Getting into ice dance..

[xofivebyfive]

I really think that I would enjoy doing ice dance. I find the steps sequences and turns and the moves that my coach shows me to be much more enchanting than the jumps that I can do. Don't get me wrong, I love jumping and spinning, and freestyle skating in general, and I would want to continue doing that. Is there a way I can start learning dance as well as keeping up with my freestyle things? And how do I get into dance? Should I just mention to my coach(who has repeatedly told me that I would do amazing with dance) that I am interested? And(sorry) can anyone give me a little more information about this discipline? Thanks for your time.

[Skatinglover]

Where I skate, almost everybody is freeskating and doing dance (me included) dance is a sequence of steps (I'm sorry, I can't tell you the name I only know it in french...) and you have to follow a music... What would be the best for you to start the dance is asking your coach when you could so it and all the imformations you need...
I don't if you will like dance, but it is certainly a good idea to do some... I also like to jump but i like the dance too...
I hope that helped you!!!

[icedancer2]

Well, since your coach has said that you would be amazing at dance, you should probably just tell her and she will start to teach you the dances, steps, etc. If she is really a good coach eventually she will find someone to skate with you for tests, etc., (if you are interested) - and she can also skate with you.

Dance is great -- when I was younger, most of the people at my club did dance as well as freestyle and figures -- we had World Champion freestyle skaters who also had their Gold medal in dance, and when you see the skating, you can see the dance influence.

Besides it's something that you can always do throughout your life.

Have fun doing dance!:)

[TreSk8sAZ]

Ice dance consists of various parts. When you first begin, you learn compulsory dances. These dances have perscribed steps that go with a certain timing of music. These dances encompass different genres, such as waltz, tango, blues, quickstep, etc. You are judged on how well you complete the edges according to the pattern, tempo, rhythm, expression, etc. The dances range in the US range from Preliminary - Gold, then International dances. Usually there are 3 dances at each level. People normally test these with a partner, generally a coach. However, there is also a solo track if you are unable to find a partner.

Original Dances are something like the short program in singles. There are prescribed moves that you must complete, and you are given a genre (or three) in which you choose your music. For example, you could be given a "Latin" combo, meaning you choose two or three rhythms from Tango, Rhumba, Salsa, etc. This is seen at competitions once you get to the higher levels, with a partner.

Free Dances are like the long program in singles. You choose the music and the steps, but there are general requirements/guidelines for the program. You test these with a partner to move up in levels if you want to compete, but you don't have to take any if you don't want to. It does not affect your ability to take compulsory dance tests.

Most of the people around my area do both singles and ice dance. Only when you get up into the Novice or higher ranks do you see people giving up singles to dance. It's a lot of fun, and really improves your overall skating. I would say mention to your coach you'd like to try ice dancing and see what they say, especially since they've said something about it before. You may have known most of it before, but I hope this was somewhat helpful!

Good luck!

[Morgail]

I love dance too (even though I cannot keep rhythm very well!). Just mention to your coach that you'd like to learn...she'll probably be thrilled. My coach wanted me to do dance to improve my freestyle skating. I'm doing solo dance on purpose to learn good edges and turns and posture, etc. on my own. And of course you can do dance with a partner (if you can find one).
I'm testing the first 3 dances in March (dutch waltz, canasta tango, and rhythm blues).
I think you can compete in the compulsory dances too...solo or with a partner.
I have started taking an hour lesson per week though - that was the only way I could fit in time to learn dance with freestyle and moves in the field.

(and, this is completely off-topic, but your screen name always reminds me of the Faith character on Buffy!)

[xofivebyfive]

(and, this is completely off-topic, but your screen name always reminds me of the Faith character on Buffy!)
Exactly. :D :bow:

Thanks for all the information!

[cassarilda]

Like the others said, ask your coach. If she isnt an ice dance coach, which by the sounds of it, she might be since she was raving about it ;) then she should be able to put you in contact with someone who is.

About partners, I would suggest trying learning a few dances first, maybe even the first two tests, with your coach, and then if you still are interested, look for a partner then, unless you stumble across someone suitable. Only reason I say to hold off is that having a partner is a BIG committment, and its never good if one person is more committed than the other and they end up splitting because of differences in goals. I understand solo ice dance is popular in America, possibly cos of the lack of boys I guess, so thats another option, but dance with a partner will give you greater control and precision, it is different from solo, but thats another avenue for you.

Additionally, when looking for a partner, there are a number of sites where you can put up details, or search for someone who could be a potential ice dance partner. I also believe ice-dance.com hold annual dance partner tryouts. www.ice-dance.com

Best of luck :)

[sunjoy]

Does learning Dance help with coming up with footwork sequences, or in general just recreationally skating to music?

Just curious. I want to take a bit of a break from weekly skating lessons (but not skating) before getting back into it when the USFSA membership re-ups in July (I need to switch clubs in order to not pay an extra $40 per test). I'm not quite pre-bronze so I'm just starting, but I'd guess that my edges and turns are good enough to start learning dance.

I rather enjoyed learning the pre-bronze MIF, and skating them to rink music was occasionally *really fun*.

[cassarilda]

I'm not quite pre-bronze so I'm just starting, but I'd guess that my edges and turns are good enough to start learning dance.


If it makes your decision any earlier, I was learning ice dance dances before I could skate :lol: And Im serious (Ice dancer husband ;) )... and learning ice dance from early on will definately help your edges and turns.

[Mrs Redboots]

If it makes your decision any earlier, I was learning ice dance dances before I could skate :lol: And Im serious (Ice dancer husband ;) )... and learning ice dance from early on will definately help your edges and turns.And your posture, and your extension......

I do think it's important to take lessons in both disciplines at first, even if you decide later to specialise. I am fairly sure that free skating teaches speed across the ice and confidence, and dance teaches edges, posture and extension!

I wasn't able to learn free skating - when I started learning, my then coach reckoned that adults danced, and didn't jump and spin. That wasn't actually true, even then, but there was nothing like the amount of adult free skating there is now, and the then learn-to-skate tests didn't cover such esoterica as jumps, or even anything more difficult than an inside Mohawk or outside 3-turn. Sigh....