ISU Communication 2560: Ice Dance Requirements for Technical Rules Season 2023-24

The ISU has published Communication 2560: Ice Dance Requirements for Technical Rules Season 2023-24.

Summary of notable changes:

Rhythm Dance:

• Theme (senior and junior): Music from the 1980s (must be originally released in that decade)

• Junior Pattern Dance: Two sequences of Rocker Foxtrot in any order, can be skated one after the other or separately. In the first sequence, the man skates the man’s steps and the woman skates the woman’s steps. In the second sequence, the woman skates the man’s steps and the man skates the woman’s steps.

• Senior Choreographic Rhythm Sequence: Silver Samba, steps #9, 9a, 9b to #47. Woman’s/man’s steps may be performed by either one partner or both partners, “provided there is continuity of prescribed steps always performed by at least 1 partner”. Tempo at least 100 beats/min, no restriction in number of beats per step. Partners must be in contact, but any holds are permitted. (Note: This element is still evaluated as a choreographic element, not a pattern dance with levels.)

Free Dance:

• Choreographic Hydroblading Movement added as a new option for choreographic elements. Both partners would perform the hydroblading movement at the same time. If any part of the body besides the boot of the free leg touches the ice, the element may be considered a Choreographic Sliding Movement instead.

• Choreographic Character Step Sequence: Skaters may now perform this sequence in various patterns instead of only along the short axis of the rink. The pattern for the ChSt must be different from the pattern of the other step sequence in the free dance.

  • Diagonal (corner to corner)

  • Long axis

  • Short axis

  • Circular (starting and ending at the long barrier at the short axis)

2022-23 Ice Dance Scale of Values, Singles & Pairs Level & GOE Guidelines

Communication 2473: Ice Dance Scale of Values, Season 2022-23

Notable changes:

• Increase base values of all dance lifts

• Increase base values of sequential twizzles in the RD

• Separate BVs for women and men for the Step Sequence in Hold/Not Touching (total BV is sum of woman’s and man’s BV)

• Add Choreographic Assisted Jumps (ChAJ1) with BV of 1.10, max GOE of +4.15 and min GOE of -1.10

• Add Choreographic Rhythm Sequence (ChRS1) with BV of 2.00, max GOE of 7.50 and min GOE of -2.00

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Communication 2474: Levels of Difficulty and Guidelines for marking Grade of Execution and Program Components, Season 2022-23

Notable changes to level guidelines:

Step sequences (singles): “Two combinations of 3 difficult turns on different feet executed with continuous flow within the sequence. Only one difficult turn may be repeated in the two combinations.”

Step sequences (pairs): “Two different combinations of 3 difficult turns: One of the combinations must be executed in a hold. Only the first two combinations can be counted.”

Spins (singles): “Difficult exit” added as level feature. “Difficult entrance and Difficult exit are two different features. To get credit for both features they must be executed in two different spins and the movements must be of different nature.”

Solo spins (pairs): “Difficult entrance and/or difficult exit: Only one of them can be accepted as a level feature in the solo spin.”

Pair spins (pairs): “Lifting the woman while the man is on 1 foot is a level feature when executed for at least 2 revolutions.”

Pair lifts (pairs): “No carry is considered as a feature for Juniors. A difficult carry will be awarded for Seniors in Free Skating. Inside Axel take-off is no longer awarded as a difficult take-off in 5ALi or 5SLi. Group 4 Lift can also start with a hand to arm grip to allow difficult variation of take-off. In lifts with one arm hold the second point of contact can only be given if it is not used for support. Difficult take-off must be executed before full extension of the arms.”

Jump sequences (singles & pairs) (pending ISU Congress decision): “A jump sequence consists of two or three jumps of any number of revolutions, in which the second and/or the third jump is an Axel type jump with a direct step from the landing curve of the first/second jump in to the take-off curve of the Axel jump. One full revolution on the ice between the jumps (free foot can touch the ice, but without weight transfer) keeps the element in the frame of the definition of a jump sequence. Jumps executed in a jump sequence receive their full value.”

Choreographic sequence (singles) (pending ISU Congress decision): “A Choreographic Sequence consists of at least two different movements like steps, turns, spirals, arabesques, spread eagles, Ina Bauers, hydroblading, any jumps with maximum of 2 revolutions, spins, etc.”

Notable changes to GOE guidelines:

Step sequences (singles & pairs): “Good ice coverage or interesting pattern” added as +GOE feature

Jumps (singles & pairs): “Changes of edge in between jump combo: The reduction in GOE is -1 to -2. Poor take-off: For example a toe-assisted jump is taken off from the full blade, Toe Loop is executed like a Toe Axel or there is excessive rotation on the ice at the take-off. The reduction in GOE is -1 to -3. Touch down of the free foot in between jumps: The reduction in GOE is -1 to -2.”

ISU Communication 2468: Ice Dance Requirements for Technical Rules 2022-23

The ISU has published the technical rules for ice dance for the 2022-2023 season. (Source)

Summary of notable changes below.

Rhythm Dance:

Senior:

• Pattern: No Pattern, instead requirements include:

  • Pattern Dance Type Step Sequence (PSt): In hold, two different difficult turns each from each partner, (new) evaluated as one unit with combined level for both partners

  • (new) Choreographic Rhythm Sequence (ChRS): Evaluated as choreographic element

• Rhythm: Latin Dance Styles (At Least Two Different Dance Styles/Rhythms: Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Mambo, Cha Cha, Rhumba, Samba)

• Step sequence: Midline/diagonal, in hold, not touching or combination of both

  • Must be skated to different rhythm/style than pattern type step sequence

  • (new) Evaluated as one unit by adding the Base Values of the Woman Step Sequence Level and the Man Step Sequence Level and then applying the GOE

Junior:

• Pattern: Argentine Tango, 2 sections

• Rhythm: Tango plus at least one of the following: Paso Doble, Flamenco, Spanish Waltz, Fandango, Bolero, Jota, Sevillanas, Milonga

Free Dance:

Lifts: “The lifted partner’s pose or change of pose in the RD Short Lift must be different from the same type of Short Lift in the FD or part of the same type of lift in the Combo Lift. The repeated pose or change of pose performed in the same type of lift will be considered as a simple pose/change of pose for the FD.”

Step sequence in hold: “The Step Sequence is evaluated as one unit by adding the Base Values of the Woman Step Sequence Level and the Man Step Sequence Level and then applying the GOE.”

Choreographic elements: Choreographic Assisted Jumps added as another option for choreographic elements in the junior and senior free dance.

Choreographic Assisted Jumps: at least three assisted jumps performed in a row. The following requirements apply:

• At least three in a row (same or different)

• Cannot rotate more than 1 ½ rotations in each assisted jump by the assisting partner

• Less than three seconds off the ice for assisted partner

• No more than three (3) steps in between each assisted jump

• Either partner may do the assisted jumps

Music: “Any music of the same tempo/rhythm and expression should last no more than 75% of the program.”

2022 Winter Olympics: Ice Dance Individual Event Preview

The second individual figure skating event at the Beijing Olympics kicks off with the ice dance competition! Besides the gold medal favorites Papadakis/Cizeron, it’s anyone’s guess which teams will claim the other spots on the podium, and in which order. Ice is slippery, and placements could be decided by the slimmest of margins in ice dance, where skaters chase high levels and Grades of Execution in their fight for the podium.

See also: 2022 Winter Olympics Info & Streaming for how to watch!

Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron (France)

• Age: 26/27

• ISU Season’s Best Scores: RD - 89.08, FD - 132.61, Total - 221.25

• ISU Personal Best Scores: RD - 90.03, FD - 136.58, Total - 226.61

• Programs: RD - John Legend Medley; FD - Elegie

Coming in as the gold medal favorites, Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron have won every title there is to win in ice dance with the exception of the Olympic gold medal. Losing to Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir in 2018 only seemed to light a fire under them as they approached ice dance with new fervor, trying new techniques and styles over the last four years, such as a free dance to spoken word. Although they missed the entire 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they came back strong in the Olympic season, winning every competition they entered so far.

This season, for the street dance-themed rhythm dance, Papadakis and Cizeron have opted to create a program inspired by Waacking, a 1970s underground gay club style. In their free program, they’ll return to what they’re best known for, lyrical and exquisite lines, with choreography set to French composer Gabriel Fauré’s L’élegie.

Papadakis and Cizeron are the current world record holders for the rhythm dance, free dance, and combined total scores.

Victoria Sinitsina / Nikita Katasalapov (ROC)

• Age: 26/30

• ISU Season’s Best Scores: RD - 87.89, FD - 130.07, Total - 217.96

• ISU Personal Best Scores: RD - 88.73, FD - 133.02, Total - 221.17

• Programs: RD - You Can Leave Your Hat On, Brick House; FD - Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninov, Caprice No. 24 by Paganini

Russia boasts some of the world's top ice dance teams, with Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov holding the current title of World Champions. Though Katsalapov has struggled with a back injury over the last few years, they remain sharp competitors, showcasing clean, elegant lines in their jazzy You Can Leave Your Hat On rhythm dance and their free dance to a classical Rachmaninov medley.

Although they appeared to be Papadakis/Cizeron’s main competitors heading into the Olympics, they placed behind both American teams in the Olympic Team Event just a week ago, setting up a very interesting fight for the podium.

Madison Hubbell / Zachary Donohue (USA)

• Age: 26/30

• ISU Season’s Best Scores: RD - 86.56, FD - 125.96, Total - 209.54

• ISU Personal Best Scores: RD - 86.56, FD - 128.66, Total - 214.71

• Programs: RD - Janet Jackson Medley, FD - Drowning

Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue have been skating together for over a decade, and came close to a taste of glory at the Pyeongchang Olympics, finishing in fourth place. Four years have given them time to polish and shine, and they have been one of the two leading American teams for the past Olympic cycle. Their strength lies in their speed and power across the ice, with some of the strongest basic skating in the field.

Their rhythm dance is set to a medley of Janet Jackson songs, with knee slides and sharp lines to match Jackson’s R&B and Hip Hop styles. Hubbell and Donohue will then switch gears with their gentle free dance set to singer-songwriter Anna Silas’ Drowning, a personal farewell to skating. The team plans to retire after this season.

Madison Chock / Evan Bates (USA)

• Age: 29/32

• ISU Season’s Best Scores: RD - 86.02, FD - 129.07, Total - 210.78

• ISU Personal Best Scores: RD - 86.02, FD - 129.07, Total - 213.18

• Programs: RD - Billie Eilish Medley, FD - Daft Punk Medley

Three-time Olympians Madison Chock and Evan Bates are looking for a strong podium finish after facing two challenging Olympic attempts. Having traded US National titles back and forth with training mates Hubbell and Donohue over the last four years, they’ll be looking to cement their spot as the top American ice dance team—not an easy feat in a deep field of dancers.

Chock and Bates are engaging performers with often conceptual programs. In the rhythm dance, they’ll be skating to a medley of hit-singer Billie Eilish’s songs, while showcasing their storytelling capabilities in the free dance with Contact, in which Bates plays an astronaut coming into contact with an alien (Chock) for the first time. They see it as a story of communication across boundaries, a recurring theme in Chock and Bates’ free dances.

Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier (Canada)

• Age: 30/30

• ISU Season’s Best Scores: RD - 85.65, FD - 125.62, Total - 210.97

• ISU Personal Best Scores: RD - 85.65, FD - 130.98, Total - 214.35

• Programs: RD - Elton John Medley, FD - The Long and Winding Road

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier easily take the crown of ice dance’s quirkiest team. Check out their ISU profiles, with hobbies listed such as “avoiding the knights who say Ni”, and “Monty Python horse riding”. They are certain to bring a smile to any audience watching. Gilles and Poirier are known for wildly unique and innovative programs over the years, although their programs for the Olympic season are slightly more traditional, by their standards. They will skate to a vibrant Elton John medley in the rhythm dance, and a Long and Winding Road Beatles tribute in the free dance.

For them, it’s all about the emotional connection to the music, so let yourself be taken along for the ride — it’s certainly been a long and winding road for them as they arrive at their second Olympic games, but for the first time, as Canada’s top ice dance team. Coming into the competition as World bronze medalists, they have an outside shot at the Olympic podium.

Alexandra Stepanova / Ivan Bukin (ROC)

• Age: 26/28

• ISU Season’s Best Scores: RD - 86.45, FD - 126.75, Total - 213.20

• ISU Personal Best Scores: RD - 86.45, FD - 127.64, Total - 213.20

• Programs: RD - Backstreet Boys, Shawn Mendes/Justin Bieber Medley, FD - A Time for Us, Romeo and Juliet

Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin have been chasing the heels of Sinitsina/Katsalapov for the last few years. They come into their first Olympics as reigning European silver medalists. Watch for their fire as they attack their Everybody/Monster rhythm dance with sharp accuracy, then switch gears entirely for the free dance with a soft and tender skate inspired by Romeo and Juliet’s A Time for Us.

Laurence Fournier-Beaudry / Nikolaj Sørensen (Canada)

• Age: 29/32

• ISU Season’s Best Scores: RD - 77.38, FD - 117.29, Total - 194.67

• ISU Personal Best Scores: RD - 81.16, FD - 119.84, Total - 210.00

• Programs: RD - George Michael Medley, FD - Gladiator

Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Nikolaj originally competed together under the Danish flag, however, Denmark’s strict citizenship laws meant that Fournier-Beaudry was unable to obtain citizenship in time for the Pyeongchang Olympics. Citizenship troubles followed them to Canada, but Sørenson finally took his oath in the fall of 2021, clearing the path for these two skaters to bring their beautiful skating to Beijing. 

They’ll be skating to Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard’s Gladiator score in the free dance, a testament to all of the challenges they’ve overcome to arrive on the Olympic stage. Keep an eye out for their interesting lift positions.

Charlène Guignard / Marco Fabbri (Italy)

• Age: 32/34

• ISU Season’s Best Scores: RD - 83.83, FD - 126.10, Total - 208.88

• ISU Personal Best Scores: RD - 84.66, FD - 126.10, Total - 208.88

• Programs: RD - Michael Jackson Medley, FD - Atonement, Little Sparrow

Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri are competing at their third Olympics, with a fun and upbeat Michael Jackson medley for their rhythm dance. Watch for their elegant transitions between elements — they really know how to maintain their speed and ice coverage. 

In the free program, they’ll skate to a program inspired by Ian McEwan’s Atonement — we’re hoping to see Guignard with her stunning lines decked out in that classic emerald green dress, but we’ll have to wait until the free dance to see for sure. 

Olivia Smart / Adrian Diaz (Spain)

• Age: 24/31

• ISU Season’s Best Scores: RD - 78.53, FD - 118.87, Total - 196.86

• ISU Personal Best Scores: RD - 78.53, FD - 118.87, Total - 196.86

• Programs: RD - Proud Mary, FD - The Mask of Zorro

After a grueling season-long competition for Spain’s lone Olympic ice dance spot, Smart and Diaz finally find themselves on the Olympic stage for the first time as a team. They’ll be skating to the fierce and fiery Proud Mary by Tina Turner in the rhythm dance. Their free dance is a fun and engaging program set to the Mask of Zorro soundtrack, complete with the sound effects of swordplay on ice.

We ran out of room to include more, but make sure you also keep an eye out for these teams!

Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (GBR), Kaitlin Hawayek/Jean Luc Baker (USA), Marjorie Lajoie/Zachary Lagha (CAN), Shiyue Wang/Xinyu Liu (CHN)

2018-19 ISU Technical Panel Handbooks

Technical panel handbooks for the new season have been posted on the ISU website. The latest documents available are listed here and on our Introduction to Skating page. Note that our intro guides have not yet been updated with the new rules; we will update them as soon as possible once new protocols are available.

Singles & pairs skating:

• 2018-19 Technical Panel Handbook for Singles

• 2018-19 Technical Panel Handbook for Pairs

• 2018-19 Scale of Values, Level and GOE Guidelines

• More info

Ice dance:

• 2018-19 Technical Panel Handbook

• Grade of Execution of Required Elements (2018)

• Grade of Execution of Pattern Dances (2018)

• 2018-19 Scale of Values

• Deductions (2018)

• More info

The ISU Development Project Youtube channel has posted a video explaining the new +/-5 Grade of Execution scale for ice dance, including examples.