Mostly OT, but Olympic Ice dancing?

[Woody Sound]

Anyone watching? It's freaking gorgeous artistry, blending rhythm, beauty, and athleticism. It's an event that my wife and I both love to watch in bed together at night. Maybe that's TMI .

[Rodney Gene]

Better step aside home school, there's a new sheriff in town...

Chazz Michael MIchaels ... is ... figure skating.

[DawgBone]

My wife loves the stuff, even paid 11 bucks to be able to stream figure skating on her 'puter. I could give a shit but I still respect what goes into it. She's all about Ilia Malinen who took the US team to a gold. He's skating today in the short program, looks like he scored pretty well.

[palindrome]

My wife loves the stuff, even paid 11 bucks to be able to stream figure skating on her 'puter.

I suspect you may be missing the point.

[DawgBone]

I suspect you may be missing the point.

What'd I miss? I'm just not really into dance, ballet, and other similar stuff.

I have about as much interest in her figure skating love as she does my Texas Hold 'Em games, lol.

[Woody Sound]

Speaking of getting the "point," in this shot, my wife commented "Just watch out for my skate!"

[palindrome]

What'd I miss? I'm just not really into dance, ballet, and other similar stuff.

I have about as much interest in her figure skating love as she does my Texas Hold 'Em games, lol.

Well, I THINK the point was "ice dancing" as a distinct discipline from "figure skating," the former having been reintroduced to the current Olympics after several decades of absence. Skating reduced to figure skating, the original post here would never have happened.

(Not that *I* watch this stuff, BTW. I mean, ever.)

[palindrome]

Speaking of getting the "point," in this shot, my wife commented "Just watch out for my skate!"

Well, with a good amount of swelling sustained in this way... quote: "if your baseline measurements [...] are enhanced in certain crotch areas, that will allow you to then have a suit with more surface area specifically in the crotch, generating more lift which is going to get you further down the hill."

[Bob_Ross]

My wife -- a former professional dancer (musical theater) -- absolutely loves ice dancing

...and hates figure skating.

Her complaint re: the latter is that the sport has become all about the fancy difficult tricks, and so the skaters just string together a litany of tricks with no thought to how they link them together. There's no grace, no artistry, no connection or dramatic arc, it's just Quad This, then Triple That, then zip around the ice trying to build up speed for the next Flip/Fly/Spin, yadda-yadda-yadda.

At least in ice dancing the athletes are cognizant that they must look beautiful, and so grace and drama are much more highly valued.

[GuyBoden]

I prefer the Skeleton, where you slide down an ice track on a tea tray. Invented by thrill seeking British Tourists in St Moritz during the 1800's.

[SOLR]

My wife -- a former professional dancer (musical theater) -- absolutely loves ice dancing

...and hates figure skating.

Her complaint re: the latter is that the sport has become all about the fancy difficult tricks, and so the skaters just string together a litany of tricks with no thought to how they link them together. There's no grace, no artistry, no connection or dramatic arc, it's just Quad This, then Triple That, then zip around the ice trying to build up speed for the next Flip/Fly/Spin, yadda-yadda-yadda.

At least in ice dancing the athletes are cognizant that they must look beautiful, and so grace and drama are much more highly valued.

Funny how this "complaint" could easily apply to jazz guitar, lately....

S

[palindrome]

Well, I THINK the point was "ice dancing" as a distinct discipline from "figure skating," the former having been reintroduced to the current Olympics after several decades of absence.

Nonsense, right? (bla bla...)

[2bornot2bop]

I’ve been enjoying ice dancing for decades.

And the ballet? Same same. While living in Russia I frequented the Russian ballet often. There’s poetry, sacrifice, flexibility, agility, and endurance in dance that makes it something to behold. I’ve treasured ballet for over 50 years.

My fascination began with watching female gymnasts perform in the Olympics.

In 1976 I was fortunate to view my first ballet in NYC. I’d heard that Baryshnikov had defected a couple years earlier. His performance, power, was absolutely mesmerizing. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Ballet doesn’t require appreciation. Try it!

Visit and support your local ballet. In Seattle we’re very fortunate to have a thriving ballet company.