Barbie's Friday Thoughts

Dance:

1. We should have Charlie & Tanith together doing commentary
2. Daniel Eaton has beautiful posture
3. Aldridge and Blackmer have potential once he masters the techniques...they clearly love skating together
4. I am thoroughly impressed by Hawayek & Baker; they truly look like seniors this year and their program was beautifully composed
5. The Shibutanis were 100% precise which I would say is a hallmark of Zoueva's teams, not one limb, one finger, one hair out of place
6. I'm living for all of this ballet today! Happy birthday Balanchine! 
7. Madison Chock is a star as long as you don't look at her feet 
8. The top 2 teams should be reversed and everybody else on twitter agrees...Chock/Bates are more dramatic but the Shibutanis are more precise
9. I completely agree with Charlie White...Hubbell & Donohue's short has the feeling of a free dance with the emotional storytelling
10. One team actually DANCED today and that was Hubbell & Donohue....you don't see the elements, just the movement

Men:

1. Nathan Chen knows how to compete-he did not skate perfectly, but he did not fall apart either
2. Jimmy Ma can rock a sheer top
3. Few skaters are more lyrical than Grant Hochstein-it's a shame that he couldn't go clean
4. Vincent Zhou has some guts-at least with the jumps-the spins and footwork will come and he will compete with Chen before too long
5. Ross Miner made me weep...his program was just so easy to watch and for the first time tonight I didn't feel anxious
6. Sean Rabbit's Samson & Delilah was artistic, energetic, and so fast! 
7. Tim Dolensky has an artist's soul and he showed that tonight
8. Max Aaron make jumping look so easy when he's on with those springy knees and he's developing some performance skills
9. Adam's footwork was the one element that stood out above everything else for me tonight
10. This event was infinitely better than the ladies short...these guys showed up to COMPETE

2016 US Championships: Dance Preview

This Senior Dance event has had me on the edge of my seat for months following the Grand Prix Final. That being said, I have so many question:

1. First and foremost, who will have the most garish costumes and music?
2. Will the judging be fair?
3. Will any of the placements have fans in an uproar?
4. Which free skate will make cry? (eh hem, Shibutanis)
5. Will there be any significant movements from the Short to the Free?
6. Will Chock & Bates be given an unfair bump by the judges because they are International favorites?
7. Which coach will wear the biggest scarf?
8. Will Marina combust if her Shibutanis lose, yet again, to former students Chock & Bates?
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?
10. Can Hawayek & Baker step up and challenge for 3rd or will they just fall by the wayside as yet another great junior team?
11. Does Alexandra Aldridge re-enter the conversation with her new pair-turned-dance partner Matthew Blackmer?
12. Will anyone else impress us?
13. What will be trending among skating tweeters after this event? (you know we won’t all be happy)
14. And most importantly, will Ann Jensen and I get our artistry and unicorns?