirier; it’s very musical. The Italians have a beautiful free dance, very well-coordinated, and their skills are fully revealed in this program.
David Narizhny: I don’t have anyone specific in ice dance that stands out for me. I remember ten years ago when Davis/White and Virtue/Moir competed – both was so cool, and then Papadakis-Cizeron added something new.
Now, for me, there’s nothing new, just skaters of a certain age who have ‘waited their turn’ and are fighting for some medals. I don’t see what was there before. Irina mentioned three programs, and I agree with her.
The Italians have a very beautiful free dance. Gilles-Poirier’s free dance is unusual, but they skate in their own style. It’s very subjective; not everyone likes it, but they are original, with very interesting elements that always set them apart.
They have cool entries, they have crazy twizzles on different legs. They’re cool, but again, it’s not like it was before when these three pairs were there.
Chock-Bates… I like Madison, but I don’t like her partner at all, so it’s very difficult for me to watch this pair because I always look at the guy and see that he’s very static, very “wooden”, tense. He’s just like a support for her.
Irina havronina: But she’s just brilliant!
David Narizhny: She’s a queen. They had a program where Madison was a snake, and she was magnificent, as much as possible. And he remained like a tree, around which she twines.
I usually only watch the guy, and I have to deliberately shift my gaze to the girl, and I don’t like it. I watch and want to take something for myself, see that he’s doing something cool, and think, ‘Tomorrow I’ll try it.’ But here I look at Evan and realize that I never want to skate like that, God forbid.”
Related topics: Charlene Guignard Marco Fabbri, David Narizny, Irina Khavronina, Madison Chock Evan Bates, Piper Gilles Paul Poirier
Interesting viewpoint, however why did no one mention Ice Dance France? They are so clearly above the usual somewhat clunky ice dancers and given they are record breaking award winners I’m not the only person who feels this way.