Grand Prix Final 2015- Dance

Weaver and Poje won the event, and their programs are good, but the reality is that the programs aren't something unique and special. It's no secret that I like Weaver and Poje, I like the quality of their skating, and they can do something extremely emotionally powerful, but I just don't connect to their programs. That said, there aren't really any programs in the dance event that I find especially impactful this season. Unfortunately, the dance, which is usually my favourite event, is just not having the same impact on me as it has in past seasons. I feel like people are trying too hard to follow in the path of Papadakis and Cizeron and with a waltz for the short dance, the whole event feels too one note for me.

Chock and Bates are really not my favourites, and I really think they were overscored here. They didn't have the quality in their elements that some of the other teams did. Madison also had a significant issue on the twizzles, which they still got positive GOEs on.That seems ridiculous to me. With a mistake that big on the twizzles, they should not have gotten positive GOEs. I have done nothing to hide that these two are not my favourites, I honestly just don't think they have the quality of skating that other teams do. Madison has great performance quality, but I feel like judges allow her to let that mask where she is weaker in the technical elements. Honestly, I think the Shibutanis were better than Chock and Bates here, but this doesn't bode well for Maia and Alex at US Nationals.

Cappellini and Lanotte were strong here, but like with Weaver and Poje, I like them well enough, but I just don't think the programs are anything all that special. I think overall they're good skaters, but I don't think the programs they have this year have any emotional impact, so I'm left just thinking it's fine, but what I really want is more programs that have emotional impact.

Maia and Alex Shibutani were underscored here in my opinion. I think they are better than Chock and Bates, and yet that wasn't reflected in the scores. I'm not really sure where the score difference is coming from, because I do really think they are better technical skaters than Chock and Bates. Their short dance is fine, but I'm really not a fan of the doll programs. Their freedance though, is definitely one of the best freedances. I didn't love it at first, but it is quickly growing on me.

Bobrova and Soloviev skated well, but they weren't the most memorable for me. Their music choices are not my favourite. They don't stick out in my memory because their music choices are a little unoriginal and they aren't exceptionally choreographed.

Hubbell and Donohue have something really special in their short dance, but unfortunately, I don't think their freedance matches that impact. I will admit that I like their freedance more than I expected when I saw their music choices. I definitely like them far more than I did last year, and it goes to show how important the music and choreography are for ice dance.