A Trip Down Memory Lane #1 - Romanza

[synnabun]

Moderator Post – Friendly Forum Discussion :)

Hello everyone!

I would like to start this (hopefully) weekly discussion thread about Michelle and her past performances. With the absence of Michelle this season, our hope is to get everyone together and reminisce about the good ‘ol days in a positive and engaging sort of way. I will choose the weekly program at random, or someone else may suggest another one for discussion; whatever works!

I present to you… Romanza. This program was performed only in the 1995-96 season. You may view the stats of the program here: http://www.heatherw.com/mk/program/rom.htm, courtesy of Heather! If you need a refresher, our very own Cruelladekwan (http://www.mkforum.net/forum/member.php?u=1480) (http://www.cruelladekwan.com/) has five different performances (http://www.cruelladekwan.com/romanza.htm) of the program ready to download for your viewing pleasure! For those that prefer YouTube, you can go here: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=michelle+kwan+romanza&search=Search and choose from the search options provided at YouTube!

Some possible topics of discussion are the music, costuming, choreography, judging and just about anything else one could think of. What did you like about the program? What did you dislike? Which performance of the program did you think was best or worst and why? Were you there to see it live?! Tell us about your experience!!

If anyone has any comments or suggestions for our Trip Down Memory Lane discussion, feel free to PM me or reply here!

[Grace]

Bonnie, I was thinking not only her programs, but people can discuss say, her tv appearances, or a specific interview or say, her A&E Biography, etc. Or even a book discussion on one of her books. Maybe some interesting piece from a book where a paragraph was written about her. Of course primarily discussion can be about her programs, but it might be fun to mix it up and really make the choices more wide, from discussion about a certain year's costume choices, music choices, interviews, photoshoot, pictures, we can go wild :)

[Lisa Seye]

I love this program. The flamenco flair I call it. She was so amazing in this. I almost wish this had been her long program, except I loved Salome so much, too. I would love to see Romanza as a long program.

[donnylutz]

I believe that Romanza was a little overlooked because of the amazing Salome. Everyone says Salome is where Michelle showed her "new" self, but I sort of dissagree. I saw the "new" Michelle in Romanza before I saw it in Salome, granted it was all in the same competition!. For the first time Michelle had a lot of attack, flair, drama, and that connection to the music which she has now become so famous for. It was really a sign of things to come, as her short programs somehow kept getting better and better.

Donnylutz :)

[Lisa Seye]

Exactly Donnylutz! And yes those shorts are masterpieces just as much as the longs if not more so because she has less time with which to wow us with her masterpiece. I loved Spartacus, TFB, EOE, and a whole host of others. But Romanza was awesome for lack of a better word.

[taytay165]

I love this program too. Her attitude, her expression, her movement in perfect time with the (fantastic) music. This is one of my favorite short programs from Michelle, and to think it came at such a young age!

[Herr Drosselmeier]

Bonnie, thank you for opening the Memory Lane season. I like how you supplied convenient links. For me, Romanza was a great choice. Wow, what a great program. I had never given it the viewing attention that I now see it deserves.

My favorite performance of Romanza is 1996 Worlds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxZkZnSJMcc
I love how fluid her arm movements are in this program. Watch how she unfurls her arms through her wrists. I remember just a couple of years ago, Dick Button had said something like, [pardon my paraphrase] “She used to be a skater, but now she is a dancer.”
When I watch this 15 year old, I see a dancer. I think that Michelle was recently quoted as saying something like, “That’s just the way I move.”

Also, in the ’96 Worlds performance, I really get a kick out of how after holding her closing pose, she tilts her head down and looks to the side, and gives us an encore closing pose. What fun!

[iloveskating]

Here is an old thread on Romanza that someone revived over in MK Chat. I need to watch it again before I comment, it's been awhile since I've seen it.

http://www.mkforum.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13768

[DreamSkates]

Great footwork. In a time when fast, energetic footwork is so applauded, well, she was already doing that back then. I loved the look she had on her face at the end when she looks over her shoulder like, yeah, I can do this!

[RA5CViggie]

I believe that Romanza was a little overlooked because of the amazing Salome. Everyone says Salome is where Michelle showed her "new" self, but I sort of dissagree. I saw the "new" Michelle in Romanza before I saw it in Salome, granted it was all in the same competition!.
ITA. Some people who disagree with the results of 1996 Worlds claim that MK won because of her costume and makeup, but they tend to overlook the fact that she also won the short program with such a strong skate.

[kwanette]

The look over her shoulder at the end says it all..

"like" it? I LOVED it...Anyone who could find anything to "HATE" about this program...needs to get the kwanette discount rate at her therapist('s)..;)

[kittyjake5]

I almost posted in the wrong thread. There is another thread going on about Romanza in MKF Chat. On Topic-I remember watching Romanza and could not believe the transformation of Michelle in one year. The way she matured in her looks and her style of dress. She really skated that program perfectly and from that moment on I was hooked on her skating. Her footwork, expression and speed across the ice were amazing. It was almost like a coming out party for Michelle and we were all invited. That is what I love about her skating is that she always makes me feel invited.

[GoldenMichelle]

Romanza is definetly my favorite SP of Michelle's. The costume is one of my favorites, if not my favorite. It was perfect down to the red rose in her hair. I adore the footwork in this program, it was perfectly on the beat. (goes to watch again)

[Eeyora]

I love everything about the program the music, the footwork, the costume, the hair and the ending spin.

[darkphoenix]

The only thing I can complain about is her spirals...they aren't as beautiful as they were in '98. They didn't have the extention and length as they do now.

But that program brings back memories. It's like...wow....make up and great costumes really made her look more mature and not that little girl anymore. And it's kind of sad to think that she was almost forced to put on this performers costume on.

But here's a question, is Michelle didn't have the makeup and costume, would have Romanza and Salome be recognized the same? I'm never sure. But in '95-'96 season something about her skating changed for the better.

[toutestgrace]

When I need an MK fix, Romanza is the program I will invariably throw in the VCR. It's understated passion, early early spiral elegance, and perfect choreography make it the quintessential Kwan in my memory. I wouldn't even want to see her do it again as a mature skater - I love it as the work of a 15 year old wonder.

[Krista]

Exactly Donnylutz! And yes those shorts are masterpieces just as much as the longs if not more so because she has less time with which to wow us with her masterpiece. I loved Spartacus, TFB, EOE, and a whole host of others. But Romanza was awesome for lack of a better word.

I agree!

I loved Romanza. It showed she had flare, she could adapt to a different style of music, it showed how beautiful she was and how she had grown up into a young lady. The dress was probably one of my favorite of all time with the sweetheart neckline. LOVED the sleeves. And I loved the color. Red always looks great on Michelle. I think this program complimented Salome very well, and her win at Worlds was that much stronger due to both her wonderful short, AND her awesome long program.

[scootie12]

I've always loved the footwork she does at the end of the program. Such great speed, wonderful steps, and right on with the music!

[Krista]

I agree Scootie. I love the little double kick she gives in the footwork :clap

[Lisa Seye]

I agree Scootie. I love the little double kick she gives in the footwork :clap

Ahh yes the flamenco flair/flare :-)

[GoldenMichelle]

But here's a question, is Michelle didn't have the makeup and costume, would have Romanza and Salome be recognized the same? I'm never sure. But in '95-'96 season something about her skating changed for the better.

I think Romanza would have, not sure about Salome. Salome was very character driven so I don't think it would have work as well without the costume/makeup.
That said, I can't imagine her skating Romanza without that beautiful dress. If I could have one Michelle dress that would be the one.

[Krista]

I'm going to have to disagree. I think Michelle could have skated Salome in a pink tutu and it would have conveyed the program just as well. I'm not just being silly here either. Think about how she reached out with her arms and brought them back into her, think about how she skated around the end of the rink with intensity(yikes, just got chills) and how at the peak of the music, looked at the audience with such expression as she pulled her hands from in front of her eyes. She was on, she was Salome, and she was awesome, no matter what costume/makeup she had on. They were just the icing on the cake.

[feelingbegins03]

ITA with those who said that Romanza gets overlooked because of Salome. I think it showed just as much of a "transformation" and new maturity as Salome did. I just love the Spanish themed programs for any skater. I think the music just gives an "oomph."

[DreamSkates]

She looks so polished compared to the previous year. So much more mature and finished moves.

[Lisa Seye]

I didn't dislike anything, but I like these trips down memory lane to revisit old programs. :D

[taf]

I didn't dislike anything, but I like these trips down memory lane to revisit old programs. :D


I didn't dislike anything either Lisa. This is one of my favorite SPs & Michelle looked beautiful.

(This is actually my 2nd post in this thread....my 1st one disappeared for some reason.)

[Lisa Seye]

Taf, I loved the way she looked all flirty when she ended her program at worlds. She looked over her shoulder and raised her eyebrows ever so much. She was sooo soooo soooo gooooood and the look was like "how do you like me now?"

sorry your first post disappeared. :)

[Louise1991]

I didn't dislike anything either Lisa. This is one of my favorite SPs & Michelle looked beautiful. agreed. Michelle was completely awesome--the costume, her skating, everything was exquisite. the "look over her shoulder" as Dick Button called it at the end will forever be etched in my memory. :angel