Do you guys curtsey/bow? The lady I skated against did and I thought it was nice and we covered it briefly in my Artistry in MOtion class and then I forgot about it but I think I'm going to have my coach show me how today.

Do you judges like it or do you think it's pretentious?

J

It is totally appropriate (if wearing a skirt) and USED to be the appropriate salutation for a woman. It is a shame that it is disappearing.

I would courtesy except my routine is in pants.

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Dianne
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We have ballet at our rink, and we're taught how to do it in class. Our teacher has a "reverence" sequence that we do at the end. I pick the variation that goes best with my program, and use that as my bow. It's not a curtsey, but a pose with arm movements that recognize the judges/audience.

Yes.

It's part of the whole body-language thing - you need to go out there with your whole attitude saying "Hey, look at me, you are all so going to enjoy this!" even if you know your skating is totally pants and you've no chance of placing other than last!

There are skaters who go out there with their whole body-language just saying "Excuse me, so sorry, I'll be finished in a jiffy", and when they've finished, they creep off the ice looking utterly dejected, even if they skated great! This is so not what you want - when you've finished, even if you had the most appalling skate ever, you skate to the middle, acknowledge the judges (who aren't actually looking at you, as they're making notes, but it never hurts), then turn and acknowledge the audience. AND SMILE!!!!!

That's assuming the judges and audience are on opposite sides, of course - if they're all sitting in the same place, it's really important to acknowledge the audience, too, who are possibly, if not probably, applauding, cheering, ringing cowbells, letting off air-horns or even rubber chickens, throwing flowers, soap, chocolates, teddies and even underwear..... The more your body language says "Hey, wasn't that fun!" the more likely this is to happen.

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Mrs Redboots
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I always curtsy (spelling?) first to the judges and second to the audience. It is a way of thanking the judges for judging you and thanking the audience for supporting you!

Tara knows how to do that "I'm gonna skate so great! Just watch you're gonna love this!" thing so well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-XJbUQYJGg

ladies curtsey, men bow. Our kids often curtsey to their coach when finishing a lesson. I typically curtsey to the audience before I leave a practice session.
For my really little kids, I teach them to "thank the audience" after their program with a little smile and a wave. It gets them used to the idea that they are really being watched, and a connection with the audience.
For my pairs, I show them how to acknowlede their partner first, then the audience.

At an event, I acknowledge my partner first, then audience, and coach if he's there.

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And horses curtsey!



Sorry, TashaKat! JUST couldn't resist... (I hope you don't mind, Saffy. You look great in that pose!)

*ahem* back to our original post...

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Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

I often do it during practices for the heck of it Sometimes I do the ladies' way

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Anyone else noticed that ladies now curtsey and bring their arm up across their bodice? Methinks it is to keep long-lensed voyeurs from getting revealing photos.

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harder than it looks isn't it. I always wondered why the ladies don't curtsy and do a back pivot while they do to acknowledge the entire audience.
Lyle

Yea it is hard, I tried it today and I could not keep my balance and put the toe pick behind me, so we're gonna try just a little side toe pick and knee bend with arm sweep.

j

In many cases, you've just finished a spin, or something great at the end of your program, and it's time to get centered. I also didn't like the trend a while back of some of the pros having drawn out flourishing bows. For some there was more skating in their entrances and exits than the program!
When the program's over it's a time to thank your audience, and move on.

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A proper courtesy does NOT involve bending over. As any southern Belle knows, a courtesy is simply a knee-dip while dropping the gaze demurely in modesty and flaring the skirt with a hand at each side.

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Is there another explanation for why the ladies now do the seatbelt-arm pose during their non-antebellum curtseys? They certainly aren't using both hands to hold their skirts! It is relatively new, if you watch the Classic Skating on ESPN. I noticed the men have started doing it too, so I could be wrong about the reason. I'd really like to know.

Still, if there were a long-lensed camera high in the stands, the ladies don't have to bend over much to give away a cheesecake shot. (Especially in a low-cut dress.)

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Absoshmootly. The other women at my rink all bow when skating with dance buddy, but I am definitely a curtsey-er. And Dianne is right--it does not involve bending over at the waist. Knee dip, slight head bow (and the seatbelt arm if you wish), and that's it. It does take some balance and if I'm not paying attention I'll wobble.

I agree with Mrs. R that it needs to be done properly--not as if to say "oh, so sorry for burdening you with my presence." It's a way to thank the audience for their attention.

Awwwwwwwww, that is the most adorable beautiful picture!

I'm usually out of breath when I'm curtseying and getting undizzy, so it's about all I can muster to step to one side and curtesy, turn to the rest of the audience and curtsey again, and make my way of the ice.

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I think I try to remember to curtsey but sometimes I'm just so dazed after my program. Once I fell right after my ending pose and probably forgot to curtsey after that.

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Tidesong

Our children at the end of their academy groups curtsey/bow to the coach, then turn and do the same to the watching parents and are rewarded with a round of applause.

my daughter's coach has always taught her from the very first private lesson to courtsey. She courtsey's at the end of nearly every lesson, like a thank you

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I think curtseying is a very gracious gesture at the end of a program, but to be honest, as a judge, I don't actually see the skater performing that particular manuever! I do see if the skater "slinks off the ice" as someone else posted, or takes a bow. But I'm generally writing notes and trying to figure where that skater should be placed in the group and am thrilled to have the few seconds to do that. So as a judge, no, I don't see if you bend at the waist or miss your toe pick.. I might notice when the crowd does the "ohhhh" if you actually fall while curtseying though.

And I think the audience gives off a different vibe to a skater who takes the time to acknowledge the judges and audience, than one who has the "So sorry to have taken up your time" attitude. (Love that description). So I would say yes, curtseying/bowing is like the cherry on top of the sundae.. not required but that little extra finesse that may convince the audience you are happy with how you skated and that is reflected back to the skater and the judges.. and sometimes a skater who seems more confident becomes more confident. Also, you never know which judges are in the audience who will judge you again in the future... and they may remember even if you had a disastrous program how you were gracious at the end and that may be what sticks in their minds about you.

Oh, and one possible reason for the "seatbelt arm" is because most of our skating skirts really aren't long enough to grab a handful of fabric on each side and pull out of the way as is done in a REAL curtsey... and you have to do something with your arms... so that's much more graceful than what my coach refers to as "beginner skater arms" stretched out on either side of you.. .unless of course you have beautiful "ballet arms".

We had a seminar one year at the Mountain Cup on "Sharing the magic", and we were taught that with the curtsey, one should open up one's arms, as though we were sharing a huge bunch of flowers with the audience. I can't quite describe it, but huge.....

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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!

Mrs R. That's a great description. I usually sweep my arm and open hand to my partner, on my left, then out and across the audience, then curtsey.
I did have one coach tell me to bow to the audience first, then the judges as Thin-ice said, the judges will have their heads down right after the program.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

I haven't skated a program (yet) however this post got me thinking; you are judged for the duration of the program, ie a set length to which your music plays for. The bows/curtsey are for after the program - what about before? From the programs I have watched many simply skate out to the starting position (ladies sometimes do spirals) wouldn't it be great if you skated out and slid on your knees, Strictly Ballroom entrance style...

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Skate Free

Maybe on YOUR knees sweetie - NOT on mine!

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Dianne
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