Background of Ice Dancing
Ice dancing combines the athleticism of ice skating with the beauty and artistry of ballroom dancing. The set pattern dances are derived from traditional ballroom dance tempos (waltz, tango, foxtrot, etc.).
Ballroom and ice dance are at their best when performed with a partner. However, because there are far fewer male ice dancers, club and open competitions have for decades offered dance events for individual solo dancing to expand the competitive opportunities for skaters without partners. It should not be a surprise that many female ice dancers take advantage of solo dancing until a partner becomes available.
Skaters taking the standard dance test must eventually perform the dances with a partner and also solo the dances starting at the silver dance test. A rule once required that the test candidate solo at levels below the Silver dance test, if they were being partnered by skater who had completed one full test level above the level being partnered.
Partner and Solo Dance Sessions
In the 1960's, most organized dance sessions had a policy of couples having preference in the starting line. Whenever possible the lines are established at each end or side of the rink, depending on where the dance pattern began. Fancy competitive starts were not allow as this took too much time and held up the line.
Popular dances often required multiple flights to accommodate those individuals interested in skating the dance. Frequently there would be a couple and solo flight.
Many dance sessions had a specific night for lower test level dancers and one in which all of the dances were played. Consideration was given to plan a session that did not have anyone sitting out more than two dances in a row because the dances were too difficult for them to perform.
Less experienced dancers frequently performed the dances solo until they felt they had the skills to perform specific dances with a partner, especially if potential partners lacked sufficient skills to properly lead the lady through the difficult sections.
Dance Weekends and Dance Cards
Some dance sessions had strict dress restrictions such as men wearing a tie, dress coat, and worn gloves. The dancer carried a card with all of the dances listed. They would organize the entire night of partner's on their cards.
Social Ice Dance weekends were popular. A host club would organize ice dance sessions, a banquet with ballroom dance, and activities for non-skating spouses starting on a Friday night and continuing through Sunday afternoon. Sometime live music was used for one of the ice dance sessions.
Solo Dance Track of Testing
The USFS has established a separate solo dance test track, over two decades ago, so skaters can pursue developing their dance skills without the expense of testing with a coach or a "rented" partner to prop the standard partnered ice dance tests.
Back when clubs held closed competitions only for their members, various dance events were offered such as:
- Family couples - both skaters must be related (father/daughter, mother/son, sister/brother, husband/wife)
- Draw for partner - list of eligible male partners would be drawn to act as a partner for solo lady dancers
As the concept of open competitions was developed, one of the prime reasons to offer solo dance events was to attract the interest of potential partners. Skating in solo dance events became popular as it frequently led to partner tryouts. Male dancers are very popular at the summer dance competition at Lake Placid, NY which attract a multitude of eager young ladies, and their parents seeking partner to skate competitively.
Eventually coaches get involved in the process that leads to partnerships. This is especially true when one skater must relocate to another city if the partnership has any hope of becoming a competitive team.
National Solo Dance Championship
It is difficult for every skater interested in ice dancing to find a suitable partner, the National Solo Dance Championships provide an opportunity for solo ice dancers to demonstrate the grace and physical skills of solo dancing. It provides an incentive for individual to work hard at their solo skating skills and perhaps two individuals may be able to merge their talents as a dance team.
The National Solo Dance Championship started as a pilot program with the first competition held in Colorado Springs, Colorado in September of 2009.
In January 2011, the Solo Dance Competition Series was launched. This program serves as a membership and development tool for ice dancing, and is open to individual skaters within the Eastern, Midwestern and Pacific Coast sections.
The series is an expansion of the National Solo Dance Championships and will provide an avenue for ice dancers at the Standard Levels to compete at and qualify for the National Solo Dance Championships.
The goal of the National Solo Dance Championship program is to create a fun, competitive program for solo dancers all across the country that will expand their competitive opportunities and provide an opportunity to qualify for a national event. Eventually hosting clubs will bid to host the competition that it rotates to a different section, on a regular basis, to keep travel costs down and stimulate entries of solo and couple ice dancing events at local competitions.
2013 Solo Dance Series Dates: The 2013 Solo Dance Series season will run from January 1, 2013 - August 18, 2013. Registered Solo Dance Series skaters can compete at participating non qualifying competitions during the season time frame to accumulate points based upon placement at each event. Those skaters finishing highest in their respective sections will qualify for advancement to the National Solo Dance Championships.
2013 Solo Dance Series Events:
The 2013 Solo Dance Series will include the
following events:
Resources:
Please refer to the 2013 Solo Dance Series Handbook for complete information regarding the Series and the rules that will be in effect during the 2013 Solo Dance Series at all participating competitions.
2013
Solo Dance Series Handbook and Rules Document (PDF)
2013 Solo Dance Series Skater Participant Registration
- 2013 Pacific Coast Section Solo Dance Series Competitions (PDF, 1/17/13)
- 2013 Midwestern Section Solo Dance Series Competitions (PDF, 1/14/13)
- 2013
Eastern Section Solo Dance Series Competitions (PDF, 2/5/13)
- Solo dance participant lists will be posted in March, 2013.
Dances for the 2013 Solo Dance Series
The
solo pattern dance event and combined event dance events are being
offered as part of the 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Solo Dance Series and
will be conducted in accordance with the
2013 Solo
Dance Series Handbook. Please refer to the 2013 Solo Dance Series
handbook for the current Series rules, levels and event requirements
that will be in effect for this competition.
The solo pattern dance event is comprised of two dances at each level. This event is being offered at the Preliminary, Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Pre-Silver, Silver, Pre-Gold and Gold levels.
|
Preliminary |
Pre- Bronze |
Bronze |
Pre-Silver |
|
Dutch Waltz Canasta Tango |
Cha-Cha Fiesta Tango |
Hickory Hoedown Willow Waltz |
14-Step Foxtrot |
|
Silver |
Pre-Gold |
Gold |
|
|
Silver Tango Rocker Foxtrot |
Blues Paso Doble |
Viennese Quickstep |
Refer to the 2013 Solo
Dance Series Handbook for
the solo pattern dance
event rules, test requirements and details.
Note: All dancers must either
compete at their test level or one
level above
of their highest completed dance test. The determination of level will
be
based
upon test level at the deadline for entries.
The combined dance event is comprised of the following:
| Juvenile |
Intermediate |
Novice |
Junior |
Senior |
| Ten
Fox 14 Step |
Tango American Walz |
Paso
Doble Starlight Waltz |
Blues Quickstep |
Silver
Samba Yankee Polk |
The pattern dances competed in the combined
dance event are separate from
those in the solo pattern dance event and the results will not count
towards the
solo pattern dance event or results. This event is offered at the
Juvenile, Inter-
mediate, Novice, Junior and Senior levels. Refer to the 2013 Solo
Dance Series Handbook
Effective February 7, 2013 the
music duration for the junior and
senior free dance
levels in the Combined Event has changed to the
following:
Junior Free Dance: Duration 2:30
MAXIMUM
Senior Free Dance: Duration 2:50 MAXIMUM
have had edited to match the previous music length stipulation listed for junior or
senior solo free dance, provided that this free dance music length does not exceed
the new time maximums stated above for junior and senior solo free dance.
The short dance will be a trial event this season and will be optional. It is offered only for the junior and senior levels and will not count towards the skaters' point accumulations. For specific rules, test levels, requirements and details pertaining to the solo short dance event, refer to the 2013 Solo Dance Series Handbook.
Judging Criteria
Judges evaluate partnered and solo dances using the same criteria:
- Is the dance performed with the prescribed steps and turns in time with the designated tempo?
- Is the dance able to interpret/ express the dance tempo?
- Is the dancer able to skate each edge and in the process not lose power, but maintain or gain power with every edge, turn, and lobe transition?
- Are the edges and turns properly executed to the music and placed to fill the rink as per the dance description and pattern?
Obviously in a partnered standard dance
test
or competition, judges can observe the interaction between a lady and a
man
as they attempt to work together in a unified (unison) attempt to
perform the above
criteria. Dancing with a partner is much more difficult than a
skater performing a dance solo.
USFS and ISU Establish Ice
Dancing Set Patterns and Rules
Compulsory dances are set pattern
ballroom type dances prescribed by
the USFSA and ISU. The music used must be of a uniform tempo with a
precise number of
beats per
minute. The skater(s) are expected to skate to the music in strict
accordance to the timing. Judging is also based on evaluating the
technical accuracy of steps, placement
of the pattern,
performance to the prescribed dance tempo, the style and carriage of
the skater. A solo skater is also judged on their
expression or interpretation of the character of the dance.
Test Requirements:
Both standard and standard
solo dance tests are acceptable to qualify for the Solo
Dance Series. Masters and Adult dance tests are not accepted.
2011 Solo Dance Series Participating Non qualifying Competitions List (PDF)
Solo Dance Competition Series Information Sheet (PDF)
Online Registration Form (HTML)
Competition Selection Form (HTML)
Point Calculation Chart (PDF)
References
Pattern
Dance Events - set pattern dances
Bridge Program Dance Curriculum
Acquiring
Basic Dancing Skills
USFSA
Compulsory Dance Tempo Chart
Differences
between Ice Dancing and Pair Skating
Sept. 30, 2009 ... "Ice dancing has become so very expensive," Gilbert said. "The National Solo Dance Championships have given ice dancers, of all ages, to experience the fun of ice dancing.
PDF 2011 Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships
2011 Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships. July 28 – 30 2011. Olympic Center
13 compulsory dances, six free dances, three short dance events, 10 solo dances.
USFS Competition Events
Competition Requirements
combined with information from public institutions and athletic organizations/
associations that have a web presence with information concerning team and
individual sports programs:
The limited use of the materials for education purposes is allowed providing
credit is given for the source of the materials.
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