Pre Gold Dance test changes

[sonora]

The USFSA Dance Committee has been busy! In addition to the proposal to eliminate the solo requirement for the pre silvers, the Pre Gold and International dance tests are also up for changes.

The proposal is that the Starlight Waltz be moved to Pre Gold level, making a total of four dances to be passed to complete that level. The Midnight Blues would be added as an International Dance Test, and any distinction between Junior and Senior International dances will be eliminated.

Your comments?

[backspin]

Yikes!

I hadn't heard about this! when will it be voted on and/or when would the changes take effect? I'm just entering the pre-golds--don't want to do yet another one!! (although I do like the starlight & it is relatively easy next to the other internationals)

[sonora]

It is up for consideration at Governing Council this May. If it passes, it will probably take effect Sept. 1.

[CanAmSk8ter]

Ahhh! I don't like the Starlight, and I only know half of it! Guess I better start bugging my coach about teaching me the other half- our plan is for me to finish my Silver in August.

[vesperholly]

My coach taught me the Starlight a while back. He said it was basically a whole bunch of other dances put together. You start with some Swing Dance, change-edge, then the European, some inside mohawks, and you're done.

I liked it at the time and thought it was pretty easy, but I'm a waltz person. I'll have to ask my coach what he thinks before I vote at GC.

Jocelyn

[sonora]

I am wondering if there will be any discussion about the solo reqirement for the Starlight as a Pre Gold Dance. Like many of the Internationals, it is not really a solo friendly dance.

[what?meworry?]

sonora, you make a good point. the starlight is, as just about every gold tester i"ve talked to, much easier than the west. but this solo issue is a good point.

the efective revamping of our compulsory dances at several levels is necessary for the usa's successful participation internationally. as i understand it, international skating is more age-based and at the novice level more advanced that we are at this time. hence the changes at the novice level to include the kilian and the starlight (!) a previously designated junior international.

it is time to get in step with the international dance community, by age designations as well as dance criteria.

[Lee]

FWIW, the Starlight has been a Senior Silver (equiv to Pre-Gold) test for as long as BD has been skating...since at least 1989. However, there is no solo *requirement* although an evaluator may ask for a solo during any test (unless you're 35 or older!).

Midnight Blues has yet to be added to the Canadian test stream -- BD wishes it would be as she learned the steps a couple weeks ago and would love to be able to test it.

[tripletoe]

It seems they have nothing more pressing these days than simplify ice dance ! The Starlight waltz has been a silver level dance for some time in Europe, but getting rid of solos for pre-silver? How ridiculous!

It is one thing to try to encourage skaters to pursue ice dance; another thing completely to simplify the discipline. Most dances have already had the number of patterns reduced. Why eliminate solos?

If I had a nickel for every test I've seen that was great with a partner (who obviously knows how to do the dance), only to see a solo test that goes off time or shrinks to half size. What a terrible idea to get rid of solos for the pre-silvers. Although I suppose a lot more European Waltzes would pass......

Regardless, compulsories are an integral part of ice dance. To remove them from competition is ridiculous and so is eliminating solos for pre-silvers. If the USFSA Dance Committee wants to eliminate anything, the should propose that the original dance be eliminated. It isn't anything but a mini-freedance anyway.

Remember, compulsories show you who can skate; freedance shows you who can dance.

[what?meworry?]

i think this relates more to bringing the usa into aleignment with the international community in the competition arena. this past season, our novice international dancers did not have the same international level competition dances. i think there was only one in common?

soi think this isn't simplifying anything but in fact bringing our dancers into the same arena with regards to the specific dances competed at the novice level.

even though, our novice international dancers still did well this year even though they hadn't competed in the usa the dances they were required to compete internationally?