Anonymous wrote:I also think this is throwback and is related to outdated thinking that women must be graceful, not powerful.

Do away with thee dance moves. Let women be strong powerful gymnasts.

The good news is that you can be both or either one under the open ended code. I'm not sure what NBC showed, because I'm a gymnastics nerd and watched the subdivisions individually. However, if you are an amazing tumbler and not a dancer like Jade Carey, you can construct a routine with minimal dance and get credit for powerful tumbling passes. If you have more musicality and dance ability, you can use other elements to build your score like Italy's Vanessa Ferrari (whose routine was beyond gorgeous). There's no one way to be an amazing gymnast. Fortunately, the sport is evolving in a way that is more open to different styles, strengths, and body types.

I also think this is throwback and is related to outdated thinking that women must be graceful, not powerful.

Do away with thee dance moves. Let women be strong powerful gymnasts.

Anonymous wrote:Gymnastics fan here. I don’t like elite floor routines because I agree that the US dancing often looks mincing and awkward. For better dancing on floor, I enjoy NCAA gymnastics, especially the PAC-12. Many of their athletes have embraced dance and found choreography that isn’t necessarily balletic or old-fashioned gymnastics dance moves. It still looks like actual dancing rather than just stiff ballet or jazz moves and it’s refreshing to see the athletes actually put themselves into the choreography rather than looking like they wish they were tumbling.

ITA! College is integrating the dance and performance aspect really well. I really hope this is the future of gymnastics.

As far as the Olympic gymnasts, I also agree with PPs that the Russians are superior in the dance elements.

Anonymous wrote:I was a gymnast. Gymnastics used to emphasize dancing much more. We had to take ballet weekly once we started competing. I noticed that the American’s dance portions at this Olympics look like they received no thought. As mentioned, the Russians clearly have much more dance training. Floor exercise isn’t just about doing the most flips. It’s also about being graceful. Dance portions also give you a chance to breathe before your next tumbling run.

I'm the PP who said American gymnasts don't take dance class. I was also a gymnast. One hour a week of ballet using the beam as a barre is basically nothing. The "ballet" the national teams do at camp is not real ballet. They're doing tendus and kicks, not working on combinations with grace and artistry. American gymnastics has never cared about the dance part.

Gymnastics fan here. I don’t like elite floor routines because I agree that the US dancing often looks mincing and awkward. For better dancing on floor, I enjoy NCAA gymnastics, especially the PAC-12. Many of their athletes have embraced dance and found choreography that isn’t necessarily balletic or old-fashioned gymnastics dance moves. It still looks like actual dancing rather than just stiff ballet or jazz moves and it’s refreshing to see the athletes actually put themselves into the choreography rather than looking like they wish they were tumbling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Different Question

Do we usually watch qualifications live? I thought everyone who went participated. But my brain is mush.

I’m not sure I understand. Everyone (all countries) who qualified competed today over several sessions. Top individual and team scores progress to AA, event and team finals which will take place over the coming days. The broadcast didn’t show all the Americans on every apparatus. For example, Jordan chiles fell off beam but it wasn’t shown.

Thank you. I just never remembered watching “qualifications”.

I think they've had it before. NBC knows gymnastics is a big draw and shows as much of it as they can.

On the thread title, the choreography in the floor routines looks extra bizarre this year because there's no audience. At least in prior years you could imagine that the dancing was added for the performance value for the spectators. This year, empty arena so blasting music and dance to nobody at all just looks stupid.

The overall stupidest floor routine goes to Artur Dalaloyan of Russia, however. He ruptured his Achilles 3 months ago, should barely be walking yet, isn't medically cleared for vault or floor, and yet did them anyway because he's insane. And then spent 5 minutes after his floor routine doubled over and crying. Watching the men's team final tomorrow and waiting to see if one misstep blows up his leg is going to be awful. It may also be the US's only medal hope.

I agree the prancing looks stupid. Would rather see the gymnasts take a few moments of stillness in a yoga asana. Maybe holding a contortion should be part of artistic gymnastics.

I agree!

It’s the most entertaining thing in the Olympics.

I was a gymnast. Gymnastics used to emphasize dancing much more. We had to take ballet weekly once we started competing. I noticed that the American’s dance portions at this Olympics look like they received no thought. As mentioned, the Russians clearly have much more dance training. Floor exercise isn’t just about doing the most flips. It’s also about being graceful. Dance portions also give you a chance to breathe before your next tumbling run.

Gymnast back. Honestly we took ballet as part of training but when you get to that part in your routine you kind of go numb. It’s the same sensation you get when you’re driving and realize you’ve gone 2 miles and don’t remember it. There is so much going through your head while you try to regulate your breathing that many times you go through the motions. Unlike a ballet dancer whose whole performance is evaluated on your dancing ability, these moves are a means to an end. And many times, the most graceful gymnasts are built much more like dancers (the Russians or Nastia Luiken). The Americans represent a new body type in gymnastics that is much more muscular as opposed to incredibly lean (like the Chinese).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Different Question

Do we usually watch qualifications live? I thought everyone who went participated. But my brain is mush.

I’m not sure I understand. Everyone (all countries) who qualified competed today over several sessions. Top individual and team scores progress to AA, event and team finals which will take place over the coming days. The broadcast didn’t show all the Americans on every apparatus. For example, Jordan chiles fell off beam but it wasn’t shown.

Thank you. I just never remembered watching “qualifications”.

Anonymous wrote:Different Question

Do we usually watch qualifications live? I thought everyone who went participated. But my brain is mush.

I’m not sure I understand. Everyone (all countries) who qualified competed today over several sessions. Top individual and team scores progress to AA, event and team finals which will take place over the coming days. The broadcast didn’t show all the Americans on every apparatus. For example, Jordan chiles fell off beam but it wasn’t shown.

I totally agree. It irked me even when I was a young kid watching....like why????

I too dislike the little dance.