Euros 2022 Liveblog: The Rhythm Dance

 We join the skaters in the middle of the 3rd to last group

Our leaders are Mueller and Dieck who had a Harley Quinn/Joker themed program...yeah. Live scores can be found here

Davis/Smolkin- RUS

Really nice twizzle seq, she caught her blade right at the end though I think. One of the less cringey skates-maybe bc they have so much speed over the ice? Pretty good MB pattern. They're really strong at twizzles that's clear. Nice fast lift at the end. Not a huge fan of the music or costumes but I have to admit, they did well! Nicely into 1st with that, and with a decent margin. Well done to Igor Shpillband. 

Taschlerova/Taschler- CZE

Very powerful first twizzle. Really hating the arm movements but ok. Strong step sequence, nope I'm wrong, only a level 2. Lot of space between them for the MB pattern. Lift is fine-same one Virtue Moir did at the end of Moulin Rouge. Nice twizzle sequence. Ugh she's mouthing the words hate it. Decent performance but this program...sucks. Looking forward to seeing them do a better choreographed free dance later this week. Into 2nd. MMMM ok whatever. 

**Zamboni time 

This is gonna be exciting guys-Smart/Diaz are in this group. Would've been more exciting if Hurtado/Khaliavin were in the group with them-but we can't have everything. I think so far Smart/Diaz have the advantage on H/K. They won Spanish Nationals, and qualified to the GPF before it was cancelled. Smart/Diaz also beat H/K in their only direct head to head competition this year at Finlandia so this should be exciting. This competition will decide officially which team represents Spain at the Olympics. (If I'm honest I'm rooting for Smart/Diaz because I like their FD a lot, plus they didn't go last time!)

Nazarova/Nikitin- UKR

Wow-that opener was really awkward. Really slow first twizzles set. Interesting take on MB pattern but I think they're shorting those edges. The curve lift was cool but they need more speed throughout this routine. This would kill at Junior Worlds. Puts them in 3rd. 

Lopareva/Brissaud- FRA

Oh NO. The cringiest white kids you know attempting to dance hip hop style. Save me. Nice speed over the ice. Good ice coverage with MB pattern. They might be the most proficient skaters so far, but YIKES this program. Rotational lift is fine. Really difficult twizzles with arm positions, catch-foot position. Into 2nd! So Russia still in first-little surprised by that honestly. 

Kaliszek/Spodyriev- POL

I'm already nervous bc of her shirt. Quick snap into that lift. That was great. Does he have a CHAIN on his pants. Ugh. Teeny bit far in part of the MB section but good. Really showing off their strong individual skating skills and lifts are clearly a strength for them. Midline step wasnt great. Twizzles are really nice though. They definitely lost a bit of steam at the end but that was good! I don't think this should take the lead but they'll be happy with it. Yep, into 2nd. Wow-Russia's score really holding up more than I thought!

Reed/Ambrulevicius- LIT

Nice midline step sequence. She's loving this routine. Love the twizzles-3 sets hell yea. Great MB pattern. Honestly, big fan of this program, you can tell they're having fun. Little slow in the entry into the lift but really nice position-great program overall. MF and Patrice have done it again. Nice, into first with that program. Well deserved.

 Smart/Diaz- ESP

Not mouthing the words!! Sigh. great smooth lift. Taking their time with each element, nice MB pattern. Twizzles are great. She's really doing the most to sell this program. Loving the knee choreo in the midline step. That was great. I would say they seemed maybe a little tight throughout. Not quite as free as R/A who are the current leaders but still a very good program. Hoping they really let it rip during the FD. Nicely into the lead there! Good for them.

Very excited for this final group. Am I drunk-I thought Papadakis/Cizeron would be here? I'm not surprised, they skipped Worlds last year bc of the plague. Good for them, who cares about another Euros title when the Olympic gold is on the line. Shout out to Fear/Gibson for wearing masks during the warm up. 

Guignard/Fabbri-ITA

Honestly haven't seen this SP. Omg crazy lady is their coach (and by that I obviously mean Barbara Fusar-Poli). Nice twizzles. Not sure I'm loving the holds they chose for their MB pattern but ok. Slow over the ice but ok lift. I love this music but I'm tired of everyone using Michael Jackson for their RD. So I don't know if it's just this routine, but I feel like they gave this 6/10. It's big fun music and you could see them thinking through the routine-maybe it's just not their style but that's the point of ice dance, gotta sell it anyway. Who am I to say they need a coaching change but they've been skating for a while and haven't broken into the top tier and they could! This program isn't gonna do it for them though. Into first with 83. Sure.

Stepanova/Bukin- RUS

I saw this routine earlier in the season and I hate it with a fiery passion. What is her outfit. Ok here we go Backstreet Boys. Nice lift. Really nice strong twizzles-3 sets babyy. Really weird change of music for the MB Pattern but its ok. Midline sequence is a bit of club dancing and that's not a compliment but I guess the skating is good. Please see below my letter to their coaches:

Dear Svinin and Zhuk, 

No. 

Best,
Sara

I'm sure this will take the lead but let's talk about how her outfit looks like someone ripped her dress and revealed her bra underneath. I don't know what his outfit is either. These might be the worst outfits I've seen in the ice dance portion. 86 into the lead yea why not. Best PCS of the day so far because apparently the judges gauged their eyes out idk. 

Hurtado/Khaliavin-ESP

I don't know what this harness he's wearing is but anyway. Love the attitude. Twizzles are off-she faltered. His free leg was too low in the first one. That's a bummer. Pattern is a little tight. Midline sequence is ok-she's really trying her best to salvage it by putting on a show. Respect. Really nice lift that picked up speed. Shame about the twizzles. Unrelated note I love her haircut-it's a tough one to pull off and she is SO pretty. 75.83, behind Smart/Diaz by over 2 points. Could recover in the FD but it'll be tough.

Sinitsina/Katsalapov-RUS

I hate his shirt. Nice ice coverage during MB pattern. Looked like she caught her blade on the ice, but hard to tell. I don't like the midline choreo but they're doing their best with it. Really nice fast transition into and out of the lift. Good performance, will take the lead. But also I didn't like it. That's the way it goes! In both their programs Nikita is dressed like he's going clubbing later, and she's ice dancing. Make it make sense guys. 87 points into first but not as much of an advantage over Stepanova/Bukin as you'd think! 

Fear/Gibson-GBR

WOW the outfits ok. Strong twizzles. Love that big jump he does before the midline step. Midline step is really strong and feisty. Love it. Energy level not super consistent throughout it though. Yea definite drop in energy level during the MB pattern but well done. Good lift, nice ending. I think overall they need to keep up that mood throughout the required elements. That'll help them in standings as well. But they'll be proud of that. Should not challenge top 3. Yep 79.97 into 4th. Strong score for them. 

And that's a wrap on the rhythm dance. Thank god. I'm really fascinated to see how the RD will ber received by the Olympic audience. As far as Euros goes I'm hoping Stepanova/Bukin can make things interesting tomorrow in the free dance and challenge for that top spot-what a plot twist that would be! I do think Stepanova/Bukin have been on the bubble for a while and are about to break into the top tier(especially next year once there's a ton of teams retired). 

I think my favorites today were actually Smart/Diaz, Reed/Ambrulevicius and Davis/Smolkin. See you back at 11am ET for men's free skate!