Just thought I'd resurrect this thread! How are everyone's dances going? I just passed the Keats, American, and Rocker, and I learned the Harris Tango and the Kilian today. I absolutely LOVE both of them!

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

I like the Harris Tango very much. it is such a precise dance -- some people don;t like it, but it's one of my favorites.

The killian on the other hand -- that is my nemesis, now and quite possibly, forever.

Congratulations on passing your tests -- that's great!

Congrats to luna_skater!

I've been bad and using too much of my dance time working on freestyle lately.

I competed my solo Chacha Congelado last week. Came 3rd of 5. It was pretty funny because the ice surface was so tiny that most people in the event were either hitting the boards or doing really weird patterns to avoid it. I tried Chacha on Monday with my coach to see if I want to keep working on in so that I have 2 dances to test when I go to the next US test. That back-to-back mohawk's going to be hard to get the hang of with a partner.

I've been completely neglecting my Westminster. Tried a couple of patterns today and wow, do they feel walked (mind you, I was all twisted watching out for people behind me because it was a busy session the day before tests and we have a couple of skaters who sort of like to walk into people). Got to work on getting my flow and glide back: bad, bad me.

My Romantica is still pretty much The Comedy of Errors (the highlight being my partner getting slapped across the face on a run-away arm movement going into the helicopter). Plan is to test it in February... Wow, I just can't see it being ready...

I'm on my Tango right now. I'm taking it next month. I like it a lot at the moment. OTOH, I hate the Kilian with a passion. That choctaw is a royal pain in the, um, butt.

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Shae-Lynn and Victor: We knew you were champions, and on 3/28/03 the whole WORLD found out! Thank you for twelve wonderful years!

I do all types of skating but right now I'm really focusing on my dances. I like the Kilian and the Tango because they're fast! Dances like the american really get me down because it's all about extension! I've got good ones but they just take so much energy! I have a test in a few weeks, we'll see how that goes.

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i find dance sooo boring to do lol. but i want to get some levels, so i usually do dance in the spring. right now im on my european.

You may find that the higher the level you go in dance, the more interesting they become. And at a certain point, even the early dances are more interesting, because you learn different nuances of the dances.

At least that is my experience.

Finally went to a social dance session after several months of not going -- it felt great and there were LOTS of dancers, which was fun. This may get me back on track!!

Compulsory dances can be boring, or they can be great fun. They are certainly challenging! Does your Federation offer tests in other dance streams, as well as compulsory? Ours has variation/original dance, Dance moves and Free Dance, right from the most basic levels. That does add to the interest!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Hey 35 year old mom here – and I’m working on my Diamonds as well.

I currently have my Rhumba and Yankee Polka. I’m testing my Romantica this coming Wednesday. My first pattern is awesome, but then as I huff and puff for air on my 2nd round (cause I don’t breathe through the 1st pattern) it gets sloppy sloppy. I’m also working on Austrian, and will hopefully test that next at the end of February (that’s only if I pass my Romantica of course). I’m only on the ice once per week with my new schedule so that makes it a bit tough, but I enjoy every minute of it.

You train at Mariposa?? You are soo lucky, I only go to the seminar... I'm working on my Paso and Starlight and Starting the Blues (stupid dance coach...)

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Lisa
I need a partner!!
Je cherche un partneur (parle en Englais si vous plait)
KTJADPA GLFDJEDV UWW

I thought I'd resurrect this thread for us, and see how everyone is doing!

I'm working on three dances: the Harris, Kilian, and Blues. I'm testing all three in two weeks! I'm really excited to do the Harris; it is possibly my strongest dance to date. The Kilian felt grrrrrreat! yesterday, so I'm hoping I can keep that up in practice next week, and not chicken out on the choctaw! The Blues is another story. It's not terrible, but it's definitely not as comfortable as the other two. Everything is OK mainly except for the choctaw. I am having trouble getting the LFI edge deep enough, fast enough. Coach and I came to sort of a compromise last week where he makes his edge a little flatter, but I would much prefer to just get it right myself!!

How's everyone else coming in dance?

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

Well I must be the only Aussie dancer here.

Just want to say I have been working on the American Waltz in my last lesson and it wasn't too bad. Got to get that 4th beat. My 3-turns have definately improved recently which feels great.

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Check out Cool Cat Skating Products - Australian Owned and Produced Skating Stuff.
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We are beginning to work on our dances for the coming season; it's mostly about presentation now, and really polishing our skills.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Hmm lets see now...I'm working on 3 senior silver dances. I haven't tested my kilian yet because well, I just despise it and therefore avoid from practising it! haha and I'm going to test the starlight and the also the paso as well soon, (upcoming test day).

How mnay dances does everyone test generally at one test day? Do you just go steady for one or take more at a time?

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For all of my test days, I have tested three dances at a time.

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

so far i have done 3 dances at a time but now my coaches want me to do only one at a time so i can perfect each dance and what not.

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Waffles & Vodka

Breakfast of Champions

Here in the UK you don't have a choice - each test consists of two dances, and you have to pass both of them to a certain standard, or you have to retake the whole test. No reskates allowed, either.

However, the dance moves, variation/original dance and free dance are all separate tests, with separate entry fees and lots more money into NISA's pockets.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Passed my Harris, Blues, and Kilian today! I will get to start working on the Starlight and the Paso on Thursday!

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

Congratulations!! That is no small feat!!

Luna skater, how could you pass the harris along with the tango and blues if you are not allowed to pass a dance that is not in the same category? You have to pass all of your jr. silvers before you can do senior silvers...

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I learned my first five dances in seven lessons!

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Keeper of Sasha's victory over Michelle Kwan at Campbell's
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I had to skate the Harris first, and then the evaluator confirmed that I had passed so I could go on to do the Blues and Killian. I had already passed my first three Junior Silvers.

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

i'm testing my american waltz and rocker foxtrot on the 20th of this month...i found out last week

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Waffles & Vodka

Breakfast of Champions

Good luck! Hope you do well!

Well, I think my coach is certifiably insane. He's got me down to test the Starlight and Paso in a month! And he taught me a gold dance yesterday! I like the fact that he's that confident in my abilities...but yikes! At least this will prevent me from slacking off. I can practically see the minutes seconds ticking by with every beat of the music!

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

Both glorious dances - the Starlight and the Paso, I mean. I just wish I could do them, but they are beyond my abilities as yet, even recreationally. Husband can do both - Starlight is good and Paso a bit wobbly - but only solo, although we have spent ages stepping through the change-of-hold in the Starlight to try to work it out. I can never remember what you're supposed to do, only that the person who taught me the dance said "It is not an excuse to grope your partner!" Mind you, it's a lot easier for the men, isn't it!

What gold dance are you learning?

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!