John Curry - 1976 Worlds LP 

forget about these days, no one has ever skated like this ever. he's the best!

So true. It seems to be like in a dream!

I've watched this performance many times for the love of it and I cry every single time. Curry was competitive and fierce-minded when it came to skating how he wanted to express himself but watching performances like this shows how much he must have loved dancing to his highest capabilities. He strove for beauty and achieved it like no other man. When a man marries athleticism with artistry the ways Curry did he transcends the limits of what is thought possible. He set the bar very high indeed.

Georg Shteln He wanted to be a ballet dancer and his father refused to allow it. Obviously nothing has changed after the ridiculous furore over Prince George’s ballet lessons.

The Cold War had a lot to say in skating, unfortunately.

This happened the day i was born and I have just watched it for the 1st time - awe inspiring

I thought he was a little bit behind the music in places and of course ice skating has moved on now with Plushenko and Yagudin, but for its time it was exquisite.

@@stevebbuk On the various public performances/competitions he performed this routine he's not skating precisely the same(of course) and I've noticed the public tv solo I've seen(with the drooping fabric around the walls)he hits more of his marks/cues exactly on time(smaller rink?) on the music's downbeats- but nonetheless they all work expertly as performances. Different broadcasters have different angles with this number, too, which together you see elements you haven't seen in other versions. There were times it could be said you wondered if his skating was maybe a tiny fraction behind the music, especially before the triple-toe loops, but importantly there is a gap in sound just after the punctuating final chord of the segment, allowing him to finish elegantly before the music moves to the next segment. This would, though, be risky if he fell or faltered: there would be no musical motion to cover any skating mistakes- like a faulty landing. Risky. And he succeeded marvelously. One other note: in the grandiose Male Variation section, just after the B section finishes in a more subdued minor chord and before the return to the fortissimo A section there is a snare drum 'flip' on beat 4 (3:03)where his left arm extends out to his side, his right arm points up and he flicks his hands open at the last second while arching his head back in what must be his most classy but at the same time fantastic- triumphant gesture in the whole routine. And if I haven't choked up by then this moment always makes me emotional. Pure joy. As I've said before elsewhere- these are artistic expressions only a gay man would have performed. It has to be said that Curry's choice, Minkus's Don Quixote Pas de Deux, is a wise and wonderfully theatrical masterstroke: the range of muscial tempos and moods- from the brogadoccio of the Male Entrance in 6/8 to the beautifully tender Female Variations with harp runs, sustained crescendos, etc., certainly brought out creative magnificence in Curry for these competitions. You'd think the composer had him in mind! He introduces himself in grand fashion, dazzles with athletic spins and jumps, slowly expresses tender contemplative movements, skips playfully in parts and all flowing using his whole body to demonstrate it all. The variety of expression is awesome to behold. In fact, I've watched the ballets to this music- and I prefer Curry's dancing!

@@sheynj1@ Georg Shteln I have to hand it to you: you know your music and choreography. In that sense his routine is timeless, before the introduction of the new scoring. I'd like you to peruse this routine: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F893u_lTNVw.html and this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bGlG3Hus-KQ.html I could have posted a routine of Johnny Weir, but I think the gay issue is rather a red herring if you don't mind me saying so.

Same!

How blessed you have been to see this man live.

I saw him perform with his Dance Company at the Cambridge Theatre in London. A performance never to be forgotten.

The 1976 Cincinnati Reds also proved to be one of the best teams of all time, sweeping the Yanks and eventually contributing 3 players and 1 manager to the Baseball Hall of Fame. There should be another, but Pete Rose hasn’t been forgiven yet. Maybe one day. One of the most dominant baseball teams ever, the Reds were part of the stellar sports year that was 1976. Ditto Nadia Comaneci!

I agree, although it is tragic that Irina Rodnina is reportedly a racist.

But maybe even more impressive. As a former dancer & skater, I always found balletic moves & musical interpretation more difficult to perform on ice.

Can you post it to view? I'd love to see it.

Toller Cranston was technically inferior to John Curry in the free at 1976 Worlds. Curry landed 3 different triples (salchow, toe loop and loop) whereas Cranston landed 3 triples but only two different ones (2 loops and a salchow), Cranston made an error - he under-rotated and two footed his double lutz, whereas Curry had a perfect, error-free skate. It is a matter of debate who had the best artistry, whether one prefers Curry's classical, balletic style and perfect use of edges to Cranston's more exotic and flamboyant style. However, if we decide that artistically both have their merits and thus cancel each other out then you must conclude that Curry was better technically and thus was the worthy winner of the free skate.

@@npe1 Totally agree. Loved Toller - his paintings were as beautiful as his skating. Always an enjoyable watch. But Curry lifted his sport into a true art form - a rarity. Of course, these days, being a genius of music interpretation doesn’t count for much, as quadhoppers rule. Such a shame.Artistry and musical interpretation are what I loved most about skating.

You can forgive the broadcaster perhaps since Minkus made a career in Russia composing for ballet companies? He may have been born in Austria- but Russia made him professionally.

Yes, the WASPS skip the details & just hope they are correct. Often, they are not.