The 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships continued in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, USA, on Thursday with the Original Dance and the Men’s Free Skating.
Ice Dance, Original Dance
The day started with the Original Dance. The Original Dance of the 2008/09 season is “Rhythms of the 20s, 30s and 40s”. The 30 couples in the event chose a wide variety of dances.
Oksana Domnina/Maxim Shabalin of Russia defended their lead after the Compulsory Dance, but Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto (USA) came closer. Canadians Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir came in third.
Domnina/Shabalin had picked a Jazz Waltz from 1934 by Dmitri Shostakovitch and gave a delightful performance of their dance, playing the role of a young lady and hooligan. The 2008 European Champions completed a smooth side by side footwork sequence, a circular step sequence, a dance spin and a straight line lift as well as synchronized twizzles and were awarded a level four for all elements. The Russians achieved a new seasons best with 64.68 points (33.40 element score/31.28 program component score) and were ranked second in the Original Dance but remained in first place at 105.45 points overall. “We are happy with what we did, but it always can be better. We are excited about getting a level four for all our elements. We are always striving for a level four, but the quality and execution is judged by the Technical Specialists. This was probably the last performance of this dance in the season and therefore we tried to give the maximum”, Domnina said.
Belbin/Agosto’s Tap Dance to “Stepping Out” was highlighted by precise footwork, fast twizzles and rotational lift. The Americans captured the mood of the dance perfectly and were technically on the top of their game as well, earning a level four for all five elements. They posted a new seasons best of 65.16 points (33.90/31.29) to win this portion of the competition and overall collected 104.81 points so far to remain in second place.
Performing to a Charleston to the soundtrack of “The Boyfriend”, Virtue/Moir completed intricate steps and a straight line lift with changes of position, but Moir was off balance on a twizzle and the dance spin was little wobbly as well. The reigning World silver medalists still had a level four on all elements, but were ranked sixth in the Original Dance with 61.05 points (31.90/29.15). Overall they held on to third place at 100.42 points.
Ice Dance, Original Dance
The day started with the Original Dance. The Original Dance of the 2008/09 season is “Rhythms of the 20s, 30s and 40s”. The 30 couples in the event chose a wide variety of dances.
Oksana Domnina/Maxim Shabalin of Russia defended their lead after the Compulsory Dance, but Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto (USA) came closer. Canadians Tessa Virtue/Scott Moir came in third.
Domnina/Shabalin had picked a Jazz Waltz from 1934 by Dmitri Shostakovitch and gave a delightful performance of their dance, playing the role of a young lady and hooligan. The 2008 European Champions completed a smooth side by side footwork sequence, a circular step sequence, a dance spin and a straight line lift as well as synchronized twizzles and were awarded a level four for all elements. The Russians achieved a new seasons best with 64.68 points (33.40 element score/31.28 program component score) and were ranked second in the Original Dance but remained in first place at 105.45 points overall. “We are happy with what we did, but it always can be better. We are excited about getting a level four for all our elements. We are always striving for a level four, but the quality and execution is judged by the Technical Specialists. This was probably the last performance of this dance in the season and therefore we tried to give the maximum”, Domnina said.
Belbin/Agosto’s Tap Dance to “Stepping Out” was highlighted by precise footwork, fast twizzles and rotational lift. The Americans captured the mood of the dance perfectly and were technically on the top of their game as well, earning a level four for all five elements. They posted a new seasons best of 65.16 points (33.90/31.29) to win this portion of the competition and overall collected 104.81 points so far to remain in second place.
Performing to a Charleston to the soundtrack of “The Boyfriend”, Virtue/Moir completed intricate steps and a straight line lift with changes of position, but Moir was off balance on a twizzle and the dance spin was little wobbly as well. The reigning World silver medalists still had a level four on all elements, but were ranked sixth in the Original Dance with 61.05 points (31.90/29.15). Overall they held on to third place at 100.42 points.
