Short dance
Encyclopedia
The short dance is a segment of an ice dancing
competition. It was approved by the June 2010 International Skating Union
congress and instituted beginning in the 2010–2011 figure skating season
. It merges the original dance
(OD) and compulsory dance
(CD), which were both discontinued.
), and the previous rules of the original dance
, i.e. requiring a set rhythm but allowing choreographic freedom within the constraints of required elements. In addition to skating two patterns, dancers also must include a step sequence, a set of twizzles, and a lift. Competitors are allowed to choose their own music, so long as it fits the required rhythm/theme.
With this change, ice dancing was shortened to two segments per competition: the short dance and the free dance
. This mirrored the short program and free skating
segments of single skating
and pair skating
.
Limited spectator interest in compulsory dances, as well as the other three skating disciplines being composed of only two segments, resulted in pressure from the IOC
to eliminate the compulsories. However, many in the ice dancing community were opposed to completely eliminating them, seeing them as an essential technical basis and point of comparison, so the short dance was created as a compromise.
The first short dance in international competition was skated by American junior ice dancers Anastasia Cannuscio
and Colin McManus
, at the 2010 Junior Grand Prix Courchevel
.
As of May 2011, Canadians Tessa Virtue
and Scott Moir
have received the highest score for a short dance, earning 74.29 at the 2011 World Figure Skating Championships
.
.
Senior-level ice dancers will skate two sequences of the Rhumba. They can be placed anywhere in the program and do not need to be skated one after another. Skaters are allowed to choose one to three rhythms from: Cha Cha, Rhumba, Samba, Mambo, Merengue. The range of tempo is 43 to 45 measures of four beats per minute (172-180 beats per minute) and must be constant.
Junior-level skaters will perform two sequences of the Cha Cha Congelado. They may be skated anywhere in the program but must be one after the other. The pattern dance must be skated on the Cha Cha rhythm, with the range of tempo from 28 to 30 measures of four beats per minute (112-120 beats per minute). The tempo must be constant.
Sequences must be performed in strict time to the music and step #1 of each sequence must be on a different side of the ice surface. Required elements include:
One transitional dance lift (up to 6 seconds) and a dance spin are permitted as part of choreography but not required. The ISU stated: "The concept and choreography must produce the feeling of a unified dance." Dancers are allowed a maximum of two full stops, not exceeding 5 seconds each, or one full stop, not exceeding 10 seconds. A separation may not be more than two arms length apart.
Ice dancing
Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....
competition. It was approved by the June 2010 International Skating Union
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...
congress and instituted beginning in the 2010–2011 figure skating season
2010–2011 figure skating season
The 2010–2011 figure skating season began on July 1, 2010, and ended on June 30, 2011. During this season, elite skaters competed on the ISU Championship level at the 2011 European, Four Continents, World Junior, and World Championships...
. It merges the original dance
Original dance
The original dance was a segment of an ice dancing competition. It was usually the second of three programs, sandwiched between the compulsory dances and the free dance. Until 1994, it was known as the original set pattern dance...
(OD) and compulsory dance
Compulsory dances
Compulsory dances, now called pattern dance in ice dancing, are a part of ice dancing and artistic roller skating in which all the couples perform the same standardized steps and holds to music of a specified tempo. One or more compulsory dances were usually skated as the first phase of ice dancing...
(CD), which were both discontinued.
Overview
The short dance merges the set pattern of a compulsory dance (renamed at the same time of this ruling to the pattern danceCompulsory dances
Compulsory dances, now called pattern dance in ice dancing, are a part of ice dancing and artistic roller skating in which all the couples perform the same standardized steps and holds to music of a specified tempo. One or more compulsory dances were usually skated as the first phase of ice dancing...
), and the previous rules of the original dance
Original dance
The original dance was a segment of an ice dancing competition. It was usually the second of three programs, sandwiched between the compulsory dances and the free dance. Until 1994, it was known as the original set pattern dance...
, i.e. requiring a set rhythm but allowing choreographic freedom within the constraints of required elements. In addition to skating two patterns, dancers also must include a step sequence, a set of twizzles, and a lift. Competitors are allowed to choose their own music, so long as it fits the required rhythm/theme.
With this change, ice dancing was shortened to two segments per competition: the short dance and the free dance
Free dance
Free dance is a 20th century dance form that preceded modern dance. Rebelling against the rigid constraints of classical ballet, Loie Fuller, Isadora Duncan and Ruth St. Denis developed their own styles of free dance and laid the foundations of American modern dance with their choreography and...
. This mirrored the short program and free skating
Free skating
The free skating competition of figure skating, sometimes called the "free skate" or "long program", is usually the second of two phases in major figure skating competitions in single skating and pair skating. It is the longer of the two programs, the other one being the Short Program...
segments of single skating
Single skating
Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...
and pair skating
Pair skating
Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...
.
Limited spectator interest in compulsory dances, as well as the other three skating disciplines being composed of only two segments, resulted in pressure from the IOC
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
to eliminate the compulsories. However, many in the ice dancing community were opposed to completely eliminating them, seeing them as an essential technical basis and point of comparison, so the short dance was created as a compromise.
The first short dance in international competition was skated by American junior ice dancers Anastasia Cannuscio
Anastasia Cannuscio
Anastasia Cannuscio is an American ice dancer who competes with Colin McManus. They are the 2011 U.S. Junior bronze medalists.- Career :...
and Colin McManus
Colin McManus
Colin McManus is an American ice dancer who competes with Anastasia Cannuscio. They are the 2011 U.S. Junior bronze medalists.- Career :...
, at the 2010 Junior Grand Prix Courchevel
2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix
The 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the fourteenth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the 2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level...
.
As of May 2011, Canadians Tessa Virtue
Tessa Virtue
Tessa Virtue is a Canadian ice dancer who competes with Scott Moir. Virtue and Moir are the 2010 Olympic champions, the 2010 World Champions, the 2008 Four Continents Champions, the 2006 World Junior Champions and the 2008–2010 Canadian national champions.At the 2009 Skate Canada competition, they...
and Scott Moir
Scott Moir
Scott Moir is a Canadian ice dancer. He ice dances with Tessa Virtue. Moir and Virtue are the 2010 Olympic champions, the 2010 World Champions, the 2008 Four Continents Champions, the 2006 World Junior Champions and the 2008–2010 Canadian national champions.They were the first ice dance team to...
have received the highest score for a short dance, earning 74.29 at the 2011 World Figure Skating Championships
2011 World Figure Skating Championships
The 2011 World Figure Skating Championships are the World Figure Skating Championships for the 2010–2011 season. They are an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
.
Senior-level
| Season | Required pattern dance | Rhythms |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–2011 | Golden Waltz | One or two of: Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, or Tango |
| 2011–2012 | Rhumba | One to three of: Cha Cha, Rhumba, Samba, Mambo, Merengue |
Junior-level
| Season | Required pattern dance | Rhythms |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–2011 | Viennese Waltz | Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, or Tango |
| 2011–2012 | Cha Cha Congelado | Cha Cha or Cha Cha + one of Rhumba, Samba, Mambo, Merengue |
2011–2012 season
In April 2011, the ISU published the rules for the 2011–2012 season2011–2012 figure skating season
The 2011–2012 figure skating season begins on July 1, 2011, and ends on June 30, 2012. During this season, elite skaters will compete on the ISU Championship level at the 2012 European, Four Continents, World Junior, and World Championships...
.
Senior-level ice dancers will skate two sequences of the Rhumba. They can be placed anywhere in the program and do not need to be skated one after another. Skaters are allowed to choose one to three rhythms from: Cha Cha, Rhumba, Samba, Mambo, Merengue. The range of tempo is 43 to 45 measures of four beats per minute (172-180 beats per minute) and must be constant.
Junior-level skaters will perform two sequences of the Cha Cha Congelado. They may be skated anywhere in the program but must be one after the other. The pattern dance must be skated on the Cha Cha rhythm, with the range of tempo from 28 to 30 measures of four beats per minute (112-120 beats per minute). The tempo must be constant.
Sequences must be performed in strict time to the music and step #1 of each sequence must be on a different side of the ice surface. Required elements include:
- short lift
- not touching circular step sequence (senior); not touching midline step sequence (junior)
- one set of sequential twizzles
One transitional dance lift (up to 6 seconds) and a dance spin are permitted as part of choreography but not required. The ISU stated: "The concept and choreography must produce the feeling of a unified dance." Dancers are allowed a maximum of two full stops, not exceeding 5 seconds each, or one full stop, not exceeding 10 seconds. A separation may not be more than two arms length apart.