Olympic figure skaters will perform for a matter of mere minutes at February's Milan-Cortina Games but the process of creating and honing their routines takes months of consideration and effort.

The concept, moves and music of a programme can make or break skaters' dreams of Olympic glory, and what is right for one can be a disaster for another.

"You have to choose what suits your strengths best, because that will inevitably score well with the judges," Canadian pairs skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek told AFP at last week's Grand Prix Final in Nagoya.

"That's what we've always done -- what feels best for us and then hoping that comes across to everybody."

Skaters typically work with a choreographer and coach to devise their short programme and free skate routines, which they will perform a

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