ROLLER DANCE SKATING MANUAL COUPLES - 2013- Published by NZFRS Artistic Sports Body Committee FINAL – 2/4/013 INDEX PAGE PAGE 4 INTRODUCTION 8 Chasses Optional Steps 8 NOTES ON DANCE DIAGRAMS Introductory Steps PATTERNS Edge Descriptions 9 Border Dance 4 GENERAL REGULATIONS Set Pattern International Style Preferred Pattern 5 Awarding Marks Circular & Eight Form Tips on Skate Dancing STEP IDENTIFICATION DEFINITIONS MUSIC Timing 10 LOBES Expression LOBE AIM Unison AXIS OF SKATE DANCING 6 Form 11-12 LIMITATIONS Accuracy DANCE POSITIONS Placement 13-20 DANCE POSITIONS –DIAGRAMS Introductory Steps 20 DANCE ABBREVIATIONS Starting Steps 21 BRIEF GLOSSARY Rhythm 189 FREE DANCE GUIDELINES Tempo 194 ORIGINAL DANCE 6 TWO FOOT TURNS 197 NOTES ON RHYTHMS Mohawks 205 GLOSSARY OF SKATING TERMS 7 Choctaws DANCE DIAGRAMS – ALPHABETICAL ORDER 22 ACADEMY BLUES 83 FASCINATION FOXTROT 25 ADAMS 85 FIESTA TANGO 28 ARGENTINE TANGO 87 FLIRTATION WALTZ 32 ASSOCIATION WALTZ 91 FOURTEEN STEP 35 BALANCIAGA 93 GLIDE WALTZ 37 BORDER BLUES 96 HARRIS TANGO 39 BOUNCE BOOGIE 100 HIGHLAND SCHOTTISCHE 41 BRIGHT WALTZ 102 ICELAND TANGO 43 CANASTA TANGO 105 IMPERIAL TANGO 45 CARLOS TANGO 108 IMPERIAL WALTZ 48 CARROLL SWING 110 ITALIAN FOXTROT 50 CASINO MARCH 114 KEATS FOXTROT 52 CASINO TANGO 117 KILIAN 54 CASTEL MARCH 120 LA VISTA CHA CHA 57 CHA CHA 122 MARCH SEQUENCE 59 CHASE WALTZ 124 MIRROR WALTZ 61 CITY BLUES 126 MONTEREY TANGO 63 COLLEGIATE 128 OLYMPIC FOXTROT 66 CORONATION WALTZ 130 120 WALTZ 68 COUNTRY POLKA 133 PASO DOBLE 70 DELICADO 137 PLAIN SKATING TO MUSIC 72 DENCH BLUES 139 PRINCETON POLKA 74 DENVER SHUFFLE 141 PROGRESSIVE TANGO 77 DOUBLE CROSS WALTZ 143 QUICKSTEP 79 DUTCH WALTZ 146 RHYTHM BLUES 81 EUROPEAN WALTZ FINAL – 2/4/2013 2 148 ROCKER FOXTROT 168 TANGO DELANCO 151 SIESTA TANGO 173 TARA TANGO 153 SKATERS MARCH 175 TEN FOX 155 SOCIETY BLUES 178 TUDOR WALTZ 157 SOUTHLAND SWING 180 TWELVE STEP 159 STARLIGHT WALTZ 182 VIENNESE WALTZ 165 SWING FOXTROT 186 WESTMINSTER WALTZ FINAL – 2/4/2013 3 INTRODUCTION The committee wishes to thank the contributors to this NZFRS Official Roller Dance Manual. In doing so special mention must be made of the help extended by Roller Sports Australia with some of the dance diagrams, associated notes and illustrations . OPTIONAL STEPS Optional Steps are not used in New Zealand unless specifically directed by the NZFRS Artistic Committee. INTRODUCTORY STEPS Commonly called starting steps or opening steps CIPA international rule (8.02.01-03) 8.02.01 When a couple is announced for the compulsory dances, original dance and free dance the entrance must be no longer than fifteen (15) seconds. The exit of a compulsory dance or original dance must be no longer than fifteen (15) seconds. The penalty for each extra second will be 0.1 for compulsory dances and 0.1 from the “B” mark for OD / Free Dance. 8.02.02 Commonly called “starting” or “opening” steps, introductory steps for compulsory dances are optional as to the construction and are not judged except as outlined in DS 8.02.02. 8.02.03 The number of beats to be used for all compulsory dances must not exceed 24 beats of music. The timing will begin with the first movement of the skater/skaters. A movement is defined as any movement of the arm, head, leg or foot. 4 beats maximum is to be used for opening steps in compulsory dances. Timing starts with the first movement of the skater/s. A movement is defined as a movement of the arm, leg, head or foot. The penalty for each extra beat will be 0.1 EDGE DESCRIPTIONS As dance diagrams and notes have been collected from a number of sources, both the International as well as the Alternative American/Australian descriptions have been used. A listing of the International edge descriptions with their alternatives will be found later in this manual GENERAL REGULATIONS Dances should be skated in the INTERNATIONAL STYLE with careful attention being given to the timing and the rhythm of the music. Couples should skate close together and execute all movements in unison with the steps of the dances being accurately skated. All edges and turns should be smooth and clean in order to preserve the symmetry of the dances. INTERNATIONAL STYLE Upright carriage NOT bent at the HIPS but without being stiff. Head held upright. All raising and lowering of the body being affected by straightening and bending the skating knee. All violent, angular or stiff movements to be avoided, the movement seeming to be executed with ease and grace. Also refer to “General Tips on Skate Dancing” below FINAL – 2/4/2013 4 AWARDING MARKS In awarding marks out of the scale of ten the judges shall consider the following: • The correct timing of the dance to the music • The accuracy with which the skaters follow the requirements of each dance. • The placement of steps in relation to the required pattern. • The style of the dance couples as shown by their carriage, form and unison. • The movement of the dances in rhythm with the music and the relation of this movement to the character of the music . GENERAL TIPS ON SKATE DANCING • Upright body, eyes up listen to the music don’t watch the floor • Track with partner where ever possible • Aim steps to the pattern of the dance • NEVER “sit” on the skate, stand up on it, stay on the middle part of the skate, and keep off the heel. Bend at the skating knee • Remember that the balance is between partners; do nothing to upset this relationship and balance by unnecessarily moving the body above the waist. Keep the head, shoulders and hips over the skate. • Leading arms must not go limp, not higher than the shoulders not lower than the waist, firm yet relaxed. • Watch that takeoffs are close. There should not be a large gap as feet come together for the new step. This is the “AND” position. • Wherever rotation is called for make sure that both partners are assisting. Basic rotation of the body should be completed prior to the actual turn. Get to the position you want the body to be after the turn, before you do the turn. Never block a partners’ rotation. DEFINITIONS TIMING: The proper relationship of the steps and other body movements, in keeping to the music. The skaters shall co-ordinate their body movements such as rotation, knee bending, free leg swings etc., with the music so that each stroke is completed smoothly and the transfer to the new skating foot or turn is made without pause or rush. EXPRESSION: The team's movement and presentation, interprets the character of the music so that an audience is aware of the type of music being portrayed by the team. Use of rapid or slow changes in dance motion is one way of expression. Free leg swings can be used to advantage. For example, in a Tango, the skaters may delay the movement of the free leg slightly. Expression makes the difference between a mechanical and an artistic performance. UNISON: With respect to dancers as a team, unison involves mutual co-ordination of body movements and position. For example, body movements such as leg swings and knee bends shall be equalised. Partners shall remain close without apparent effort and their shoulders shall be parallel in the closed positions. In order to remain close while bending knees in the closed position, partners should track one another at the instant of starting the step. The ability of a man to lead without obvious movement and the lady to follow smoothly is an important part of unison. FINAL – 2/4/2013 5 FORM: The carriage of the dancers in so far as it improves their appearance is form. This includes relaxed, upright carriage, erect head (not looking down or up and in line with the body), free hip turned out, soft skating knee, extended and pointed toes, firm leading arm, close take-offs with neat footwork and easy flowing body movements. Wide stepping is a common fault, which is judged in this category. ACCURACY: The ability of the team to demonstrate that they can skate the correct sequence and length of edges, change of edges, and turns. Such faults as flats, incorrect execution of Mohawks, lack of quality of edge (inconsistent or wobbly edges) and poor or jumpy turns are common mistakes in this category. PLACEMENT: The correct skating of the prescribed pattern or, in optional pattern dance, the adherence to the plan of the dance. In both cases, placement covers the intelligent location of the steps within the skating area so as to use the available surface geometrically. Such areas as direction of take-offs, lobe construction and ability to repeat the pattern skated on successive rounds are judged in this category. A pattern, as skated, is not the end in itself but rather the result of good accuracy. Patterns as drawn in rulebooks are guides, not photographic reproductions of actual skating. STARTING STEP: The actual starting step is -Step No. 1 (or optional noted steps) of the dance after the introductory steps. RHYTHM Rhythm is the regularly repeated long and short as well as strong and off beat notes which give the music its character. TEMPO Tempo is the speed of the music - specifically for skate dancing - measure or bars per minute and number of beats per measure or bar. TWO FOOT TURNS: MOHAWK: A two foot turn from forward to backward (or vice versa) from one foot to another on edges of the same character, i.e. outside to outside or inside to inside, The following definitions are of forward Mohawks (those begun on a forward edge) CLOSED MOHAWK: A Mohawk where the freeleg is in front of the body after the turn completion.