The Five Disciplines of Skating

Skating includes five principle disciplines: individual skating, pairs skating, ice dancing, synchronized skating, and theater on ice. MEFSC members may participate in any of these disciplines, although MEFSC does not currently field a Theater on Ice team. Below you will find brief descriptions of each of the disciplines followed by graphic presentation of the levels for individual skating, pairs skating, ice dancing, and synchronized skating.

Individual Skating Those new to skating are probably most familiar with individual competition. In this discipline of skating, a skater performs jumps, spins, footwork, and other skating moves to music. Skaters must demonstrate athleticism, artistry and musicality in their performances. Skaters may compete in USFS competitions as well as ISI competitions at various levels, depending upon which competition is entered.

Pairs Skating Pairs skating is skating performed in unison by partners, with the addition of daring and difficult overhead lifts, throw jumps and spins. The key to pairs skating is exact timing and unison. Whether the partners are together or apart, their movements should be synchronized with matching body lines, gestures and footwork. Pairs skating begins at the pre-juvenile level and progresses through the senior level. Depending on the competitive level, a team might compete just a free skate or a free skate and a short program.

Ice Dancing Ice dancing is based on the different aspects of dance. The emphasis in ice dancing is on rhythm, interpretation of the music and precise steps. The strength of this discipline lies in its limitless creativity, choreography, its theatrical and innovative aspects, and as skating skills encompassing edging, position and power. Ice dancing competitions begin at the pre-juvenile level and progress through the senior level. Competitive ice dancing events consist of compulsory dances only, compulsory dances and a free dance, or a compulsory dance, original dance and a free dance, depending on the level. For adult skaters, ice dancing has its own adult/masters test track in compulsory dance and free dance tests. Adult dance competition has many events for the beginning to the advanced adult dancer. Synchronized skaters frequently incorporate ice dancing in their training, even if they choose not to compete in this discipline.

List of USFSA Compulsory Dances Preliminary Dutch Waltz Pre-Gold Canasta Tango Kilian Rhythm Blues Blues Paso Doble Pre-Bronze Swing Dance Gold Fiesta Tango Viennese Waltz Cha-Cha Westminster Waltz Quickstep Bronze Argentine Tango Hickory Hoedown Willow Waltz Jr. International Ten-fox Rhumba Starlight Waltz Pre-Silver Austrian Waltz Fourteen-step Cha cha Congelado European Waltz Foxtrot (Keats) Sr. International Yankee Polka Silver Ravensburger Waltz American Waltz Tango Romantica Rocker foxtrot Silver Samba Tango (Harris) Golden Waltz

Synchronized Skating Synchronized skating is a popular discipline both within U.S. Figure Skating and around the world. U.S. Figure Skating held the first U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in 1984 and also hosted the first World Synchronized Skating Championships in 2000. There are approximately 525 synchronized teams registered with U.S. Figure Skating, and nearly 5,000 athletes participate annually in the synchronized skating sectional championships. Synchronized skating is a team sport in which 8-20 skaters perform a program together. It uses the same judging system as singles, pairs and dance and is characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. As with the other disciplines, all teams perform a free skate with required well-balanced program elements. In addition, teams at the junior and senior level perform a short program consisting of required elements. Elements in synchronized skating include blocks, circles, wheels, lines, intersections, moves in the field, moves in isolation, no-hold step sequences, spins and pairs moves. The variety and difficulty of elements require that each team member is a highly skilled individual skater. The typical senior-level athlete has passed a senior or gold test in at least two disciplines. There are so many benefits to participating in a team sport, and synchronized skating is a great way for figure skaters to compete in a sport they love while enjoying all of the aspects of working with others in a team-oriented sport.

Theatre On Ice Theatre On Ice (TOI) is a form of competitive figure skating that is popular in Europe, where it is known as Ballet on Ice. It combines the grace of figure skating with the excitement of theater and dance. Teams consist of between eight and 30 skaters. Solo skating is discouraged, but is permitted in limited amounts if it enhances the overall telling of the program's story. The programs are judged by regular U.S. Figure Skating judges and are evaluated on technical merit and presentation with emphasis on originality, costuming, artistry and musicality. There are several TOI teams and TOI competitions around the country, and U.S. Figure Skating is making an effort to standardize and promote this discipline. Skaters, both competitive and noncompetitive, can learn and grow on a theatre team. Best of all, a team can draw club skaters together and increase club spirit.