Lori Nichol, Choreography Queen
Choreography is the new quad.
Patrick Chan and Joannie Rochette’s routines are evidence of just how critical good choreography is in making a skater competitive on the world stage. In Chan’s case, his intricate, dramatic footwork sequences and artistic embellishments almost make up for a shaky triple axel and no quad. It’s choreography, I believe, that put Evan Lysacek ahead of Evgeni Plushenko in the Olympic free skate.
Canadian Lori Nichol is the reigning Choreography Queen. In a sport where artistry is a close second to triple jumps, Nichol has a fascinating job. And she’s darn good at it. Last week, the Associated Press published a story about Nichol and her work with Lysacek. If you’ve ever wondered how a world-class figure skating program is woven together, you’ll enjoy this article.
Here’s an excerpt:
“I’m trying to do layer upon layer,” Nichol said of choreographing a program. “I’m trying to appeal to those that I know have spent the hours and time and really understand the incredible difficulty of some of the things we’re doing on the ice.
“And then I try to do (a program) so that anyone can enjoy it. I think of what my mom’s watching and think of what my neighbor’s watching and how do I make this program enjoyable for them? And how do I make it so it’s something the judges will be able to understand and respect?
February 22nd, 2010 at 11:21 am
I agree.She’s wonderful in choreography.