Ice Dance as a Craft

Stronger couples start and end elements to match the phrasing of the music.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · recall

Stronger couples use a variety of holds with more closed positions; weaker ones skate mostly side by side in open holds.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · recall

Placing elements repeatedly in the same areas of the ice is listed among the characteristics of weaker couples.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · applied

Weaker couples skate through the music rather than to it and perform choreography mechanically.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · recall

Stronger couples show a strong connection and intimacy, with meaningful eye contact with each other and the audience.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · recall

Weaker couples show shallow or flat edges, rely on simple crossovers and skate on two feet in limited directions.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · recall

Weaker skating appears laboured, loud and scratchy, lacking effortless glide; stronger skating is quiet.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · recall

The guide's focus runs from the music structure, through space, patterns and holds, to a complete, organic program.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · applied

Two-foot skating and shallow edges mark weaker couples; deep edges and quiet, effortless glide mark stronger ones.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · applied

C spreads its elements over the whole ice. A and D bunch them in one area, B uses only one end.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · applied

Ice dance is a discipline of figure skating that historically draws from ballroom dancing.

Source: Special Olympics Figure Skating Coaching Guide (2021) · recall

An ice dance team is two skaters, and Solo Ice Dance can be skated by one woman or one man.

Source: Special Olympics Figure Skating Coaching Guide (2021) · recall

Judges must not compensate technical errors with presentation quality; GOE and components are marked independently.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · recall

The guide asks judges to assess the complete element, not only one highlight.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · recall

Judges evaluate quality, not reputation, and must not hesitate to reward or mark down any couple.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · recall

Both partners demonstrate equal skating ability; unequal skating is a sign of weaker couples.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · recall

Judges reward quality, precision and effortless skating, and positive features must outweigh negative ones.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · recall

The guide's quick reference: Set Criteria, then quality, then positive against negative, then adjustments, then the final GOE.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · applied

The practical guides run Composition, Presentation, then Skating Skills.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · applied

B spends most of its program in closed holds. A, C and D are mostly open, the mark of weaker couples.

Source: ISU Ice Dance Handbook for Referees & Judges 2026/27 · applied