Recap: 2023 U.S. Championships (Senior)

by Anne Calder | Images by Daphne Backman

RHYTHM DANCE

The U.S. Nationwide Championship Senior Rhythm Dance was carried out for the primary time with out a sample. It was changed by the Choreographic Rhythm Sequence with a base worth of two.00. 

Reigning U.S. Ice Dance Champions, Madison Chock & Evan Bates closed the Rhythm Dance phase with  samba, rhumba, samba to “Let’s Dance by David Bowie (Remix by Ben Liebrand). The Montreal-based staff earned stage 4 for the twizzles, raise and Sample Steps. Each Midline Step Sequences have been stage 3. The brand new Choreographic Rhythm Sequence obtained all 4 and 5 GOE marks and a complete panel rating of 9.07. This system totaled 91.90. 

Chock defined their music. “It’s a twist on Latin. We have been on the lookout for one thing distinctive that we hadn’t heard earlier than.”

Caroline Inexperienced & Michael Parsons scored 81.40 for his or her program to “Vocalizando” by Alessandro Oliviato, “Historia De Un Amor” by Cesaria Evora and “Boutique” by Watazu. The dance earned stage 4 for the twizzles and raise. Each Midline Step Sequences have been stage 3. The staff made a serious transfer this season from their long-time WISA coaching website to the Michigan Ice Dance Academy (MIDA) in Canton. 

“In a yr of a number of change for us, it feels good to be again in a well-known place,” Parsons mentioned. “We’re actually very proud of the development of our season. We’ve carried out rather a lot this yr by way of progress as a staff, and we actually confirmed that on the ice at the moment. It’s first step.”

“We undoubtedly left some factors on the desk by way of the technical aspect of issues, nevertheless it offers us readability with what we have to work on and shift the main target [to the Free Dance] now that we’re comfy on the market and feeling all of the power of a Nationals,” Inexperienced mentioned.

The vary of scores for the following seven groups was 78.18 – 72-80 – solely 5.38 factors separated groups three to 9.

Making their U.S. Nationwide Championships debut, Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik danced into third place to “Congo” by Gloria Estefan, “Tan Sola” by Sole Gimenez and “Congo” by Meek Mill. Their raise and Sample Steps earned stage 4. The staff scored 78.18.

Kolesnik is the 2020 Junior World Champion with companion Avonley Nguyen. Zingas spent 13 years honing her abilities in singles prior to creating the transfer to ice dance. 

“The primary time I skated with Emy, I felt one thing particular. I felt I will be myself and skate the best way I wish to skate. That’s the way it comes out,” Kolesnik defined about his extra carefree and new-found freedom to his skating.

“We had an incredible time performing at the moment,” Zingas mentioned. “That is our first Nationals collectively and my first Nationals as an ice dancer. It’s additionally our first Senior Nationwide expertise.”

Christina Carreira & Anthony Ponomarenko chosen “Sort of Latin Rhythm” by the Juju Orchestra, “The place do I Start” by Shirley Bassey and “Samba” by Gloria Estefan. The duo’s raise and her twizzle obtained stage 4. Each Midline Step Sequences have been stage 3. The Sample Steps and his twizzle have been stage 2. The whole phase scored 77.37. The staff trains in London, Ontario Canada with I.AM.  

“The rating is a translation of what we’ve carried out main as much as the occasion,” Ponomarenko mentioned. “All of the preparation we’ve carried out engaged on our skating abilities. We had a serious mistake [his twizzle],  however general we’re nonetheless very proud of the progress we’re making and look to capitalize on that.” 

Lorraine McNamara & Anton Spiridonov danced to “Careless Whisper” by George Michaels and scored 76.23. The twizzles and raise earned stage 4. The Sample Steps and his Midline Step Sequence have been stage 3. The Virginia-based staff is contemporary off profitable the silver medal on the current 2023 World Winter College Video games in Lake Placid.

“We thought the rating can be a bit greater, however that’s okay as a result of we confirmed an ideal enchancment over final yr,” Spiridonov famous. “The scores don’t matter. It’s not an Olympic yr. Ever since we obtained again to coaching after final yr, we’ve been bettering, and we’ll proceed to enhance. We all know the place we wish to transfer. We’ve got a plan.”

Canton, Michigan primarily based (MIDA) Emily Bratti & Ian Somerville selected the music of “Gadda Rio” and “Hip Hip Chin Chin” by Membership Des Belugas, “Con mi Sombra” by S-Tone Inc. for his or her dance. The twizzles and raise have been stage 4. The Sample Steps and her Midline Step Sequence have been stage 3. The whole phase scored 75.91.

Eva Pate & Logan Bye carried out to  “Stunning Creatures” by Barbatuques, Andy Garcia and Rita Moreno, “Fly Love” by Jamie Foxx and “Actual in Rio” by the Rio Singers. The raise, his twizzle and Midline Step Sequence earned stage 4. The Sample step, her twizzle and Midline Step Sequence have been stage 3. The phase scored 75.52.

Isabella Flores & Ivan Desyatov danced to “Tiburon” by Proyecto Uno and “03 Bonnie and Clyde” by Jay-Z and Beyoncé. The raise, twizzles and his Midline Step Sequence earned stage 4. The Colorado Springs-based duo scored 73.91 whereas skating at their first US Championships collectively as a senior staff.

“We have been specializing in simply performing,” Flores mentioned. “Skating in entrance of such a big viewers made it very particular for us. On a stage like this the place everyone seems to be so gifted, it’s simple to doubt your self, and also you begin skating down. It’s one thing we did nicely at the moment, and it’s one thing we’ll work on in our future competitions.” 

Oona Brown & Gage Brown selected “Bones” by Think about Dragons for his or her senior debut on the US Nationals. The reigning World Junior Champions earned stage 3 for the twizzles, Sample steps, and his Diagonal Step Sequence. The raise earned stage 4. The whole phase scored 72.80.

“There have been a couple of small errors, however over all we’re fairly happy element sensible,” Gage mentioned. “As for being assured,” Oona added “even when we’re not assured, it’s vital to make it seem like we’re.”  “On this case we have been assured,” added Gage. 

Rafaella Koncius & Alexey Shchepetov withdrew from the competitors.

SENIOR FREE DANCE

The Free Dance started Saturday morning at 10:45 a.m. with Chock & Bates in a commanding 10-point lead. The order of podium positions would depend upon the ultimate performances by the dancers. 

Three hours later the medals have been awarded to the next: Chock & Bates (gold), Inexperienced & Parsons (silver) Carreira & Ponomarenko (bronze) and Zingas & Kolesnik (pewter)

Chock & Bates danced final, however completed first to “Souffrance” by Orange Blossom and “Tectoniques” by Jorane, a Montreal artist. The story was initially impressed by their engagement and her 1920 classic ring that belonged to somebody very way back. It obtained them pondering how love transcends the bodily and religious world, and the way you will discover each other. Since Skate America, this system has advanced right into a relationship extra between the spirits of fireplace and air and unattainable survival for one with out the opposite.

“We’re very proud of the best way our program has developed for the reason that starting of the season,” Chock mentioned. “It’s discovered its groove. We’ve let this system converse to us, and we’ve advanced with it. We’ve not been afraid to adapt and work with new materials and preserve pushing ourselves to make one thing that we really feel may be very particular.”

The 2022 World silver medalists obtained all however two GOE marks of 4 and 5 and 15 excellent 10.00s for Program Elements. All of the required components earned stage 4 besides their Degree 3 One foot Turns. The phase scored 137.85 and totaled 229.75. The margin between first and second place was 22.29.

“That is most likely the very best we’ve ever skated in our careers,” Bates mentioned on NBC. “I feel that’s the assertion that we needed to make.”

Inexperienced & Parsons received silver with a inventive Jazz Age dance to George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”. The MIDA educated staff earned stage 4 twizzles, spin and lifts. GEOs have been all three, 4 and 5. The Program Elements averaged above 9. The 2022 4 Continents gold medalists scored 126.06 for the Free Dance and a complete of 207.46

“This was a really vital Nationwide Championship to us due to the best way we’ve approached the season and the way we needed to redirect ourselves as a staff,” Parsons mentioned. “I don’t suppose we might have put out a greater skate at the moment, and I’m so proud of the work we we’ve put previously few months with our new coaches.”

Carreira & Ponomarenko are the 2023 bronze medalists. Their music choice consists of “Wet Streets” and “Public Disquiet” by Spine and two variations of George Gershwin’s “Summertime” one by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald and the opposite by 101 String Orchestra.

The twizzles, rotational and curve lifts, dance spin and his One Foot  Flip earned stage 4. Each Diagonal Step Sequences and her One Foot Flip have been stage 3. The phase scored 121.08 and totaled 198.45.

In February 2022, Ponomarenko underwent surgical procedure and rehab in Colorado Springs for an outdated ankle sprain that additionally prompted joint harm. In the meantime Carreira continued to coach in London, Ontario till he returned in Might. The staff resumed coaching in June. Since their preparation for the brand new season was delayed, they didn’t compete till November 11-13 on the GP Collection occasion in Sheffield, Nice Britain, the place they completed fourth.

“We’re actually honored to be on this podium for the reason that US Ice Dance is so robust now,” mentioned Carreira. We’ve been working actually exhausting these previous few months and we’re actually proud of how we skated at the moment. We’re actually excited.”

Zingas & Kolesnik carried out their Free Dance to Music from Phillip Glass. The pewter medalists earned stage 4 for the spin, lifts, and twizzles. The Diagonal Step and One Foot Turns have been all stage 3. The phase scored 119.95 and totaled 198.13, narrowly lacking the bronze by .32 factors. 

“We modified our Free Dance a lot that it’s unrecognizable,” mentioned Zingas. “Now it’s slightly bit extra trendy.”

The previous singles skater received the 2018 US Nationwide Novice silver medal the final time the occasion was held in San Jose.

On being again on the U.S. Championships once more in San Jose, Zingas famous, “It’s been actually surreal for me. I competed right here at Nationals 5 years in the past as a novice, so it’s been a full circle. I really feel extraordinarily honored to be right here and to face subsequent to the individuals we sat subsequent to on the press convention.” 

Emily Bratti & Ian Somerville (189.84) dancing to La La Land choices and Lorraine McNamara & Anton Spiridonov (189.15) dancing to ”Rain, In Your Black Eyes” by Ezio Bosso have been a really shut fifth and sixth, separated by solely .69 factors.

CALIFORNIA CLIPS

• Chock & Bates set two U.S. Championship information for highest-ever FD and whole scores.
• Chock & Bates have stood on the Podium 11 occasions – all however one have been first or second. (2018, third place)
• Inexperienced & Parsons earned their best-ever senior consequence on the U.S. Championships, setting new private bests for the free skate and general rating.
• Carreira & Ponomarenko earned their best-ever senior consequence on the U.S. Championships, setting new private bests for the free skate and over all rating.
• Zingas & Kolesnik earned their first U.S. Championships medal, setting new private bests for the free skate and general rating.
• Caroline Inexperienced spoke about her Free Dance costume colour change to sizzling deep pink. “At first we thought of this colour, however determined “Rhapsody in Blue” ought to have a blue gown. I don’t know if the ice is so brilliant, however I felt the blue colour we selected pale into the background. We wanted one thing eye catching. Royal blue was within the dialog, nevertheless it was a joint staff effort, and that is what got here out of it.”
• On the 2022 Ice Dance Remaining, Cara Murphy and Joshua Levitt missed the Nationwide’s qualifier by .26. When Molly Cesanek & Yegor Yegoror withdrew in mid December, the Pittsburg-based staff obtained the decision. After the Remaining, they’d felt their greatest FD and whole rating have been finish to the season. They have been very excited to have one other probability to enhance the Rhythm Dance rating. They modified your entire first track to “Final Dance” by Donna Summer season and moved the twizzles to the second component. Their adjustments improved the rating by over two factors.
• Caroline Depietri & TJ Carey didn’t qualify for the 2023 U.S. Nationals. Depietri continued coaching and Carey formally retired. Then Kaitlin Hawayek & Jean-Luc Baker withdrew from Nationals. Depietri was in Florida, and Carey had simply returned from volunteering on the College Video games in Lake Place. On January 17 an e mail arrived inviting them to San Jose. The previous companions agreed it was doable. Depietri flew house, they usually educated daily till arriving at Nationals for his or her senior staff debut.
• The Senior ice dancers had solely apply on Friday, however Vadym Kolesnik doesn’t prefer to exit and do one thing till after the competitors ends. “It’s one thing in my nature,” he mentioned. “I don’t prefer to exit as a result of one time I did and twisted my ankle making an attempt to get out of a chair, so I strive to not go.”
• Then again, after their disappointing Rhythm Dance, Junior Ice Dance Champions Leah Neset & Artem Markelov visualized this system, The Pirates of the Caribbean, and went to the ocean. An excellent place to visualise.