#Samuel Chouinard

[rabidline]

2024 Four Continents Championships - February 4, 2024 Hannah Lim and Ye Quan → FREE DANCE (No Commentary) Music from "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" by Michel Legrand performed by Peter Breiner Symphonic Pop Orchestra and Mario Pelchat Choreographed by Marie-France Dubreuil and Samuel Chouinard

[corporaloretsev]

Roman Sadvosky's 2023/2024 Short Program - Ontario Sectionals 2023

Music: Unconscious - Charlie Winston Choreographed by Marie France Dubreuil and Samuel Chouinard

3Lz+2T, 4S, 2A

Score: 82.67

[virtchandmoir]

Samuel Chouinard's Instagram Story (June 7th)

[figureskatingfanblog]

More 23-24 Program Music Announcements

Men

Dinh Tran (USA) - FP: Tron: Legacy, choreo by Misha Ge

Daniil Murzin (USA) - FP: Phantom of the Opera, choreo by Misha Ge

Yaroslav Paniot (USA) - SP: “Kiss” by Prince, choreo by Rohene Ward

Sena Miyake (JPN) - SP: Gypsy Kings Medley

Kao Miura (JPN) - FP: Attack on Titan OST, choreo by Shae-Lynn Bourne

Matteo Rizzo (ITA) - SP: Derniere Danse, choreo by Massimo Scali

Camden Pulkinen (USA) - SP: A Different Kind of Love by Son Lux, choreo by Marie-France Dubreuil

Nikolaj Memola (ITA) - SP: Adios Nonino and Inverno Porteño by Astor Piazzolla, choreo by Andrea Gilardi and Corrado Giordani; He will be keeping his FP from last season.

Kyrylo Marsak (UKR) - SP: “Pale Yellow” by Woodkid, choreo by Monica Lindors

Andrew Torgashev (USA) - FP: “Void of Madness” by Muse

Nikita Starostin (GER) - SP:  "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps; LP - "I Want It That Way” and “Larger Than Life" by the Backstreet Boys

Women

Starr Andrews (USA) - FP: Being Good Isn’t Good Enough (from Hallelujah, Baby!)

Wakaba Higuchi (JPN) - FP: “Fix You” and “Paradise” by Coldplay

Mone Chiba (JPN) - SP: Les Yeux Noirs (Dark Eyes), choreo by Misha Ge

Yujae Kim (KOR) - SP: Flamenco, classical guitar; FP: Avatar soundtrack, choreo by Yaeji Shin

Sonja Hilmer (USA) - FP: Avatar: the Last Airbender soundtrack by The Track Team and Samuel KimS; choreo by Sonja Hilmer

Pairs

Grace Hanns / Danny Neudecker (USA) - FP: Bram Stoker's Dracula soundtrack by Wojciech Kilar; choreo by Natalia Mishkutenok

Ice Dance

Klara Kowar / Thomas Schwappach (USA) RD: “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS; FD: No Time to Die by Billie Ellish

Nadiia Bashynska / Peter Beaumont (CAN) - RD: “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS and “Wild Boys” by Duran Duran

Hannah Lim / Ye Quan (KOR) - RD: Prince

Isabella Flores / Ivan Desyatov (USA) - FD: West Wide Story, choreo by Kaitlyn Weaver

Marjorie Lajoie / Zachary Lagha (CAN) - RD: “Thriller” by Michael Jackson

Holly Harris / Jason Chan (AUS) - RD:  "Material Girl" by Madonna; "Express Yourself" by Madonna; choreo by Sam Chouinard

Sofia Val / Asaf Kazimov (ESP) - RD: Top Gun Soundtrack

[gacmediadaily]

Great American Pure Flix recently announced the premiere dates for their Christmas movie premieres from Great American Family.

Here are the dates provided in their press release:

B&B Merry (Wednesday, November 1), starring Jen Lilley, Peter Louis Chouinard, and Jesse Hutch. Tracey a travel blogger is invited by Graham Cooper to Christmas getaway for family's small bed and breakfast. B&B is facing tough competition from a hotel resort that has been stealing guests and threatens survival of the family business.

'Twas the Text Before Christmas (Thursday, November 2), starring Merritt Patterson and Trevor Donovan. An unexpected text message sent to the wrong number (Patterson) sets into motion a Christmas tradition with a new family (Donovan) over three separate years.

Christmas Keepsake (Friday, November 10), starring Jillian Murray and Daniel Lissing. A father (Lissing) bonds with his daughter and stumbles upon an unexpected romance (Murray) while tracking down the original owner of a Christmas time capsule.

A Christmas Blessing (Thursday, November 16), starring Lori Laughlin, Jesse Hutch and James Tupper. Renowned TV star Mandy Gilmore (Loughlin) says goodbye to her hit culinary series, A World of Food, with plans to travel the globe dining in all 142 Michelin star restaurants. Before jetting to Paris, Mandy stops in Milwaukee with the deed to her deceased aunt's food pantry, Angel's Fare, recently purchased by adjacent business owner, Adam Carraway (Tupper). A simple transaction. Until pantry volunteer, Otto Nessen (Hutch) reminds all that Aunt Susie's love of cooking was truly love of feeding and inspires one more holiday feast for those who need it most. Haul out the holly! For we need a little Christmas now.

Santa, Maybe (Wednesday, November 22), starring Aubrey Reynolds and Samuel Whitten. Can theater director Lila (Reynolds) rise to the challenge of putting on the perfect Christmas ballet, while also discovering her office Secret Santa in the process?

A Dash of Christmas (Thursday, November 23), starring Laura Osnes and Christopher Russell. To apply for her dream job at a foodie startup, an executive (Laura Osnes) must learn to bake. When she recruits a handsome baker to help her (Christopher Russell), she inadvertently ends up entered in a Christmas Bakeoff.

Destined 2: Christmas One More (Thursday, November 30), starring Shae Robins and Casey Elliott. In this sequel, Theo (Elliott) continues to miss connecting with his girlfriend, Kim (Robins) as he attempts to propose at Christmas.

My Christmas Hero (Friday, December 1), starring Candace Cameron Bure and Gabriel Hogan. US Army reservist and orthopedic physician, Nicole Ramsey (Bure) is dedicated to serving military service members and their families at the Joint Military Base in Lacey, Washington, home of I Corps and the 62nd Airlift Wing. This Christmas, with the help of many dedicated heroes, Dr. Ramsey is on a mission to honor a special fallen soldier and bring much needed healing to her own family.

Christmas on Windmill Way (Thursday, December 7), starring Christa Taylor Brown and Chad Michael Murray. Mia Miejer (Taylor Brown) excitedly anticipates the Christmas Market Fest Dutch Bake-Off competition and is filled with confidence her Mimi, Ann, will win the festival's top prize with her award-winning Kerststol when she learns Mimi has difficult news to share. Ann had to sell land around the family-owned Jansen Inn, including easements all around the heritage Tall Wooden and Brick Dutch Windmill renowned for centuries for its fine millwork and beautiful wooden furniture. It's an especially tough pill for Mia to swallow when she learns the land developer's representative is her former boyfriend, Brady Schaltz (Michael Murray), who also must let Mia and Ann know the agreement includes the Inn and sawmill, all of which will be torn down.

Peppermint & Postcards (Friday, December 8), starring Christopher Russell, Ella Cannon and Dave Kenneth MacKinnon. When a Christmas letter concerning her love life goes viral, one mom discovers that romance might be right at her door.

Other Christmas movies playing this holiday season on Great American Pure Flix include: An Angelic Christmas, Buttons: A Christmas Tale, A Christmas... Present, etc... There will also be a weekly theme on the streaming platform during the Christmas season... Getting In the Spirit (Nov. 1-5) Celebrate Family (Nov. 6-12) Celebrate Romance (Nov. 13-19) Celebrate Taste of the Season (Nov. 20-26) Celebrate Coming Home (Nov. 27-Dec. 3) Celebrate Christmas Wishes (Dec. 4-10) Celebrate Christmas Miracles (Dec. 11-17) Celebrate Keeping Christ in Christmas (Dec. 18-24)

*Video Promo - 

Celebrate Christmas with Great American Pure Flix:

I just love that Great American Pure Flix focuses on the True Meaning of Christmas! 

Hopefully, this will be a helpful guide to those of you who have a subscription to this streaming service.

[sunskate]

IAM Programs 2023-24

Holly Harris/Jason Chan 🇦🇺AUS RD: Madonna, Material Girl, Into the Groove, Express Yourself FD: Colossal Trailer Music, Ocean Lullaby; Christian Reindl, Lucie Paradis, Gefion, Freya; Christian Reindl, Lucie Paradis, Power-Haus, Vale choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil

Alicia Fabbri/Paul Ayer 🇨🇦CAN RD: AC/DC, Back in Black, Hells Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long FD: keeping FD from last season- Lewis Capaldi: Someone You Loved choreo: Zachary Donohue RD, Marie-France Dubrueil FD

Laurence Fournier-Beaudry/Nikolaj Soerensen 🇨🇦CAN RD: Top Gun - Harold Faltemeyer, Top Gun Anthem; Kenny Loggins, Playing with the Boys; Berlin, Take My Breath Away; Miami Sound Machine, Hot Summer Nights; Kenny Loggins, Danger Zone FD: Notre Dame de Paris - Mario Pelchat, Danse Mon Esmerelda- Acoustic; Monks of the Abbey of Notre Dame, Final Angelus Bells; Noa, Ave Maria Paien; Cirque du Soleil, Les Sans-Papiers; Garou, Danse Mon Esmerelda choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil, Romain Haguenauer, Ginette Cournoyer, Samuel Chouinard

Sandrine Gauthier/Quentin Thieren 🇨🇦CAN RD: Joan Jett, I Love Rock n Roll; Def Leppard, Pour Some Sugar on Me; Twisted Sister, I Wanna Rock FD: Game of Thrones choreo:

Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha 🇨🇦CAN RD: Michael Jackson, Thriller FD: Jean-Michel Blais, Roses choreo: Romain Haguenauer, Ginette Cournoyer

Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain LeGac 🇨🇦CAN RD: INXS, Need You Tonight, Never Tear Us Apart, Devil Inside FD: Danny Elfman, Corpse Bride choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil, Romain Haguenauer, Sam Chouinard, Ginette Cournoyer

Emmy Bronsard/Jacob Richmond 🇨🇦CAN RD: Les Rita Mitsouko, Andy, Marcia Baïla FD: Muse, Exogenesis Symphony part 3 choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil

Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu 🇨🇳CHN RD: Falco, Rock Me Amadeus FD: LP, Forever for Now, The One That You Love choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil

Solene Mazingue/Marjo Jevgeni Gaidajenko 🇪🇪EST RD: Run-DMC, Walk This Way; Salt ‘n Peoa, Push It FD: Tems, No Woman No Cry; Rihanna, Lift Me Up

Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud 🇫🇷FRA RD: Myléne Farmer, Sans Contrefaçon, Tristana FD: Rachmaninoff, Elegie in eb minor, Prelude in c# minor choreo: Romain Haguenauer RD, Guillaume Cizeron FD

Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson 🇬🇧GBR RD: Eurhythmics, Sweet Dreams, Here Comes the Rain Again FD: Rocky choreo: Romain Haguenauer, Samuel Chouinard, Ginette Cournoyer

Misato Komatsubara/Tim Koleto 🇯🇵JPN RD: Ghostbusters FD: Loving You (from Passion) Barbara Streisand & Patrick Wilson; Love Grows (from Final Fantasy VIII) Nobuo Uematsu (choreo: Romain Haguenauer) choreo: Romain Haguenauer, Marie-France Dubreuil, Ginette Cournoyer, Sam Chouinard, Eva Airapetian

Azusa Tanaka/Shingo Nishiyama 🇯🇵JPN RD: Super Mario Bros. FD: Giselle choreo: Romain Haguenauer

Hannah Lim/Ye Quan 🇰🇷KOR RD: Prince, When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy FD: Umbrellas of Cherbourg choreo: Romain Haguenauer RD, Marie-France Dubreuil FD

Allison Reed/Saulius Ambrulevicius 🇱🇹LTU RD: Guns n' Roses, Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City FD: Son Lux, Enough of Our Machines; Tokio Myers, Children choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil, Sam Chouinard

Olivia Smart/Tim Dieck 🇪🇸ESP RD: Blondie, Call Me, Rapture FD: Strauss, Also Sprach Zarathustra; Elvis Presley, Fever choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil, Romain Haguenauer

Kayleigh Macsymek/Felix Desmarais 🇨🇭SUI RD: Beverly Hills Cop - Harold Faltermeyer, Axel F; Corey Hart, Hold On; Glenn Frey, The Heat is On

Mariia Holubtsova & Kyryl Bielobrov 🇺🇦UKR RD: Bonnie Tyler, Holding out for a Hero; Bonnie Tyler, Bryan Adams, Straight From the Heart; Bonnie Tyler, Desmond Child, If I Were a Woman (and You Were a Man) FD: Joe Hisaishi, Merry Go Round of Life, Fragile Dream, A Walk in the Skies (Howl's Moving Castle) choreo: Romain Haguenauer, Pascal Denis, Sam Chouinard

Oona Brown/Gage Brown 🇺🇸USA RD: Elton John, This Town, Satellite, I'm Still Standing FD: Eric Carmen, All By Myself choreo: Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer, Joel Dear

Madison Chock/Evan Bates 🇺🇸USA RD: Queen, Another One Bites the Dust, Who Wants to Live Forever, I Want it All FD: Pink Floyd, Time, Breathe, Eclipse choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil

Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean-Luc Baker 🇺🇸USA RD: U2, With or Without You FD: Fred Again, Kyle (Northern Line); Charles LeClerc, AUS23 (1:1) choreo: Marie-France Dubreuil, Kaitlin Hawayek, Jean-Luc Baker

Sara Kishimoto/Atsuhiko Tamura 🇯🇵JPN jrs RD: Styx, Mr.Roboto FD: keeping FD from last season - Pulp Fiction choreo: Romain Haguenauer, Sam Chouinard, Ginette Cournoyer, Eva Airapetian

Jamie Fournier/Everest Zhu 🇨🇦CAN jrs RD: Soft Cell, Frustration, Seedy Films, Tainted Love FD: Damien Rice, The Blower's Daughter; Melanie Laurent feat. Damien Rice, Uncomfortable choreo: Romain Haguenauer

[tim-burton-facts]

For more information, see “The Tim Burton Encyclopedia”

A113

The number of the now legendary homeroom for the Program in Character Animation at the CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS (CalArts) in Valencia, California, where so many highly successful artists, storytellers, and directors, among them Tim Burton, attended classes beginning in the late 1970’s in preparation for careers at Disney. CalArts was the brainchild of Walt Disney, who before his death in 1966 sought to establish a school whose purpose was to train young animators through classes “taught by Disney artists, animators, layout people… taught the Disney way,” according to Tim Burton. Two of the cofounders of the Character Animation program were former Disney animators Jack Hannah (1913-1994), who taught animation at CalArts, and T. Hee (1911-1988), who taught caricature, both remembered by their students as great teachers. Other former Disney animators who taught at CalArts were Elmer Plummer (1910-1986), who taught life drawing, and Ken O’Connor (1908-1998), who taught layout. The legendarily difficult and demanding Bill Moore (ca. 1909-1983), formerly of the Chouinard Art Institute and a non-Disney faculty member, taught color and design.

The first class of the Program in Character Animation was admitted in 1975, and included JERRY REES and John Lasseter. Tim Burton entered the Character Animation program at CalArts in its second year, in 1976, soon after graduating from high school. In addition to Tim Burton, alumni of the CalArts Character Animation program include BRAD BIRD, John Musker, HENRY SELICK, Michael Giaimo, Gary Trousdale, Doug Lefler, Chris Buck, Rob Minkoff, Brenda Chapman, and Nancy Bieman.

The homeroom was drab white and windowless, and its number later appeared as an inside joke, in several animated films made by CalArts alumni: “The Brave Little Toaster” (the Master’s apartment number); “Toy Story” (license-plate number on Andy’s mother’s car); “Toy Story 2” (Lasset Air flight number); “A Bug’s Life” (prefix of a model number stamped on a cardboard box); “Ratatouille” (Git’s ear tag); “Cars” (head code on Trev Diesel, the freight train); “Finding Nemo” (model number on the scuba diver’s camera). It also appears in the form of Roman numerals in “Brave”.

Tim Burton attended CalArts from 1976 to 1979, the first two years on scholarship (he has stated that in his third year his scholarship was revoked, for reasons he does not disclose). In 1979, his animated short produced while at CalArts, STALK OF THE CELERY MONSTER, was considered of sufficient quality by Disney representatives to warrant his hire at Disney, where he worked until 1984.

REFERENCES:

Sam Kashner, “The CalArts Class Who Created a Great Renaissance of Animation,” Vanity Fair, March 2014, www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/03/calarts-animation-1970s-tim-burton; Mark Salisbury, “Burton on Burton”, 2nd rev. ed. (London: Faber and Faber, 2006), 8.

ARTICLE CREDIT: Samuel J. Umland, “The Tim Burton Encyclopedia”

[figure-skating-confessions]

“Can Danill please take some lessons with at least one of Stéphane Lambiel, Lori Nichol, David Wilson, Shae-Lynn Bourne, Samuel Chouinard, Zueva, Sandra bezic or even Averbukh? Eteri’s students have a lot of untapped artistic potential.”

[papciz-gram]

07.01.2020: from Sam Chouinard’s instagram stories

[mysticseasons]

Sam Chouinard’s Instagram Story

[rabidline]

2024 Four Continents Championships - February 4, 2024 Hannah Lim and Ye Quan → Music from "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" by Michel Legrand performed by Peter Breiner Symphonic Pop Orchestra, Les parapluies de Cherbourg performed by Mario Pelchat, choreographed by Marie-France Dubreuil and Samuel Chouinard

[dreamofawonderfullife]

Samuel Chouinard - Interview 

@mysticseasons asks me to translate this interview .. I did my best !! But you can help me to improve this interview !!!

From the beginnig to 4:00

Journalist : for me it was an amazing performance, they are world champion ! This is Samuel, the choreographer for a lot of discipline but especially figure skating. You are the choreographer of Tessa & Scott. I think you watch the world championship at home

Samuel : Yes that’s right. I don’t have the opportunity to go to Helsinki to encourage them but I was very very excited to see them at home.

Journalist: what are you doing as choreographer? Do you repeat all these movements on ice ?

Samuel : Yes. A season always begins at summer. I begin to show them a sequence off ice to test the music, the step. And after we go on ice to try to do the same movements.

Journalist : these are hours and hours of rehearsal to learn the choreography ?

Samuel : it’s a lot of hours of rehearsal. Tessa & Scott train very hard to be at the top. It’s very impressive.

Journalist : so what are you feelings when you see your choreography on the ice become the best dance ever ?  

Samuel : it’s a team work, it’s not only my job. I would like to thank Marie-France and Patrice who are incredible coaches. But also Team Montréal, it’s a big team. It’s very rewarding to see my choreography at the top of the world. I don’t believe it yet.

Journalist : I think with this result, you have opportunities to choreography others skaters ?

Samuel : I already did some choreographies for Star On Ice or Art On Ice but for now i’m working with the best skaters so I don’t looking for others skaters.

Journalist : you also did a choreography for the americans who were third in the short dance.

Samuel : yes it’s incredible, I’m proud of them.

Journalist : when I see this program I had chills. I think they were perfect. You, you know this program better than us, so tell me if it was perfect ?

Samuel : these artists are very incredible, they push me as choreographer to be better and to do better. I give them some material and right away they are able to perform my idea in a competition contest. They are hardworking skaters, very perfectionist but it’s because of all of this they are the best and they can break their own world record.

Journalist : they look flawless, they were in perfect symbiosis and they were synchronized. It was perfect.  

Samuel : I’m very proud of them. They skate together for a long time. They have a great alchemy.

Journalist : they are together (couple) ?

Samuel : it’s .. no .. no .. no .. sadly .. it’s  (he’s embarrassed)

Journalist quickly passes the question to avoid an awkward situation : they look like a couple because the alchemy between them is magic.

Samuel : hum...  hum ..

Journalist : now I want to look at lifts which are more and more innovative. How the choreographer help them to do some lift ?

Samuel : a lift is a very complicate sequence off ice because they have to find a balance and  they have to do it together. The challenge is to do it on ice with the blade but the key is the training.

Journalist : so they did it because they repeat, repeat and repeat again ?

Samuel : exactly.

Journalist : are they the best couple on ice ever in the Canada history ?

Samuel : for me yes and I believe that we will see them for a long time with the Olympic season. So finger crossed !

 After he said that he choreographs also synchronized swimming. He speaks about his career, that one day Marie-France call him to choreograph her team off ice.

[virtchandmoir]

Samuel Chouinard’s Instagram Story (March 25th)

[sarakiz]

Allison Reed / Saulius Ambrulevičius (LTU) - "Insomnia" by Faithless (chor. Marie-France Dubreuil, Samuel Chouinard, Massimo Scali)

2022 NHK Trophy, Sapporo - Free Dance

[thelandofall05]

Geometry in motion: Abstract painting in Nathan Chen's programs

It should be remembered that a picture – before being a war-horse, a nude, or an anecdote of some sort – is essentially a flat surface covered with colours assembled in a certain order,

– Maurice Denis, French symbolist painter.

Abstract art (from Latin “abstractus” – “drawn away”) is a non-figurative, non-objective art, where artists distance themselves from objective referents and use the visual language of colorful splashes, lines, geometric elements in various combinations. Abstract art has many styles: abstract expressionism, suprematism, geometric abstraction, op art, etc. This genre uses colorful shapes instead of realistic images. Wassily Kandinsky, one of the founding fathers of abstract art, believed that one should not analyze paintings objectively, but an effect on the emotions of the observer.

Abstract artists aspired to perceive the world with all its phenomena, forms and colors. One of the main ideas of abstract art is the fusion of painting and music. Kandinsky described Richard Wagner as his inspiration. Dutch painter Piet Mondrian was fond of modern rhymes, jazz and boogie-woogie, and named his canvases after music pieces.

Figure skating is an amalgamation of music, image, choreography and technique. The debate on what is essential in the fusion of the athletic and the artistic sides is going to go on forever. Like abstract art, figure skating consists of prescribed elements such as jumps, spins, steps, and turns that strictly comply with the rules and, at the same time, appeal to the emotions of the audience. Skaters develop their own style and become true artists and creators.

For example, the American skater Nathan Chen is famous for his minimalist costumes and for building his programs around abstract images rather than a specific character. Nathan chooses music with short but memorable titles (Nemesis, Caravan, La Boheme, Rocketman), tries himself in various genres (soul, jazz, chanson, flamenco) and expresses a wide range of emotions in his programs.

Like many abstract artists with a solid background in traditional art and impeccable technique, in years as a junior Nathan performed classical programs. He also tried his hand at iconic references, like Michael Jackson and did so brilliantly. However, can we call him an abstract artist now? Well, why not. For him the ice becomes a canvas, technical elements turn into a palette of colors, and the athlete’s body transforms into a tool that creates the masterpiece.

photo cred. Toshifumi Kitamura / Getty Images

Suprematism is an art movement that uses geometric abstraction in combinations of basic figures like circles, squares, lines, and rectangles painted in various colors. Suprematists reject all references to the figurative world and “earthly” meanings. Their paintings lack directions of up and down, left and right. Like in outer space, all directions are equal. The experience of color and shape is processed through the lens of the observer’s internal world. Malevich's "Black Square" is the symbol of Russian avant-garde and one of the most famous paintings in the world of art.

Just like the “Black Square" was Malevich's calling card, Nathan's short program “Nemesis” (music by Benjamin Clementine, choreography by Shae-Lynn Bourne) is the most recognizable in the skater’s career. Like a magnet, it captures attention of the audience at the rink as well as the ones watching the livestream. The simple costume, the sharp movements, the performance full of rebellion – all had the energy of a diamond in the rough of the rarest black color. Here Nathan is not a lyrical hero. Instead, like a suprematist, he portrays a strong emotion and ignites intense feelings to the powerful vocals of Benjamin Clementine. Nathan named “Nemesis” his favorite program where he could be himself. The skater flies over the ice with the resolve of an inescapable fate, reminding us that Nemesis was the goddess of revenge and the mother of karma (Nemesis is, Nemesis is, Nemesis is the mother of Karma). And like the “Black Square”, one can love or hate this program, but it is impossible to forget.

photo cred. Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

One of the ideas of abstract expressionism was to abandon structured composition and to produce large-scale, non-objective imagery. This movement developed in the United States and was considered purely American in spirit, being monumental, romantic and highlighting the serious questions of individual freedom. Barnett Newman believed that an artist is a choreographer of space. He infused his paintings with harsh flat color, thus predating the minimalist artists. A distinctive feature of his works – the so-called “zipper" – defined the structure of the paintings.

The music from the movie “Desierto” accompanies Nathan’s long program “Land of All” (music by Woodkid, choreography by Marie-France Dubreuil and Samuel Chouinard). The movie tells us about the fates of immigrants in the United States. Chen said he was not aiming to cover this topic and fill his performance with political meaning. Instead the program highlights the subject of individual freedom with the key message clearly stated in the lyrics (I came to break the wall that rose around you to see the land of all). The dark, gloomy atmosphere of the program foreshadows the danger and suggests seeking a way out. Newman said that we are making cathedrals “out of ourselves, out of our own feelings”. In his long program beginning with the lyrics "I took a chance to build a world of mine", Nathan showed that the solution lies in the individual freedom, in the freedom to choose and to express oneself.

photo cred. Raj Mehta / USA TODAY Sports

The term “hard-edge painting” was coined by the writer, curator and the Los Angeles Times art critic Jules Langsner. While studying the works of several painters, he found something  they had in common, namely a particular sharpness of edge and a clarity of color. This style of painting developed among Californian painters as their reaction to the more painterly or gestural forms of abstract expressionism. At that time Langsner worked on an exhibition, featuring works of Karl Benjamin. This exhibition was called the “California Hard edge”. 

The short program “Caravan” (music by Duke Ellington performed by Fanfare Ciocărlia, choreography by Shae-Lynn Bourne) is another iconic program of Nathan’s. The idea of the program belonged to the choreographer. Nathan described this program as a fun opportunity to dance to the music that people would actually want to dance to. Interestingly, Nathan chose the long program music in contrast to the short one. A simple costume and his naughty curls, high technical difficulty and the evocative footwork full of playful choreography, Western jazz flavored with notes of the East – all these make “Caravan” the cheerful and sunny performance that you would enjoy watching over and over again. 

photo cred. Margarita (zhem_chug) Voronkovskaya

Action painting is a genre in which the paint is spontaneously splashed or dribbled onto the canvas. The finished painting becomes a physical manifestation of art. It seems that an artist acts unconsciously, bringing their pure emotions to the canvas. They create a painting publicly, making a kind of performance from their actions and splashes of paint. Jackson Pollock, being one of the best known representatives of the movement, considered his style of work spontaneous and emotional. He defined it as "a natural growth out of a need", when spontaneous painting was directed by the subconscious instruments of creativity.

Nathan’s long program “Rocketman” (soundtrack to the movie “Rocketman”, choreography by Marie-France Dubreuil and Samuel Chouinard) can be regarded as an anthem to movement and athleticism. Complicated jumps matching music accents required lots of strength and concentration from the athlete, at the same time preparing the audience for the blast of emotions in the final choreographic sequence. His loose hip-hop movements had an organic quality of a dance floor improvisation. His passionate performance brought the house down again and again. In the act of creation the skater turned the ice into the canvas, splashing steps and turns like paint. And only when the music ended could the athlete and the audience breathe out. The program can be divided into two emotionally different parts. At first the skater presents the audience with a series of gorgeous quad jumps that set the rhythm of the performance like a metronome. And then he launches the explosive choreography of his final choreo sequence in the end.

photo cred. Jay Adeff / U.S. Figure Skating

The term “neoplasticism” was coined by an artist named Piet Mondrian. The guiding principle of the style was the dynamic equality of the horizontal and vertical lines painted with the primary blue, red, and yellow. Mondrian created his unique works from the basic geometric compositions. He perceived the world as a contrast of the vertical and the horizontal, the positive and the negative, the masculine and the feminine. The asymmetry of figures that we see in his paintings symbolizes unity and synergy of the Universe. The works of Mondrian influenced many contemporary artists. Many styles of modern art like minimalism and pop art hail back to Mondrian and the "De Stijl" group. 

In Nathan's long program of the 2020/2021 season (Selections from Philipp Glass, choreography by Shae-Lynn Bourne) the first thing that immediately catches one’s attention is the bright royal blue color of the shirt and absence of decoration except one vertical line of the same royal blue but of a different fabric. Mondrian considered the vertical line to be a symbol of masculinity. According to him it began at the center of the Sun. This is a totally abstract program without a specific name or character. The spectators get neither hints nor limits and decide themselves whether they are watching a lyrical tale, or an attempt to find oneself, or a portrayal of the power of nature. The energy of an entire ocean is hidden in simple sounds, smooth movements and restrained expressiveness. And at any moment the ocean can turn violent and merciless. No wonder that as the admirer of the Dutch artist, the skater chose the music of the minimalist composer for his long program. Like Piet Mondrian, Nathan Chen creates his own minimalist aesthetic of movement.

***

Studying the history of abstract art we can conclude that there were several reasons for this style to develop. The hope for changes in the pre-revolutionary society was one of them. At the beginning of the 20th century lots of people were tired of the dominant traditions in the way of life in general and in the arts in particular. They desired something new. The abstract art, which some would consider a kind of art extremism, gave them what they wanted. Without exaggeration abstract art became a new era in painting. 

The changes that are currently happening in figure skating can be undoubtedly called a technical revolution. No one is surprised by quadruple jumps and their quantity, or the age and gender of the skaters. It seems very soon everything will be attainable for everyone. Nathan is one of the pioneers of this revolution. In his programs he shows that athletes can be great technicians AND artists on the ice. And like true artists, athletes can now shed past restrictions and express themselves freely, showing all kinds of emotions, thoughts, and feelings in their programs. 

[gogogogolev]

Choreographer Samuel Chouinard shared this video of Stephen back on June 23, 2017. They are dancing to Self-Made by Bryson Tiller.

Unfortunately Sam’s Instagram account was hacked and this video deleted. The original caption (copied from the original SGFB post) was:

samchouin15 This week I got the chance to work with the AMAZING Stephen Gogolev …Turns out not only is he a good skater but also an Hip-hop Beast 😎💪 Can’t wait for our future Projects!! @stephen_g___

Sam discussed Stephen briefly in an interview he did in 2018:

IDC:  You also choreographed for pairs and men (Stephen Gogolev, Nathan Chen). Tell us about those experiences and what you found different from ice dance.

SC: ....With Stephen Gogolev, I did his show program. Also, Shoma Uno came last year and I’m going to work with him again this year. It’s a completely different vibe with a singles skater. You need to be able to keep the attention on you and make it interesting and dance big. They are so good, so it’s easy to make them look good. That’s something I liked because it’s a different playground.

Sam and Marie-France Dubreuil choreographed Stephen’s Stole the Show exhibition program.