PARIS -- A little hired help paid off for 2000 world champions Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat, who topped the compulsory ice dance Thursday at the Lalique Trophy.

The French duo delivered a flowing performance to the selected blues theme, edging Canadians Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz, the winners of the Skate Canada and Skate America Grand Prix events earlier this season.

Dressed in black with silver trim, Anissina, with dead-straight coppery hair, and Peizerat, with his trademark flowing blond locks and a fresh goatee, displayed new strength in the imposed discipline. They earned eight 5.8s and a 5.9 from the Estonian judge for artistic value.

They received solid marks between 5.5 and 5.7 for technical merit.

"It felt great. We had good sensations on the ice," Peizerat said. "We got good marks. The 5.9 ... is very strong and it bodes well for the rest of the competition."

The couple's newfound confidence in the compulsories is largely due to the help of Russia's Natalia Dubova, a former coach of Bourne and Kraatz enlisted to aid the French skaters specifically in that area.

"It's always good to have a new set of eyes looking at your stuff," Peizerat said.

"And we feel she's really coming to help us, not just look," Anissina added.

Bourne and Kraatz, decked in black velvet accessorized with purple, received marks between 5.3 and 5.6 for technical merit and from 5.6 and 5.8 in artistrsy for their light, bouncy performance.

"It was really good, just like in practice," said a relaxed Bourne. "The compulsories have been different for each Grand Prix, so it's the first time we've done the blues here.

"It felt smooth, both artistically and technically, so it's a nice start to the competition."

The Canadian duo, competing in its third of three permitted Grand Prix events this season, have already qualified for the Grand Prix final on home ice in Kitchener, Ontario, next month. The Canadians will not score points for this event.

"It's good for the extra practice, to get another time out on the ice with the program, which gets better every time," said Bourne.

First out on the ice, 2000 world bronze medalists Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas of Lithuania sat third heading into Friday's original dance, which will be choreographed to a Spanish medley. Americans Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto were seventh.

The competition continues Friday with the women's, men's and pairs short programs.