2016 US Figure Skating Championships: Dance Recap

This Senior Dance event had me on the edge of my seat for months following the Grand Prix Final. All I can say is that the judges finally got it right...

1. First and foremost, who will have the most garish costumes and music?
1. The team that did "Kung Fu Piano" has the most over the top costuming.
2. Will the judging be fair?
1. In my opinion, they finally got it right.
3. Will any of the placements have fans in an uproar?
1. For once, no! Many people would argue that Hubbell/Donohue should've finished 2nd but I don't love their free nearly as much as their short.
4. Which free skate will make cry? (eh hem, Shibutanis)
1. Yes, I sobbed while they skated to "Fix You" and I sobbed again when they realized they won!
5. Will there be any significant movements from the Short to the Free?
1. I wouldn't call it significant in terms of jumping several places, but moving from 2nd to 1st is significant in Ice Dance,
6. Will Chock & Bates be given an unfair bump by the judges because they are International favorites?
1. I would argue they got a bump in the short, but luckily, the free was scored properly. However, many would argue they got an unfair bump in the free.
7. Which coach will wear the biggest scarf?
1. My eyes may have deceived me, but I didn't notice any overwhelmingly large scarves! 
8. Will Marina combust if her Shibutanis lose, yet again, to former students Chock & Bates?
1. She did not have to combust because she won, but she did look genuinely surprised and thrilled!
9. Will Hubbell and Donohue even be in the gold medal conversation or will there be, as in the past, a clear drop off between 2nd and 3rd?
1. They were close in the short, not close enough in my opinion, but the distance between 2nd and 3rd was significant.
10. Can Hawayek & Baker step up and challenge for 3rd or will they just fall by the wayside as yet another great junior team?
1. This was a rough season for them with injury and illness. Next year is crucial for them and they will need special special programs in order to stay in the conversation and not go the way of Aldridge & Eaton as former junior champs who couldn't make an impact as senior competitors. 
11. Does Alexandra Aldridge re-enter the conversation with her new pair-turned-dance partner Matthew Blackmer?
1. They had a respectable debut and have potential, but you know she isn't happy to have placed below her former partner Daniel Eaton. 
12. Will anyone else impress us?
1. I was impressed by Cannuscio & McManus. If you had asked me two days ago, I would say that 5th was the bet they could've finished and jumping over Hawayek & Baker was crucial for them. In the past I've found their free dances over the top and maybe even tacky, but this free was elegant, sophisticated, and most importantly to me, extremely well acted.
13. What will be trending among skating tweeters after this event? (you know we won’t all be happy)
1. After taking the temperature of the twitter fans, we are unabashedly thrilled for the Shibutanis and a little bit sad for Hubbell & Donohue.
14. And most importantly, will Ann Jensen and I get our artistry and unicorns?
1. Ann and I did get our artistry and unicorns in the form of Maia & Alex Shibutani!

2012 US Figure Skating Championships: Senior Free Dance LIVE Coverage

1) Gina Hoptman & Pavel Filchenkov
  Music: Tango

• I like her sass
• I think I'd be sick of Latin if I did a Rhumba short and a Tango free
• There's a lot of intricate leg work going on, but it's a little slow
• I'd love more speed in that curve lift
• She is working so hard out there and he's a very strong partner for her
• Lacked some fire, but good and clean

  37.92  (TES) + 30.69 (PCS) = 68.81
  46.27 (SD) + 68.81 (FD) = 114.68

2) Meredith Zuber & Kyle Herring
  Music: Jazz Medley

• I like the costumes, very swingy
• This is moving very slow for such a quick rhythm
• He needs to straighten his free leg and point the toe on the spin
• I really want this to pick up speed right here and build toward the end of the program
• Nice and clean, expressive, just lacking speed

  36.57 (TES) + 29.59 (PCS) = 66.16
  43.13 (SD) + 66.16 (FD) = 109.29

3) Carina Glastris & Kevin Allison
  Music: Frank Sinatra Medley

• Uh oh, really nice lift, dropped it toward the end, balance issue
• I like this music, it suits them well
• Bailed out of that spin early as well, they just don't seem to be in sync today
• She also exits the twizzles early, it's like they're not on the same page or something
• They have really nice flow when they can get something going, but too many balance issues and bailed lifts to get a good rhythm going
• Unfortunate showing for them, I can tell they're much better than that

  12.66 (TES) + 20.58 (PCS) = 33.24
  28.22 (SD) + 33.24 (FD) = 61.46

4) Brittany Schmucker & Adam Munday
  Music: Evita

• I love that he is playing Juan Peron, but where is Che?
• Nice balance on that curve lift
• I love that dress, that beading is fantastic
• Thank goodness they're using the Buenos Aires music
• Using Madonna instead of Patti LuPone is blasphemous
• That was  a nice piece overall, good flow and attention to character
• Very polished

 37.93 (TES) + 32.43 (PCS) = 70.36
  43.18 (SD) + 70.35 (FD) = 113.54

5) Anastasia Olson & Jordan Cowan
  Music: James Bond

• This music is very high drama
• I'm amazed at how much they've grown from Junior to Senior
• All the movements are very specific, not a beat is wasted
• I like the intensity and aggression
• Very nice upside down lift, that has to take a lot of trust
• I don't see 100% commitment to these characters, but still a fine dance
• Amazing improvement over just one year

  43.72 (TES) + 40.42 (PCS) = 84.14
  53.44 (SD) + 84.14 (FD) = 137.58

6) Anastasia Cannuscio & Collin McManus
  Music: Sinatra Medley

• These costumes are a little bit much for me, a little clashy
• They have beautiful posture, great carriage of the upper body
• This is a great medley, it suits them so very well
• This is a really cute piece, it's showing off their strongest suits
• I like their clean exits from the lifts

  43.93 (TES) + 39.62 (PCS) = 83.55
  53.82 (SD) + 83.55 (FD) = 137.37

7) Isabella Cannuscio & Ian Lorello
  Music: Les Miserables

• I'm not one for elaborate opening poses, and this one makes no sense to me
• His height makes the lifts look great
• Really good speed off the op here, good twizzling
• I like that they start their music with the opening of the musical, works well dramatically
• They are on a tear here at the beginning, nice quick start
• I love that pop of color on the inside of Ian's vest
• That curve lift is fantastic, amazing show of strength on both parts
• I feel like something is constantly happening here, it's a very well-composed dance
• Feed got stuck for a second, but we pick up with a lightning fast rotational lift
• The only visible error was his foot touching down on that one lift 

  41.36 (TES) + 39.96 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 80.32
  50.03 (SD) + 80.32 (FD) = 130.35

8) Emily Samuelson & Todd Gilles
  Music: Stairway to Heaven

• That gold dress looks gorgeous on her with her red hair
• Fantastic positions in that spin
• I love her sharp arm movements, she does well with all the subtleties
• That lift off of his back is fantastic
• They seem to really enjoy skating together
• Great rotational split lift
• It would be great to see them do well, I feel like both of them were cast off from their first partners
• Great outing from them!

 42.36 (TES) + 41.39 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 82.75
  53.24 (SD) + 82.75 (FD) = 135.99

9) Charlotte Lichtman & Dean Copley
  Music: Austin Powers

• They are an interesting couple because they're practically the same height
• They are so fun to watch, such an animated couple on the ice
• I'd like to see a more speed from them
• Good balance in that squat lift
• Nice unison on the twizzles, would love to see them closer together
• Last year this time, I expected they'd challenge for the World team, but they just need a little more time to grow which is totally fine
• This is a perfectly fun program, but I want to see them do something more mature next season

  40.23 (TES) + 37.44 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 76.67
  52.55 (SD) + 76.67 (FD) = 129.22

10) Madison Chock & Evan Bates
  Music: Chopin

• This height difference bothers me less and less each competition
• Very soft and romantic here at the beginning
• Nice extensions, and leg lines
• She has a very fluid and expressive upper body, Evan looks a little tight
• Good edging, would love to see a little more speed on the circular steps
• I love that curve lift with Madison on Evan's back with him on one leg
• Their lifts are very seamless, fluid from entry to exit
• Nice twizzle sets, love the look on Madison's face when they hit them
• She is an exquisite performer, a real star
• They've gradually gotten better all year, which is what you want in a new team
• That rotational lift is lovely, good speed and his height makes it even better
• Her laid out camel position on that spin is gorgeous
• Their chemistry is so much better than it was in October
• Fantastic job, they did everything they could have done

 44.79 (TES) + 44.80 (PCS) = 89.59
  55.49 (SD) + 89.59 (FD) = 145.08

11) Meryl Davis & Charlie White
  Music: Die Fledermaus

• I'm not even going to comment, I'm going to watch, it will certainly be amazing

  55.43 (TES) + 59.22 (PCS) = 114.65
  76.89 (SD) + 114.65 (FD) = 191.54

12) Lynn Kriengkrairut & Logan Giulietti-Schmitt
  Music: Walking in the Sand

• That all gray costume is ugly, sorry
• What about "walking in the sand" scream red and gray
• Jump into the twizzles is nice, slight unison break
• This program has great flow, and some fantastic  lift elements
• Great expression, but this piece just really isn't doing it for me

  (TES) + (PCS) = 92.18
  56.37 (SD) + 92.18 (FD) = 148.55

13) Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue
  Music: I Put A Spell On You

• They have great speed and flow over the ice
• He is great to watch, she is slightly distracting
• They seemed to click instantly with one another, there weren't a lot of growing pains to go through to form chemistry and unison
• This music suits them so well
• They look thrilled with that, they left it all out on the ice, that's for sure

  (TES) + (PCS) = 94.04
  56.37 (SD) + (FD) = 151.60

14) Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani
  Music: Chattanooga Choo Choo, In the Mood

• Fly babies!
• Nobody twizzles like that
• That straight line lift is pretty fantastic
• I didn't like these new costumes at first, but they are growing on me, I still miss Alex' sweater vest
• They are great, don't get me wrong, but something about it just wasn't explosive today

  (TES) + (PCS) = 106.23
  72.61 (SD) + (FD) = 178.84

Start No.	Name	Short Dance		Free Dance		Total Score
		Place	Score	Place	Score
1	11	Meryl Davis, Arctic FSC Charlie White, Detroit SC	1	76.89	1	114.65	191.54
2	14	Maia Shibutani, SC of NY Alex Shibutani, Arctic FSC	2	72.61	2	106.23	178.84
3	13	Madison Hubbell, Detroit SC Zachary Donohue, Detroit SC	3	57.56	3	94.04	151.60
4	12	Lynn Kriengkrairut, All Year FSC Logan Giulietti-Schmitt, Ann Arbor FSC	4	56.37	4	92.18	148.55
5	10	Madison Chock, All Year FSC Evan Bates, Ann Arbor FSC	5	55.49	5	89.59	145.08
6	6	Anastasia Cannuscio, University of DE FSC Colin McManus, SC Of Boston	6	53.82	7	83.55	137.37
7	5	Anastasia Olson, Detroit SC Jordan Cowan, All Year FSC	7	53.44	6	83.64	137.08
8	8	Emily Samuelson, Ann Arbor FSC Todd Gilles, All Year FSC	8	53.24	8	82.75	135.99
9	7	Isabella Cannuscio, University of DE FSC Ian Lorello, University of DE FSC	10	50.03	9	80.32	130.35
10	9	Charlotte Lichtman, Arctic FSC Dean Copely, All Year FSC	9	52.55	10	76.67	129.22
11	1	Ginna Hoptman, IceWorks SC Pavel Filchenkov, IceWorks SC	11	46.27	12	68.61	114.88
12	4	Brittany Schmucker, Tulsa FSC Adam Munday, Highland SC	12	43.18	11	70.36	113.54
13	2	Meredith Zuber, University of DE FSC Kyle Herring, University of DE FSC	13	43.13	13	66.16	109.29
14	3	Carina Glastris, DuPage FSC Kevin Allison, Skokie Valley SC	14	28.22	14	32.24	60.46