Dance, Original Dance and Free Dance

In dance skating, the dances are written in a book.  These dances have specific steps that must be completed on the skating surface in time with the respected music for the dance.  The dance skaters, Solo or Team, that can replicate the written dance on the skating floor, the best, will be rewarded with good scores.  This is not an easy task!  There are hundreds of dances, with different steps, tempos and patterns.  Dances are skated to music (which is the tempo), such as the Waltz, Tangos, and Blues, to name a few.  The tempos of the music may vary, such as a 108 Waltz or a 168 Waltz, depending on the dance.

To be a great dance skater, you need to have an excellent ear for music, skate strongly, maintain an excellent body position, and have good body awareness.  Judges look for timing, posture, accuracy of the steps, and musical expression.

There are two disciplines of dance, American Dance and International Dance, which can be skated solo or team. In American Dance, the tempo of music is slower (108 Waltz, 100 Tango), and many of the dance patterns remain the same on the floor with each repetition, but there are some dances whose pattern rotates around the floor.  Regardless of the patterns, the steps remain the same.  This style of dance skating is more restricting.  The team or solo skater is not allowed to modify any of the steps or positions.

In International Dance, Junior and Senior World Class, it is much different.  Skaters dance to faster tempos (168 Waltz, 104 Tango, 112 Paso Doble).  The dance patterns remain the same on each repetition on the floor, but the edges of the steps are much deeper.  The steps of these dances are much more intricate and difficult.  The skater must perform these dances while maintaining grace and poise, while keeping in time with the music and performing to the audience.  Judging of these events is very subjective.  Sometimes the skaters are not rewarded for their efforts like they should be.  Judges have different likes and dislikes, and what one judge views isn’t always what the other four judges views. 

Junior and Senior World Class Teams skate three components of the division, which are two Compulsory Dances (which are written in the book), an Original Dance and a Free Dance.  The Original Dance is 2.30 minutes long.  They are given certain requirements to this element, for example teams must perform a dance spin, one dance lift (in which the woman can not be lifted over the man’s shoulders) and a straight-line footwork.  Each year the requirements remain the same but the music tempo will vary.  This year the teams have a choice of two tempos out of four, which are the Flamenco, Spanish Waltz, the Paso Doble, or the Tango.  Teams must choose their own music and must create an interpretive dance to that music.  The teams will be judged on interpretation of the music, difficulty of steps and turns and performance.  The Free dance is 3.30 minutes long.  Teams are given requirements (like the OD [original dance]) to this element, for example they must perform straight-line footwork and have no more the five dance lifts.  This element of Jr. and Sr. World Class Team Dance is the freest.  Teams can choice any type of music to skate to, just as long as they complete their requirements.  The teams are judged on interpretation of the music, the requirements, difficulty of steps and turns and their performance.  The music chosen often is themed-based, and the costumes are elaborate and amazing! 

Junior and Senior World Class Solo is a new event that was introduced last year.  This event is similar to the Jr. and Sr. World Class Team in respects to each solo skater must skate two Compulsory Dances and a Free Dance.  In the Free Dance, skaters are required to follow guideline such as spins, small jumps, and straight-line footwork.  The skaters can choose their own music, and will be judged on interpretation of the music, their requirements, difficulty of steps and turns and also their performance. 

Definitions:

Tempo:  music with the beats per minute…. 108 Waltz (108 beats per minute)

Original Dance:  A self created dance (interpretative) which is skated to pre-selected theme (such as Spanish melody…. Tango, flamenco, Spanish Waltz, Paso), with requirements like dance spin, one dance lift and straight-line footwork.  Judges are looking for difficulty, interpretation of music, requirements, and also performance.

Repetition:  A complete pattern of the dance.