#i should have tried to do a pattern that's a bit less demanding tho | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

austerlitzborodinoleipzig · 4 years

Text

Ranking the programs - JGPF 2019 Junior Ladies

Started doing it last year, did not finish, let’s try to be better this year. Again I want to say that the order is strictly personal. It entirely depends on my personal tastes. A program can be objectively good, and leave me entirely cold, which means he’ll be at the bottom of the list. Also in my case, music can break or make a program and is a least responsible for 50% of my enjoyment of said program.

So let’s dive right into it with the junior ladies. This year’s crop had on average better choreo than last season (mainly because there were only two Daniil G progs :) ). From least favorite to favorite.

THE SHORT

6 - Please don’t make me love you - Daria Usacheva

Daria is a very gifted skater who is able to pull off the atrocious program she’s given. She tries really hard to detail every single movement, she’s surprisingly polished for her age and sells the short. Unfortunately the choreo is shit, so there’s nothing to show. The music is horribly cringy, the rest is typical Gleich, with its gazillion transitions that do not match the music at all and could be transposed to any piece of music.

What about the costume? Nice dress, but that’s also part of the typical Eteri-girl package, with lots of rhinestones. Olga Ryabenko did not knock it out of the park this time. Also I don’t like the colour she wears. I don’t care for the pastel-y grey and pink. Give me bright colours you cowards! 5/10

5 - Chopin, Nocturne in C Minor - Haein Lee

Nothing wrong with it. Nothing great about it either. A bit bland, a bit boring, a bit of a safe choice for Haein who is a wonderful skater with great lines and musicality

What about the costume? 5/10 Again, I find the colour boring. Not fan of the outline either.

4 - Tron Legacy/The Fifth Element - Viktoria Vasilieva

I applaud Viktoria for deciding to skate to something a bit different. The choreo with its straight and angular arm moves is a good fit. She’s not the most expressive skater but has a lot of energy and is really musical. You will rarely see her missing a musical beat.

What about the costume? I disliked her previous dress, the black one with the yellow fluo lines; but her new one is an improvement. 7/10. I like the geometric patterns. Lots of sparkles, makes for a nice effect when she spins.

3 - Boy on a Ball - Kamila Valieva

For the life of me, I can never remember to name of the music Valieva skates to, so I just refer to the SP as the Boy on a Ball, of the Picasso SP. I absolutely adore the concept. The painting coming alive is a wonderful idea. I love the music choice. Very minimalist, delicate, and somehow fitting... The execution does not follow through. The choreo is far too busy for such a music. I actually don’t mind the leg kicks. I think they fit the program and the character she’s portraying. It also gives the program a distinc look. I like it. Otherwise... This SP had such potential and is disappointing. Mostly I can quite love it because I’m always fairly underwhelmed by Valieva’s performance. I think the girl is putting on herself an insane amount of pressure, she nearly always looks like she’s going to burst into tears at the beginning, and always rushes through. So far she has not shown any connection with the music and always rushes through.

What about the costume tho? 10/10. Straight from Picasso’s painting. I love it.

2 - Don’t Rain on My Parade - Alysa Liu

One of my favourite programs of the season. And one I rewatch the most, just because, I know it will put me in a good mood. Never fails. This program is just pure joy. It fits Alysa like a glove. And the lyrics are so her. The music choice is deliciously tongue in check. Anyway Alysa is one hell of a performer. The choreo is great. Lots of transitions added since last season. The stepsequence is a blast! I mean how can you not love Alysa doing the fingerguns on “Eye on the target and BANG”. Also the attitude, the wink, the flying kiss during the second spin... It’s great. It just is.

What about the costume? The pink dress, with the big blue gem is cute. Not very original but very cute. 7/10

1 - Alfonsina Y El Mar - Ksenia Sinitsyna

A masterpiece. It’s intricate. It’s mature. It’s soft and delicate. The choreo is full of details that are like small gems. And Ksenia is really the full package, and fingers crossed she will make it to the top, without being part of the Eteri team.

What about the costume? Really beautiful. I like the blue colour used. I liked the cut of the dress, and the V-Line. I like the wave-like patterns in the back and along the collar. 9/10

THE FS

6 - Exogenesis Symphony part III - Kamila Valieva

That FS is a big no. How you take Exogenesis and manage to choreograph something that does not reflect the music in any way is beyond me. Seriously nothing is choreographed according to the musical accents. Kamila skates, the music plays. Nothing to see.

I do like the costume tho. The purple grunge butterfly is interesting, and definitely a bold choice. 9/10

5 - Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso, de Camille Saint-Saëns - Viktoria Vasilieva

I adore Rondo capriccioso, and the choreo is decent. Nothing to write home about, but nice.

What about the dress? Meh 5/10

4 - Je suis Malade - Daria Usacheva

I was really sceptic at first because I did not think a thirteen years old could pull this off. Unfortunately Daria is currently the best of Eteri’s junior at interpretation, so the team decided “LET’S GIVE HER BIG DRAMA PROGS”, instead of, I dunno, something less heavy.

Not only does Daria manage not to get drowned by the overwhelming vocals, she actually succeeds in pulling this off. I’ve read an interview where she said that she was a bit scared at first, but really feels her FS, and it really shows. She’s skating her heart out, and her performance, is not only intense, but also wonderfully sincere. She stays honest, and true to herself, does not cheat, and was able to make this beast of a FS hers. Truly outstanding.

What about the costume? I like it. Like the heart-shaped ornementations along the neckline. I like the dégradé of red. 8/10

3 - Illumination - Alysa Liu

Alysa’s coaches makes A+++ choices in terms of packaging. This is a very nice FS, as mature as can be expected of her, and really designed to help her grow artistically. I love the music. The beginning is a bit empty, as she basically skates up and down the rink, trying to land her crazy content, but after that it goes nicely. Alysa is always very musical, focused, and gives the energy and power this piece of music requires.

And the costume? 7/10. Very nice.

2 - Oma Asa Toma/Dakini IV - Ksenia Sinitsyna

The choreo is a wonder. Intricate and full of interesting steps and turns. Lovely choreo for the arms. Probably because this is a demanding program, with all the combos backloaded, Ksenia tends to put aside the performance to focus on the tech. Understandable, but because of that the program does not snap like it should.

The costume? Well there’s a discussion to be held about cultural sensitivity, on insensitivity, but Ksenia’s dress and makeup were meticulously crafted, with nothing left aside. I appreciate that commitment to details. 7/10

1 - Riverdance, Firedance - Haein Lee

The Stepseq is one of the best of the season. When all the jumps have been landed, Haein just lets it loose and sets the rink on fire. And it’s so fucking great to watch!

Costume - Haein’s dress remind me so much of Mao’s dress for her last FS, that I cannot not love it. The red suits her really well. I love the rose in her hair. I like the shape of the skirt. 9/10

#figure skating #jgpf #haein lee #alysa liu #kamila valieva #daria usacheva #viktoria vasilieva #ksenia sinitsyna #ranking programs is my passion

13 notes · View notes