{"id":38052,"date":"2024-11-11T23:00:35","date_gmt":"2024-11-12T04:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/?p=38052"},"modified":"2024-11-11T23:00:35","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T04:00:35","slug":"recap-2024-nhk-trophy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ice-dance.com\/site\/recap-2024-nhk-trophy\/","title":{"rendered":"Recap: 2024 NHK Trophy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Anne Calder<\/em><\/p>\n

The fourth event in the 2024 ISU Grand Prix Series was held at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, from November 8-10. The building famous for its suspension roof design was built for the 1964 Summer Olympics.<\/p>\n

Prior to the event, reigning ISU World Champion Evan Bates shared his excitement about returning to Japan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always cherish our time here and are looking forward to performing and competing. I\u2019m expecting a full audience, some of the most enthusiastic skating fans anywhere in the world.\u00a0 <\/span>Tokyo and Yoyogi Stadium in particular have got a lot of fond memories, so we’re really excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rhythm Dance<\/b><\/p>\n

The Rhythm Dance opened the 2024 NHK Trophy competition. The top five teams at the end of the performances included: Madison Chock & Evan Bates (USA), Christina Carreira & Anthony Ponomarenko (USA),\u00a0 <\/span>Allison Reed & Saulius Ambrulevicius (LTU), Caroline Green & Michael Parsons (USA) and Loicia Demougeot & Theo Le Mercier (FRA).<\/p>\n

Chock & Bates (USA) chose the British novelty pop music act, Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers to introduce their multi-song salute to the 50\u2019s, 60\u2019s and 70\u2019s.<\/p>\n

The program opened with the instrumental \u201cHawaii 5-0\u201d theme accenting the spinning twizzles, followed by \u201cLet\u2019s Twist Again\u201d for the Choreo Rhythm Sequence that scored a 5.57 GOE. The Midline Step Sequence ticked off to \u201cRock Around the Clock\u201d and the Bee Gees rendition of \u201cStayin\u2019 Alive\u201d highlighted the Pattern Step. A rotational lift appropriately to Donna Summer\u2019s \u201cLast Dance\u201d was the closer. The segment scored 86.32.<\/p>\n

The team improved their Rhythm Dance score from the first Grand Prix by 8.44 points.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made some really good strides since Skate America, specifically with this program, said Bates. \u201cWe put a lot of effort into improving it and changed some of the music, some of the choreography, which can be challenging in the midst of the Grand Prix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carreira & Ponomarenko (USA) made their Grand Prix debut with a new international personal best 79.64 score. The I.AM London, Ontario Canada trained team selected \u201cI Just Want to Make Love to You\u201d by Etta James and \u201cLong Tall Sally\u201d by Little Richard for their music. The twizzles and rotational lift earned level 4: the Pattern and Midline Steps were both level 3.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very happy with how we skated today,\u201d\u00a0Carreira said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been working hard and came really prepared so we\u2019re happy that we could show this.\u201c<\/p>\n

Reed & Ambrulevicius (LTU) were disappointed last week at the Grand Prix de France for missing the podium by only .64 points. The base values increased in Japan with level 4 twizzles, Pattern Step, rotational lift and level 3 Midline Step. The Montreal based team scored 77.91, three points higher than in Angers. Their music was \u201cDa Ya Think I\u2019m Sexy?\u201d By Rod Stewart and other artists.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/i><\/span>It was a quick turnaround for us, since we have back-to-back Grand Prix, so we came into this competition with mini goals because we had no time to fix or change anything,\u201d Reed said. \u201cWe accomplished those and we are really happy with that.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Teams in fourth and fifth place made their Grand Prix Series debut at the NHK Trophy\u2026<\/p>\n

Green & Parsons (USA) had a later than usual schedule start due to Parson\u2019s hip injury and rehab at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Green spent the three months training back in Canton, Michigan with the MIDA team.Their music this season is \u201cThese Boots Are Made for Walking\u201d (Silo x Martin Wave Remix) by the Supremes and Martin Wave \u201cSoul Bossa Nova\u201d by Quincy Jones. The team scored 74.38.<\/p>\n

Demougeot & le Mercier (FRA) scored 69.24 for their program to \u201cI Want You Back\u201d by Jackson 5 (Dimitri from Paris Supa Funk Brakes Mix) [Mixed], and \u201cThe Love You Save\u201d (Power remix) by Jackson 5. The team is coached by Karine Arribert-Narce and Mahil Chantelauze in Villard-de-Lans, France.<\/p>\n

Free Dance<\/b><\/p>\n

The teams performed in reverse order of the Rhythm Dance results. The podium included: Chock & Bates (gold), Carreira & Ponomarenko (silver) and Reed & Ambrulevicius (bronze).<\/p>\n

Chock & Bates created a sophisticated jazzy mood with a combination of \u201cRound Midnight\u201d by innovative trumpeter Miles Davis, \u201cTake Five\u201d by the Dave Brubeck Quartet and Juju\u2019s \u201cTake Five\u201d that connected mid-tempo J-pop with elements of jazz. The duo scored a season best (Free Dance) 129.63 and (Total) 215.95 and qualified them to defend their 2023 Grand Prix Final title. NHK Trophy marks their 20th total Grand Prix medal.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am just so happy to be here in Japan, and we had two great performances this week,\u201d Chock said at the post-event press conference. \u201cIt’s a great way to kick off the next part of the season leading into the Grand Prix Final in December.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just delightful to know that it’s a new milestone for us (first NHK gold),\u201d Bates added. \u201cWe are very honored to be here and excited to take home the gold medal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carreira & Ponomarenko remained in second place with a mature and passionate interpretation of Carmen Suite<\/i> by Rodion Shchedrin. The twizzles, lifts, and dance spin earned level 4. The team was rewarded with\u00a0 <\/span>season best program 119.33 and total 198.33 scores.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s truly an honor to return to the Grand Prix podium at NHK,\u201d Ponomarenko said. \u201cWe were just so close to it, and to finally crack a podium is special.\u00a0It’s a testament to the hard work that we’ve put in the past few summers and seasons. I’m really proud to skate with Christina and to share this podium.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reed & Ambrulevicius won their second straight NHK Trophy bronze medal with season best program, 117.61 and total 195.52 scores. The LTU team\u2019s music included \u201cLord and Master\u201d by Apashe, \u201cNever Change\u201d by Acoustic, Apashe, YMIR, and \u201cKryptonite\u201d by Apashe, Lia Kuri. The reigning European bronze medalist\u2019s total element score was over five points higher than the previous week at GP de France.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re pretty thrilled with our performance today,\u201d Reed said. \u201cWe think it went a lot better than it did in France. That performance was a lot better. We were really happy with it. It’s lovely to skate in front of this crowd and see full stands at two o’clock in the afternoon. It was a really good day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Green & Parsons were\u00a0 <\/span>fourth with \u201cSpiegel im Spiegel\u201d by Arvo Part performed by Angela Dubeau and La Pieta and \u201cDance Me to the End of Love\u201d by Douglas Dare. The dance earned level 4 twizzles, lifts and dance spin; the Diagonal Steps were both level 3. The 114.38 program score and 188.76 total were season bests.<\/p>\n

Prior to the event, Parsons shared some thoughts about the new skating year in a USFS Fan Zone story.<\/p>\n

I think this [Jean Luc-Baker] choreography is much more personal. It\u2019s genuine Caroline and Michael. And we already feel so much better than we did at this point last season \u2014 or at any point last season,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Parsons also expressed his enthusiasm for the skating days ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re super excited to show our programs this year,\u201d he said. \u201cExcited to have a rebound year where we feel like we can put our genuine selves on the ice and enjoy it. Not just survive, but thrive in what we love to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Demougeot & le Mercier, the 2023-24 French silver medalists, finished fifth with a 109.06 program score and 178.30 total.<\/p>\n

Coming Attractions<\/b><\/p>\n

The fifth Grand Prix event is Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, November 15-17. Lilah Fear (Skate America) and Piper Gilles (Skate Canada International) gold medalists should be favorites for a GP Final spot. Juulia Turkkila & Matthias Versluis (FIN) will make their Series debut. Oona Brown & Gage Brown, Eva Pate & Logan Bye and Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik will represent the USA in their second Grand Prix event.<\/p>\n

Also competing are Natalie Taschlerova & Filip Taschler (CZE), Yuka Orihara & Juho Pirinen (FIN), Hannah Lim & Ye Quan (KOR) and Mariia Pinchuk & Mykyta Pogorielov (UKR).<\/p>\n

Tokyo Tidbits<\/b><\/p>\n