Where I live we only get to do ISA (Australian) tests when a judge is over here from interstate to judge a competition. I was under the impression that there wouldn't be one this time, but I heard today that there will be. That means I will be attempting the Elementary 1 Dance test in 5 weeks

Dutch Waltz & Canasta Tango are the dances. I know the steps, and coach says I'm getting better at dancing them with her. Just wondering what are the main things judges look for in dance tests.

Speed & flow (Like you can do that on a 1/4 size rink ), posture, no toe-picking, pointed toes, extension, not taking partner's feet out from under them. I am pretty new to ice dance, so am not sure what else is important to keep in mind.

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

The first level of dances (Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango and Rhythm Blues in the US) are typically encouragement dances. Do the correct steps, mostly on-time and generally recognizable edges, and you'll be fine.

Timing and edges.

Unfortunately when I do one of those well, I tend to loose the other!

j

Carriage too ... although it might not be one of the "official" need to pass look fors at this level: they want to see you with good posture, head up, not "breaking" at the waist. It's a hard habit to break if you start falling into the bad posture trap, and, you'll definitely need to have good posture in the later dances.

And while, again at this level, it's not a requirement, if you can show that they are two different dances, that will help, too. For the tango, make sure you pause your leg at each end of the swing rolls, lots of knee action, and turn your head sharply as you change lobes. For the waltz, the leg and head action should be continuous, and the whole dance more flowy and lilty.

You should pass, though - the only people I've ever seen fail Level 1 here are those who step their dances, not skate them!

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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!

Stay on time, do the correct steps, skate on edges as per the pattern. Good carriage and nice flow. On the dutch remember the timing on the progressive and try not to look terrified.

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Also more or less sticking to the described pattern. But if you do the steps & edges correct, that will happen.

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Ah, that could be a challenge, as I expect I shall be terrified.

Are head turns expected at this level? Coach hasn't put any in at this stage, though perhaps she'll get to that once she's certain the rest of my body is doing the right thing.

Sounds like most people don't consider this first test to be a biggie. Are these the dances in the first level of testing in other countries?

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

In having the coach with you, they'll be able to hide some of your fear and help stop your legs from buckling (I saw one coach yank the tester up when she nearly tripped and the judges didn't even notice!). Other than the whole timing and edges thing, try and stay in time not just with the music but with your coach (as if it's not the same thing) but also try and have as much extension (toe pointing) as your coach.
I test solo and was pulled up at my first test for not toe-pointing (again at my second) but know someone else at my first test doing the same one as me, who was told that he wasn't pointing the same amount as his coach.
I think the timing requirements in the UK at this level are something like 75% in time. My coach always told me that it's either in time or it's out of time, but I did manage to prove with my dutch waltz that it's possible to start out of time and get back into time. I spent the whole time freaking out about it and didn't realise that I'd corrected it, and then went over to the judge and told him that I was out of time. He didn't care and was more concerned about my lack of toe-pointing. But my timing issue was because I'm better doing a Dutch before a Canasta because the Canasta is faster and was made to test (and had never practiced) the other way around. I don't think the judge would have minded had I done them the other way around, but I was the second person testing that level so the coach doing the music automatically put it on the same way as before.

But you're right at level 1 they are trying to encourage you and it shouldn't be a big deal, but I've heard of people failing things, so there is a standard (it's just not very hard to meet).

Yes, the Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango, and Rhythm Blues are the three dances (in the first level, Preliminary) in the U.S.

And, don't worry about passing. Like others have said, the important things at this introductory level of dance are the ability to skate strong, correct edges and stay on time with the music, which basically means knowing which steps and edges are held for which counts. The ability to stay (relatively) on pattern is key, too. But if you're test structure is anything like in the U.S., you will only need to partner, not solo, the dance, so your partner should be able to help you out when it comes to staying on pattern and time.

According to the U.S. Figure Skating rulebook, judges want to see "erect, natural body position, good carriage and easy flow without too much effort" for the Dutch Waltz. Basically, relax and you should be fine. By "erect, natural body position," we're talking about bending the knees and ankles rather than at the waist and keeping the head and eyes up, or at the very least, not looking down at the ice.

For the Canasta, the rulebook emphasizes that "it is of utmost importance that a toe push be avoided." Skaters should take care to turn the toe out, not down, on all extensions. Regarding expression, judges are looking for "neat footwork, good edges, tango expression and good carriage..." Tango expresssion, at this level, can be achieved by keeping the steps neat and sharp (bringing the feet together, turning out and pointing the toes, etc.), demonstrating controlled extensions through the free leg and toe, and showing a soft knee action, especially on the chasses.

I've rarely seen judges fail the Prelimary dances. A skater would have to completely deviate from the pattern or correct edges/steps or have absolutely no sense of timing in order for this to happen.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

In the U.S., the Preliminary dances are considered "encouragement" tests, so you would have to screw up quite noticeably to get a retry.
When I took the Prelims, the comments primarily to improve edges and posture. Comments about expression were limited to "if your posture was better your expression would be better." My timing is extremely good (a result of a thousand years of flute, piano, and voice lessons and performance!) and I rarely get any comments on these either way.
They generally don't bother to make nice comments--they only describe what needs improvement.

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You miss 100% of the shots you never take.--Wayne Gretzky

In dance competitions, one of the marks is given for "Timing and Expression" - terrified isn't the expression they are looking for.

You trust your coach!

In the UK the Dutch Waltz and Canasta Tango are Level 2; the Rhythm Blues is Level 1 along with what's called the Novice Foxtrot (runs and swings). I am just as glad it wasn't when I took my first compulsory dance test, or I'd be trying it yet - I am only just, now, after 13-odd years, getting the closed chassés as they should be....

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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!

Oh how I hate those two dances! who would have thought runs and swings are so difficult to do nicely! and as for those closed chasses.................

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Level one Field Moves......PASSED 05.06.08
Level one Free dance.....PASSED 02.10.08

GOALS FOR 2009

• Level One Compulsary dances.......PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Elements.....................PASSED 10.07.09
• Level Two Free dance.................PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Free...........................
• Level Two compulsory dances.......

Loving it, Loving it, Loving it!!!!!

Honestly, I didn't think I screwed up noticably but when I read these blanket promises that these dances are "easy" to pass...I just want to say...while I passed the prelim dances with a partner rather easily---ten years later, it took me 4 tries to pass the Dutch Waltz. Most of the time the comments were my edges were not good enough. One judge said my timing was off once but EVERYONE else who watched and counted, including my coach, said my timing was fine.

And when I finally passed it, I honestly didn't feel like I danced it any better than the last test...I know people like to blame retries on "picky judges" but I tell you it sure as h..ll was NOT an encouragement test for me. In fact, it left me quite frightened to test again and I deliberately waited until I turned 50 so I can test my next dance at the lower master's standard.

Not to discourage you...just a little balance to the "oh these tests are easy to pass" choir....

j

I think the main thing here is the fact that you were testing solo--the Dutch Waltz is actually not that easy to skate *well* solo--given that most people aren't real strong skaters when they test at this first level. I can see that it would be much harder to skate a passing test solo. Most people are pushed onto decent edges by the strong partner/coach who they're testing with. Which is also why you aren't asked to solo dances (on the standard track) until you hit silver, by which time you should be able to stand on your own feet & hit those edges yourself.

So--yes, I do think the partnered test is quite easy to pass given that correct steps/edges & timing are demonstrated.

Thanks for that. I actually get quite worried when someone tells me it's easy, cos it'll make me feel even worse if I don't pass.

Elementary 1 is the first ISA dance test in Australia, and has to be partnered by someone who has already passed that level. We aren't big on dance here (1/4 size rink doesn't encourage it, and figure skating is considered way less than manly, so we don't have many guys), so I don't have much of a yardstick to measure against.


Oh man, I was trying to turn my toe out on extensions, but coach said it has to point down, not out. Now I'm totally confused !!!

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

I'd say point the toe "out and down" - it would be much easier to just be able to show you! Maybe somebody can post an appropriate picture. If you're extending your leg to the back, the toe and knee definitely shouldn't be pointing straight down towards the ice - the leg should be turned out from the hip, and then you also point the toe down. Same thing in front - turn the leg out from the hip, then point the toe down.

That's a style thing that different coaches want different ways. For awhile I was working w/ 2 coaches & they differed on this---one wanted foot turned out, one wanted it turned down. I finally ended up dropping one & just having 1 coach because it was too hard to change how I skated depending on who was watching me (there were other differences too)! Btw, I kept the coach who wanted them turned out---that seems to be the more common style (at least here in the states).

That's true - and I did pass easily with a partner.

I was just starting to feel a little like a royal loser with everyone saying how easy it was --when it was such a struggle for me!

j

I think it was Jerod Swallow who said that if the Dutch Waltz were a Gold Dance no one would pass it - it is that hard!!

Kudos to all of the dancers!

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Understandable, and as always, trust your coach. Perhaps she wants you to think of pointing down to avoid getting a flexed foot position, which is not a flattering free foot position.

Yeah, maybe. We both wear Jackson Proflex boots, so pointing the toe isn't too hard, though she did mention mine wasn't pointing down a couple of lessons ago.

My coach tends to give me things in increments though, so maybe she wants me to focus on the pointing down to begin with, to make sure I do that, and then will introduce the turn out. 5 weeks to test day, & counting so anything extra she's gonna add needs to come pretty soon.

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Katz

Saved by Synchro!
I was over it, now I'm into it again !

heh heh...me too. I failed the Canasta Tango and the Rhythm Blues the first time (and the Cha Cha, too). I lost the count on the CT and RB, and that was it.

So, my advice is: don't lose count. Find out what cut of music will be played at the test and practice to it - a lot. If you go off time - even if you have beautiful edges and extension and expression - you won't pass.

No, not at all.

Practice to the music. Practice to the music. Practice to the music a LOT. With your partner and without her/him. Practice the partnering as much as humanly possible.

For me, with the dances, the hardest part is doing them to the music, and with the partner.

You will be tense on test day, and your legs will feel stiff. Remember to breathe, and to bend your knees.

And I always remind myself that each dance takes, like, 50 seconds to test. It's over before you know it. One way or the other, it's done in a flash. That seems to make me feel better just before the test.