MOSCOW — The hypnotic free dance of Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski on Sunday sent the Russian couple past defending champions Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin to win the gold medal at the Cup of Russia.

American pair Meryl Davis and Charlie White produced the top technical display to take the bronze in an impressive comeback from Saturday's error-riddled original dance.

The ice dance ended the fifth of six International Skating Union Grand Prix competitions, which was highlighted by a stunning short program from Brian Joubert of France.

Joubert took the men's gold despite a disappointing free skate. Carolina Kostner of Italy beat error-plagued Fumie Suguri with an elegant free skate to win the women's title, and Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao held on to win the pairs.

"We have lots of positive emotions right now, and it's hard to know what to say. We are really glad," Khokhlova said.

The most memorable moment of their stylish free dance, set to Paganini's Rhapsody on a Theme, was a lift that had Khokhlova stretched round in a circle and rotating around Novitski's outstretched arm.

White said he was pleased to record a clean skate.

"It's hard coming and competing against the two top Russian teams, and obviously (the crowd) is going to be really behind them," said White, who fell twice Saturday.

Domnina and Shabalin, the European champions, lamented their free dance.

"I don't know what to say," Domnina said. "We made a lot of mistakes ... We will draw conclusions and keep working."

All three pairs have qualified for the season final.

Joubert had the crowd on its feet with a near-perfect short program on Friday, dazzling the fans with powerful jumps and intricate steps to a rapid barrage of congas and bongos. But it was clear right away the former world champion would not be able to duplicate that effort, as he fell on his first quadruple jump attempt.

Joubert finished fourth in the free skate, five points behind Tomas Verner of the Czech Republic. But Joubert had built such a commanding lead after the short program that he still easily won the title.

Verner, who won the free skate after landing an opening quadruple toe loop jump and finishing with the highest artistic marks, was second overall. Alban Preaubert of France, the only competitor in the field not to stumble in the long program, won the bronze.

In the women's competition Saturday, Suguri's mistakes allowed Rachael Flatt of the United States to take silver Saturday. The Japanese skater finished third after two-footing a triple salchow and not even attempting other planned elements.

And even though they won in the pairs, Zhang and Zhang were not happy, citing a string of small technical errors that they hope to eliminate ahead of the season final. The reigning world silver medalists finished behind Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov in the free skate, but the Russians' margin of victory wasn't enough to close the gap on the Chinese from the short program.

The Russians, along with bronze medalists Tatiana Volosozhar and Stanislav Morozov of Ukraine, have also qualified for the final.