ICE DANCE and PAIRS STYLE--Collage of Ice Dance (top photos) and Pairs (lower photos) skaters from the 2021 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Las Vegas Nevada
Wrapping up my 2021 U.S. Figure Skating Championships COSTUMES BLOGS--it's now time to discuss the ICE DANCE and PAIRS COSTUMES--
Let's start with the PAIRS:
SCORE: 9.65
Knierim and Frazier Free Skate to Fall On Me by Andrea Bocelli and Matteo Bocelli--For their Free Skate, Knierim and Frazier went with what we would consider the more "traditional" costume-route for figure skating--pretty, shimmering (lots of sequin overlay), and the always present ombre dyeing. Even if these didn't venture into Fashion with a capital "F", they were effective and they looked good together. I liked Alexa's "off the shoulder" design (with nude illusion) and heavily sequined top, and in addition, I thought Brandon's ombre shaded top looked very nice and complimentary with her skirt.
Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier Short Program to In the End by Tommee Profitt and Too Far Gone by Hidden Citizens--For their Short Program, Alexa and Brandon wore these costumes which featured red and black tones and some interesting sequin applique work. Alexa's halter neckline dress had an asymmetrical hem, slits throughout, and great back sequin and nude illusion detail. Brandon's black-to-red shaded sleeves and delicate crystals matched her design but in a more subtle manner. Both could have been slightly more elevated in terms of design but that would be my only critique.
SCORE: 8.75
SCORE: 8.75
Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson Free Skate to Who Wants to Live Forever performed by The Tenors ft. Lindsey Stirling--One word: LOVE! From the moment they stepped onto the ice, they commanded my attention, especially Jessica! She the Costume Star here, with this gorgeous look featuring royal blue and deep purple colors, an asymmetrical front top design, and stunning separated sequined panels at one side of the torso; I just couldn't take my eyes off her, and her costume! Oh, and not to leave Brian far behind, his costume--even though it was mostly a black top and black pants, still had just the right amount of color and crystal detail up at the shoulder.
SCORE: 9.80
Caroline Green and Michael Parsons Rhythm Dance to Foxtrot: I Turned The Corner (from "Thoroughly Modern Millie") by Gavin Creel, Sutton Foster, and Quickstep: What Do I Need With Love? (from "Thoroughly Modern Millie") by Gavin Creel--For their Rhythm Dance to the Broadway musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie", Green and Parsons looked as if they could have just stepped off of a Broadway stage and onto the ice. Michael was dapper in this double-breasted waistcoat, purple tie, and pants, and Caroline was a Pretty Flapper Queen in a matching purple dress with silver lace-like metallic applique. The applique as well as her 20's headdress were effective and impacting.
Hubbell and Donohue Free Dance to Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley; Pray Gently to the Light by Karl Hugo; and Hallelujah by KD Lang--These romantic, subtle, lovely costumes for their Free Dance were quite the appropriate departure from their Rhythm Dance costumes. While Zachary stayed within the black-deep gray color story, he was more fashion-forward with that top featuring sheer, shiny and contrasting matte panels throughout. Madison evoked delicate love and passion in this dusty rose halter-neckline-like dress with a nice display of silver crystals. She was feminine, fluid, and lovely...while he was strong and linear making for a nice costume couple.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates Rhythm Dance to Blues: Too Darn Hot by Cole Porter (original cast recording); Quickstep: Too Darn Hot by Cole Porter (original cast recording); Swing: Too Darn Hot by Cole Porter (original cast recording)--Chock and Bates skated to the same music/programs that they did in their previous season for both their Rhythm and Free Dance. For their Rhythm Dance, however, Madison wore a different costume than last season; Evan's stayed the same except for a change in pocket square color (which perfectly matched her lipstick!). Since his black suit with unbuttoned white shirt were the same as last year's, I'll just discuss Madison's: She wore a sequined-and-nude razzle-dazzle dress a la Cher/Bob Mackie. The look had some exquisite and very expensive-looking crystal work throughout the torso culminating in white sequined fringe. It was gorgeous and she was as the song says, "Too Darn Hot!"
Chock and Bates Free Dance to Egyptian Snake Dance: Yearning by Raul Ferrando; Sahara Nights by DJ Quincy Ortiz; Layali Al Sharq performed by Al-Ahram Orchestra--Speaking of hot...I LOVED these costumes that Chock and Bates reprised for their "Egyptian Snake Dance" Free Dance. I was a big fan of these outstanding designs last season and was happy to see them again. She looked like a high fashion Cleopatra while Evan vibed a very sexy Pharoah/Mummy. The sequin work on her costume should be at the Cairo Museum, and I also loved the skeleton-like details of bias tubing looped throughout Evan's shirt and sleeves over sheer panels. Fashionable, elevated and EXPENSIVE-looking: Definitely HAUTE Fashion Skating Costumes!
ICE DANCE:
Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker Rhythm Dance to Swing: Staying Alive (from "Saturday Night Fever") by Bee Gees; Swing: Night Fever (from "Saturday Night Fever") by Bee Gees; Swing: Boogie Shoes (from "Saturday Night Fever") by Bee Gees; Swing: You Should Be Dancing (from "Saturday Night Fever") by West End UK Production--I am a big fan of the Bee Gees (Yes, I may be aging myself) and I was also a big fan of these great costumes. Kaitlin's costume is one of the most gorgeous designs I have seen on the ice in a while. She looked like she stepped out of an Elie Saab runway show; I loved the multicolored sequined bodysuit with a plunging neckline, and the sheer black chiffon and sequins skirt over it. I secretly want to see this as a long red carpet gown! Jean-Luc was Disco Hot in his purple liquid satin shirt--opened a la John Travolta down to his navel--and sexy 70's-inspired skin-tight pants. If I was taking disco lessons from these two, dressed like this, I would show up EVERY SINGLE DAY!
SCORE: 9.75
Hawayek and Baker Free Dance to Heart of Glass (Crabtree Remix) by Philip Glass & Blondie
First Movement by Philip Glass--While the music was "vintage" Disco Blondie, it was remixed for a more moody modern dance vibe, and these costumes evoked more of the latter as opposed to the former. Kaitlin wore a simple "wrap dress" with brick-red ombre shading at the waist, midriff, and sleeves. It had an open back and looked like something a dancer wears while rehearsing as opposed to the actual performance. Jean-Luc was the epitome of the "Modern Dance" guy in an all-black turtleneck "Bob Fosse"-like look. I guess these were fine costumes for the music, but they could have been possibly more creative or avant-garde lite.
SCORE: 8.45
SCORE: 9.00
Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue Rhythm Dance to Express (from "Burlesque") performed by Christina Aguilera; A Guy Who Takes His Time (from "Burlesque") by Christina Aguilera; Tough Lover (from "Burlesque") by Christina Aguilera--If there was any doubt that Hubbell and Donohue were skating to Christian Aguilera's "Burlesque", well, then just take a look at these sexy-as-all-you-know-what costumes! Let's start with Zachary who looked like a hot Broadway dancer in his all-black muscle-revealing look of skin-tight black pants, sheer sleeveless top, and vest...and an armband to accentuate that bicep. And then there was Madison: I loved this black sheer jumpsuit featuring a gorgeous display of sequins, crystals, and fringe hip details. If all of that wasn't enough, the bedazzled bra-top put a fabulous costume exclamation point on her entire look.
SCORE: 9.90
SCORE: 9.15
SCORE: 9.75
BTW: This is what they wore last season, to the same program:
Too Darn Hot Chock and Bates 2019-2020
And finally...
SCORE: 9.95
The one new addition Madison added to her costume was very 2020/21. Always the fashionista, Chock added this FABULOUS matching mask to her off-ice costume:
Click below to watch Chock and Bates "Egyptian Snake Dance" Free Dance form the 2021 U.S. Figure Skating Championships:
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