Floor Music I Want to See: Russia

Of course, I want these gymnasts to use this music after the Rods have been kicked out once and for all and the gymnasts are conditioned to a point where they can actually perform strongly artistic routines again.

Aliya Mustafina- "Montagues and Capulets"

Aliya is a diva on the floor (in an "every person in this stadium needs to be looking at me right now because I am killing it" kind of way), and this music is big and dramatic enough that she could own the floor with it. Also, as it is classical, it combines the drama with "Russian tradition" and would be a bit more regal for her, methinks.

Viktoria Komova- "Avrora" (Anna Bessonova's 2007-2008 Hoop Music)

I've honestly never considered any of Vika's floor routines highly artistic (except for the AA performance of her 2012 one). I believe that is because the Russian choreographers decided "Swan Lake Breakdown didn't work, so since classic style isn't her, we'll give her crowd-pleasing routines!" I really think Vika has a lot of untapped artistic potential in a darker and more emotional style. Of course, I have no solid evidence to base this on, so I could be totally wrong. It's just a feeling. I will fully admit that this could be a disaster, but I think it really would be haunting and beautiful and a performance for the ages.

Maria Kharenkova- "Blues for Klook"

I have a confession to make and you all may judge me for this. I don't really get the hype over Mitova's floor to this music, other than it's sheer difference from the rest of the routines of the time. Of course, Russia would never (and nor would any other major program besides the US, who used two recycled pieces in 2014 AND has had multiple gymnasts use "Blues") use music from a routine so venerated. Too much of a risk artistically. I love Maria's routine from 2012 and think routines with more passion and tension are better suited to her than the purely elegant, purely graceful routines she's had this quad. This would really give her opportunity to stretch her wings artistically and get back to her artistic roots from 2012, but with the maturity she has acquired since then. I also would love to see Afan with this music.

Alla Sosnitskaya- "Fever"
This one would never be allowed either, since Cata JUST used it. For shame. I mentioned in my Nanning floor analysis series that she displayed a slinkyness in the slow part of her "Pretty Woman" routine I think Russia should capitalize on. The jazz tones and prominent bass would give her plenty of room to play with that and she could finally have her chance to sparkle on floor. If not "Fever", at least "Why Don't You Do Right?" Also, I want Afan to use one of these ones. Afan just needs a season where she has a different floor routine every time she competes so she use all the music she should.

Anastasia Grishina- "The Promise" from The Secret Garden or "Once Upon a December"
Grishy is coming back and slaying, okay? These would both be great routines for Grishy's light and pretty style. And "Once Upon a December" is a waltz, which Grishy has a corner on. "The Promise" would be the softer, more lyrical route, while "Once Upon a December" would be grander. And come on, how awesome would it be for Grishy to use music from Anastasia?

Afan- Postmodern Jukebox's cover of "Seven Nation Army"
In case you can't tell by this point, I want Afan to do something bluesy. I think she's got just the right mix of maturity, dancing style, and slightly sardonic expression to make it awesome. This cover is the perfect moodiness for Afan to get in some of her awesome original choreography (BRING BACK THE LEG CHOREO FROM 2012). And come on, Afan doing "Seven Nation Army"? Awesome.

Literally Anyone- "Padam, Padam" (Zhenya's 2009 Ribbon Music)
Any Russian should use this. ANY OF THEM. And all of them. But honestly, somehow this music would be absolutely perfect for every single style of the Russian gamut. Aliya could totally get all diva/queen with it and incorporate a few death glares while she's at it. For Vika, she could stay all light and ballerina and I-don't-have-body-fat-ly while still being able to play with more than she's been given in the past. This music is definitely more in the way of Masha's 2012 routine than we've seen recently and she could bring back some of the old cheekiness with it. Alla could totally throw in a bunch of playful slinkyness with it and light up an arena. It's light and frothy for Grishy to keep her super pretty style but she could also be playful with it. And Afan! Lots of leg choreo-like opportunities, as well as opportunities for that wry expression from her 2011-2012 days.

Euros Predictions

I've just realized Euros are RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER (I was expecting more buzz on The Gymternet, TCG, etc.), so I'm getting down to making my predictions!

All Around
1. Giulia Steingruber
2. Erika Fasana
3. Maria Kharenkova
Con of Aliya and Larisa missing Euros: No Aliya and Larisa
Pro of Aliya and Larisa missing Euros: This is going to be one crazy final
I do think Giulia will end up with the title- high difficulty vault and floor, respectable bars with good combinations, and improved consistency on beam. I do also think Fasana will leave with a medal- I said it on my Jesolo post and I'm sticking to it! Kharenkova did well at Russian champs, and I'm not as concerned about her imploding as I am everyone else. Others in contention are the British all arounders, Laura Jurca, Diana Bulimar, Marta Pihan-Kulesza (PLEASE), Eythora Thorsdottir, Vanessa Ferrari, Alla Soz, and maybe one of the Germans or one of the French girls. Too exciting! My dream podium would be Marta, Amy Tinkler, and Eythora. For now, anyway- too many good choices!


Vault
Finalists:
Alla Sosnitskaya
Giulia Steingruber
Noel van Klaveren
Ellie Downie
Claudia Fragapane
Teja Belak
Tjasa Kysselef
Noemi Makra

Podium:
1. Alla Sosnitskaya
2. Claudia Fragapane
3. Giulia Steingruber
I'm hoping for Pavs still, but not holding my breath. Unless Giulia has added a DTY recently, I don't think she'll be able to go beyond bronze. Her position there might be in jeopardy too. Teja Belak's been doing well for herself recently. Ellie Downie might also have a chance, her DTY is lovely.


Uneven Bars
Finalists:
Daria Spiridonova
Noemi Makra
Jonna Adlerteg
Ana Filipa Martins
Marta Pihan-Kulesza
Andreea Iridon
Ida Gustaffson
Becky Downie

Podium:
1. Daria Spiridonova
2. Jonna Adlerteg
3. Becky Downie
I know, I know, but Becky's just been having so many troubles with bars this year! British champs always make predictions so annoying because it's always a splat-fest, and you never know whether it will actually carry into competition. I do think Daria will be the champion, she's been on fire on bars this year! I think Jonna will land on the podium; she has such nice bars and has been cracking this year! I feel like I'm missing out on someone obvious in the finalist predictions, and Bulimar and another Russian could also kick someone out.


Beam
Finalists:
Maria Kharenkova
Laura Jurca
Diana Bulimar
Eythora Thorsdottir
Sanne Wevers
Marta Pihan-Kulesza
Claire Martins
Carlotta Ferlito

Podium:
1. Maria Kharenkova
2. Diana Bulimar
3. Eythora Throsdottir
I feel like, with this one, there's Maria at the top and then a bunch who score high 13s-low 14s. Eythora and Sanne HAVE to hit it out of the park!!!! Diana is super solid on beam and really beautiful, so I think she'll be medaling. Eythora's routine is beautiful and her form is perfect and it's so artistic and she doea have a 2.5 dismount and she HAS to get a medal, and I'm restraining myself by only putting her in bronze because I can't get my hopes too high. Same with Sanne off the podium. We all know Maria has the gold in the bag, with such little tough competition she can relax with this one. So many beautiful beam workers at Euros who won't get to shine at Worlds, I'm so glad we get to see them here! If Ellie Downie miraculously breaks her my-scores-look-like-they-came-out-of-the-2004-quad streak and actually hits a routine, she should be in here. My dream podium would be Sanne, Eythora, and Claire.


Floor
Finalists:
Giulia Steingruber
Claudia Fragapane
Erika Fasana
Ksenia Afanasyeva
Alla Sosnitskaya
Diana Bulimar
Amy Tinkler
Vanessa Ferrari

Podium:
1. Ksenia Afanasyeva
2. Erika Fasana
3. Giulia Steingruber
I think this one should be close between Erika, Giulia, Amy, and Claudia for silver and bronze. If Afan goes clean, she should take the gold fairly easily. This should be a good floor final, really close and lots of beautiful work. I think Marta might kick out Vanessa if she's having an off day, which she has displayed this season.


So, how wrong do you think I am? Which final are you most looking forward to? Who is that incredibly obvious bar worker I'm totally missing?

(Floor) Artistry in Nanning: The "Other" Top Routines

Plenty of routines which have been major buzzes in the gymternet and from top gymnasts didn't make event finals, but still deserve a mention.

Roxana Popa
Won't embed, sorry. I love this one SO much more than last years. The composition was fine last year, but she's just not the super-bubbly performer you have to be in order to pull that one off. This dramatic flair is more for her. I love how Roxana incorporates the Spanish-style guitar! This routine can get just a bit dull in the middle at around 0:53 when she's obviously resting and keeps hitting poses with the accents of the music, but it isn't really ugly, just fairly uninteresting. My favorite part is the low-to-floor interpreting the slow music. Some really cool shapes and flowing movements. I also love how she ends it with a flourish of her wrist! The choreography isn't super intricate, but it is nice to watch. A good effort. And on another note, THAT MEMMEL!!!

Giulia Steingruber

Gorgeous dynamic routine. I especially love how varied her wrist and hand positions are. They really create a flowing impression and add to the intensity. A unique and slightly innovative routine, one which suits gymnastics in 2014. This routine had elegance, power, strong expression, and an assertive aura. Can you tell I love it? Too bad about that double back.... This proves you can combine power and beauty, and I really think this kind of routine should be more encouraged. I love her switch from slow choreography to quick movements after the DLO. Giulia does a great job of combining flowing and staccato movements to create a really dynamic routine with great forward motion.

Alla Sosnitskaya

I'm not feeling this one for Alla. To me, she just looks a bit gangly and awkward out there. This music and choreography require a gymnast who can go out there and own the arena, and Alla really isn't doing that here. She is just ever so slightly stiff and really doesn't connect with the performance or the audience. At parts she even looks like she isn't really trying to sell it. And this is the kind of routine you really have to sell. The short bit at 0:43 is always the best part of the routine- she has a little slinkyness which I think Russia should try to capitalize on in the future. I think this routine could be fabulous, but it really, well, isn't right now. They either need to work her on performance quality or work a different angle for her when they compose her floor routines.

Marta Pihan-Kulesza

I can't figure out if I love this or hate this. More to the point, I can't figure out if I love it in spite of the fact that I hate it. It's definitely a Marta-only routine! The music change is kind of bizarre. I have some very unfavorable opinions about the music change requirement. Surely there was something more jazzy they could have used? It's not an especially intricate choreography, but it works fine with the music. The ending is definitely the highlight of the routine, and where she does the best job of reflecting the Pink Panther music. I think this one just about works, and for her performance quality alone. I prefer her 2012 routine.





So, how do these routines stack up? Giulia's was definitely on of the best so far, I'd say. Roxana also did a lovely job. Marta and Alla are sort of in the same situation music and choreography-wise, but with very different approaches to their performance. Alla had decent choreography but moved without real presence while Marta had somewhat uninspired choreography and was only really able to pull of her routine because of the personality she infused into it. If you took Alla's routine and had Marta perform it, I think it would be something fabulous. Aside from Giulia, I'd say these ones were all fairly average.