20 of the Best Skating Programs from the Fall of 2016

15. Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier (CAN): Short Dance

It seems to be the Canadians making good use of the short dance this year. But one always expects something original from Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier. Last year their Beatles-themed short dance was one of the most loved of the season. This year, they and coaches Carol Lane and Juris Razguliaevs have done it again, this time going a little forward in time to the disco era.

Certainly, when one looked at the choice of rhythms, not many people thought of doing disco. But when the ISU didn’t really define hip hop, allowing Gilles & Poirier to get away with this idea, they made it work. They even get in character while getting into their opening poses. Barry White’s “Oh What a Night for Dancing” allows for a warm but oddly wistful Blues, and putting at the beginning of the program makes for a story of a couple going out to dance. When they get to the place and “Disco Inferno” kicks in, of course, is where the fun really begins. Technical elements combine easily with disco moves until everyone in the arena is enjoying themselves. You don’t even remember you’re watching a difficult technical routine.

Gilles & Poirier got a good free dance too, making a unique version of the tango even in a season with multiple other teams doing tango frees. But it’s the disco number that everyone’s talking about.