"Figure skating" is a very broad term for a variety of disciplines within the sport. This page aims to explain the disciplines skaters can choose from, those which are currently supported by the club and the competitive tracks and opportunities within each discipline. The following are the skating disciplines that the club currently supports through coaching and competitive opportunities.
Singles Freestyle
Singles Freestyle is the discipline in figure skating that most spectators are familiar with. In free skating, or "Singles Freestyle" skating, a competitive skater performs a program that lasts anywhere from 1 to 4-1/2 minutes, is composed of elements such as jumps and spins, skated to music. Members also compete in "Showcase."
Ice Dance (Solo, Partnered, Line and Shadow)
Note: Ice dance is one of the skating disciplines where age is no barrier. Many adults and senior adults nationwide enjoy this discipline for both its athletic value and its social aspects. Additionally, many skaters ice dance as a supplement to the freestyle discipline to improve footwork and artistry in their sport.
Paired ice dance features a male and female skating togeether, hand in hand, in unison, but instead of performing jump and spin elements the team completes difficult dance patterns, step sequences and maneuvers while showcasing exceptional interpretation of music and precise steps. With roots in ballroom dancing, ice dance requires strong technical skating skills and excellent musicality.
Ice dance competitions consist of two segments: a rhythm dance and a free dance. The rhythm dance features required elements, including lifts, step sequences and pre-determined dance patterns performed to a specific rhythm of music within a required tempo range. Each team will show off their technical skating ability and style as they try to earn the most points heading into the free dance.
The free dance, like the rhythm dance, features step sequences, lifts and a broad selection of difficult skating skills, but the team skates to a music and tempo of their choosing, with a goal of pulling off an entertaining, moving and inspiring performance that looks effortless despite its difficulty. Innovative choreography, timing and rhythm are paramount. After the second segment of competition, the scores from the rhythm dance and free dance are added together to determine overall placement.
Solo ice dancing is identical to paired ice dancing except that a single person does the dance patterns/steps. Line ice dancing is more like the ice dancing shows you attend for entertainment. Shadow dancing is like paired ice dancing except that the pair are not in contact and skate identical patterns and steps together. All these forms of ice dancing are getting VERY popular across the world right now as competitions introduce these categories.