This is an extra lesson for your curiosity. You will not be tested on this information.
Because all of my other lessons focus mainly on Singles skating, I wanted to talk about the other disciplines of Figure skating. Here's a reminder from Lesson 2:
Olympic disciplines:
Singles women - individual skaters perform jumps, spins, step sequences, spirals, and other elements in their programs.
Singles men - same as womens singles, except men are known for their more powerful quad jumps.
Pair skating - team of a man and a woman. They perform elements such as throw jumps, in which the man throws the woman into a jump; Lifts, in which the man lifts the woman above his head in various grips; and side-by-side jumps and spin combinations.
Ice Dancing - is a couple consisting of a man and a woman, but the focus is on intricate footwork and dancing in time with music. Lifts must not go above the man's shoulder.
Other disciplines:
Synchronized skating - mixed-gender groups of 12-20 skaters with emphasis on precise formations and complex transitions between formations.
Theatre on ice - Disney on Ice is probably the most famous. It is a form of group skating that utilizes props and theatrical costuming.
It is important to have good Singles skating skills first before venturing into these other disciplines. A local figure skating club will sometimes have someone on staff who can teach pairs, ice dance, or synchronized skating skills. But it is not guaranteed. It just depends how large and well-funded your local club is. Some clubs have a synchro team or theatre-on-ice team or no teams at all. Some cities have ice rinks and hockey, but no figure skating community. So it absolutely depends on where you live. You'll just have to ask to find out what is available and tell them what you are interested in learning.
Even if you find a coach who can teach Pairs skills, Pair skating is rare because most people cannot find a partner because male skaters are rare. It is also the most dangerous discipline of figure skating because of the over-the-head lifts and throw-jumps. Ice dancing is a lot safer because it doesn't include over-the-head lifts or throw-jumps.
Olympic disciplines:
Singles women - individual skaters perform jumps, spins, step sequences, spirals, and other elements in their programs.
Singles men - same as womens singles, except men are known for their more powerful quad jumps.
Pair skating - team of a man and a woman. They perform elements such as throw jumps, in which the man throws the woman into a jump; Lifts, in which the man lifts the woman above his head in various grips; and side-by-side jumps and spin combinations.
Ice Dancing - is a couple consisting of a man and a woman, but the focus is on intricate footwork and dancing in time with music. Lifts must not go above the man's shoulder.
Other disciplines:
Synchronized skating - mixed-gender groups of 12-20 skaters with emphasis on precise formations and complex transitions between formations.
Theatre on ice - Disney on Ice is probably the most famous. It is a form of group skating that utilizes props and theatrical costuming.
It is important to have good Singles skating skills first before venturing into these other disciplines. A local figure skating club will sometimes have someone on staff who can teach pairs, ice dance, or synchronized skating skills. But it is not guaranteed. It just depends how large and well-funded your local club is. Some clubs have a synchro team or theatre-on-ice team or no teams at all. Some cities have ice rinks and hockey, but no figure skating community. So it absolutely depends on where you live. You'll just have to ask to find out what is available and tell them what you are interested in learning.
Even if you find a coach who can teach Pairs skills, Pair skating is rare because most people cannot find a partner because male skaters are rare. It is also the most dangerous discipline of figure skating because of the over-the-head lifts and throw-jumps. Ice dancing is a lot safer because it doesn't include over-the-head lifts or throw-jumps.
Ice Dancing
You can actually study and pass Ice Dancing tests by yourself! So you don't need a partner if you want to learn about Ice Dancing. But, obviously, you won't be able to learn any of the Dance Lifts without a partner.
You absolutely do need a partner to learn about Pairs skills because Pairs is only throw-jumps and lifts.
Skaters usually choose Ice Dancing over Pairs skating if they do not enjoy dangerous jumping or over-the-head lifts. Ice Dancing focuses on "dancing" across the ice with complex footwork set to music. It does not include jumps or spins and only Dance Lifts are used. Adults and older couples generally like Ice Dancing because it lacks the spins and jumps of other disciplines. Those skaters who go to the Olympics for Ice Dancing also have longer careers than Singles or Pairs because the sport is less demanding on the body.
Final tip: Ice Dancing partners can sometimes be easier to find than Pairs partners, not only because it's less dangerous, but also because of the height difference between man and woman. Because there are no throw-jumps and no over-the-head lifts in Ice Dancing, it is ok if the woman is almost the same height as the man. In Pairs skating, the woman must be tiny in comparison to the man so that she is light enough for him to lift easily. "The Giant and the Flea" is a common saying in Pairs skating. It refers to how tiny and short the woman is and how tall the man is. Even if you have an interest in Pair skating, if you are a tall woman or not-petite, your likelihood of finding a taller partner who can lift you is even slimmer. It's not just a question of "can they lift you once or twice?" It's a question of "can they lift you over and over again for the hours and hours of practice that will be required to learn a move?" That's why tiny, short women are better for this.
Extra Info:
How to find a Pair Skating or Ice Dance Partner
Rules of Ice Dancing:
1. No jumps from Singles skating.
2. No spins from Singles skating. Any spins performed must be a Pairs spin (aka performed together, but not the side-by-side type.)
2. No over-the-head lifts or throw-jumps from Pairs skating
3. Dance Lifts are allowed.
4. Partners should remain within arm's reach of each other for most of the performance because they are supposed to simulate "dancing".
5. Unless partners are changing positions or performing a Dance Lift, partners should be together in dance position.
You absolutely do need a partner to learn about Pairs skills because Pairs is only throw-jumps and lifts.
Skaters usually choose Ice Dancing over Pairs skating if they do not enjoy dangerous jumping or over-the-head lifts. Ice Dancing focuses on "dancing" across the ice with complex footwork set to music. It does not include jumps or spins and only Dance Lifts are used. Adults and older couples generally like Ice Dancing because it lacks the spins and jumps of other disciplines. Those skaters who go to the Olympics for Ice Dancing also have longer careers than Singles or Pairs because the sport is less demanding on the body.
Final tip: Ice Dancing partners can sometimes be easier to find than Pairs partners, not only because it's less dangerous, but also because of the height difference between man and woman. Because there are no throw-jumps and no over-the-head lifts in Ice Dancing, it is ok if the woman is almost the same height as the man. In Pairs skating, the woman must be tiny in comparison to the man so that she is light enough for him to lift easily. "The Giant and the Flea" is a common saying in Pairs skating. It refers to how tiny and short the woman is and how tall the man is. Even if you have an interest in Pair skating, if you are a tall woman or not-petite, your likelihood of finding a taller partner who can lift you is even slimmer. It's not just a question of "can they lift you once or twice?" It's a question of "can they lift you over and over again for the hours and hours of practice that will be required to learn a move?" That's why tiny, short women are better for this.
Extra Info:
How to find a Pair Skating or Ice Dance Partner
Rules of Ice Dancing:
1. No jumps from Singles skating.
2. No spins from Singles skating. Any spins performed must be a Pairs spin (aka performed together, but not the side-by-side type.)
2. No over-the-head lifts or throw-jumps from Pairs skating
3. Dance Lifts are allowed.
4. Partners should remain within arm's reach of each other for most of the performance because they are supposed to simulate "dancing".
5. Unless partners are changing positions or performing a Dance Lift, partners should be together in dance position.
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My favorite Ice Dancing couple!
*Notice how the man's lifts stay at shoulder-level or lower. He never lifts higher than his shoulder. They never do any jumps. Any spins they perform are performed together. They are also within arm's reach of each other the entire time. |
Dance lifts
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Pairs skating
Pairs skating is the most dangerous form of figure skating. The worst accidents in skating history all happened in Pair skating. Most of these accidents happen to the female skater because she is the one being lifted into the air above the man's head or thrown across the ice into a throw-jump. There are some moves considered so dangerous that they have been banned from official competitions, but skaters will still do them sometimes in exhibition performances for fun.
Pairs skating uses all the same skills as Singles skating, plus a few additional elements:
1. Side-by-side Jumps
2. Side-by-side Spins
3. Throw-jumps
4. Pair combination spins
5. Lifts
6. Death spiral
Extra Info:
Beginner Pairs levels
Side-by-side jumps and spins
These can be difficult and dangerous. Partners must learn to adjust in timing and speed to match each other perfectly. It is common for partners to shout out auditory cues to each other during training in order to fine-tune themselves to each other. Because these side-by-side elements are so close to each other, some skaters have failed a jump and accidentally sliced open their partner's hand or leg when they fell. Other skaters (usually the female) drifts too close to the male skater during side-by-side camel spins and gets their face slashed with their partner's skate blade. Pair skating is like a game of "how close can we get to each other without killing each other?"
Throw Jumps
The couple skates together at a high rate of speed and the man helps the woman into the jump by throwing her into the air. She will perform a single, double, triple, or quad jump, just like Singles skating. However, thanks to the extra momentum that is generated by the man throwing her, a woman can perform triple or quad jumps much easier than in Singles skating. For example, the woman might not be able to perform a triple axel on her own, but with the man throwing her into the jump, she can perform a triple axel with ease. But throw-jumps are very dangerous and the most common accident is the woman failing to land the jump and possibly falling in a horrible way. All of that extra power and speed generated by the throw is very risky to the woman.
Pair combination spins
Now these can be fun and aren't as dangerous as the other elements, which is why they are included in Ice Dancing.
Death spiral
This element is also a lot of fun for pairs and isn't very dangerous despite how it looks. The female is already so close to the ground that even if she falls, it usually doesn't hurt. Pairs often see the death spiral as a time to relax during their program.
Lifts
This is the most dangerous aspect of Pair skating. This is where skaters (usually the female) can end up with a severe concussion or partially-paralyzed for life. The woman's safety rests entirely in the hands of the man holding her up. For the man, it is the worst feeling in the world to accidentally drop your partner and severely injure her.
Pairs skating uses all the same skills as Singles skating, plus a few additional elements:
1. Side-by-side Jumps
2. Side-by-side Spins
3. Throw-jumps
4. Pair combination spins
5. Lifts
6. Death spiral
Extra Info:
Beginner Pairs levels
Side-by-side jumps and spins
These can be difficult and dangerous. Partners must learn to adjust in timing and speed to match each other perfectly. It is common for partners to shout out auditory cues to each other during training in order to fine-tune themselves to each other. Because these side-by-side elements are so close to each other, some skaters have failed a jump and accidentally sliced open their partner's hand or leg when they fell. Other skaters (usually the female) drifts too close to the male skater during side-by-side camel spins and gets their face slashed with their partner's skate blade. Pair skating is like a game of "how close can we get to each other without killing each other?"
Throw Jumps
The couple skates together at a high rate of speed and the man helps the woman into the jump by throwing her into the air. She will perform a single, double, triple, or quad jump, just like Singles skating. However, thanks to the extra momentum that is generated by the man throwing her, a woman can perform triple or quad jumps much easier than in Singles skating. For example, the woman might not be able to perform a triple axel on her own, but with the man throwing her into the jump, she can perform a triple axel with ease. But throw-jumps are very dangerous and the most common accident is the woman failing to land the jump and possibly falling in a horrible way. All of that extra power and speed generated by the throw is very risky to the woman.
Pair combination spins
Now these can be fun and aren't as dangerous as the other elements, which is why they are included in Ice Dancing.
Death spiral
This element is also a lot of fun for pairs and isn't very dangerous despite how it looks. The female is already so close to the ground that even if she falls, it usually doesn't hurt. Pairs often see the death spiral as a time to relax during their program.
Lifts
This is the most dangerous aspect of Pair skating. This is where skaters (usually the female) can end up with a severe concussion or partially-paralyzed for life. The woman's safety rests entirely in the hands of the man holding her up. For the man, it is the worst feeling in the world to accidentally drop your partner and severely injure her.
Throw jumps - safe as long as the female manages to land it correctly.
Pair combination spins:
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Lifts
BANNED Moves in Pair Skating
These moves are considered too dangerous for official competitions and are illegal to perform. But many skaters will perform them in recreational shows.
The headbanger or bounce spin is when the man swings the lady around by her feet. Her head comes dangerously close to the ice in this spin and her weight is supported only by the man's grip on her ankles.
The Detroiter is dangerous because the man is supporting the lady only by her legs. A one-handed hold is even more dangerous than two hands.
The other reason that many moves end up banned is because they aren't strictly "figure skating". The rules for official competitions are attempting to make sure skaters actually "skate" and not just stand around on the ice performing acrobatics. If you're interested in acrobatics on ice, then search for "adagio skating" or "acrobatic skating" on youtube. These kinds of elements are used for show skating and circus performances. They're more about being "acrobatic" than they are about showcasing good figure skating skills. The competition rules are attempting to draw a clear line between figure skaters and acrobats.
For example, just recently, Cirque du Soleil announced their first show "Crystal" to ever combine figure skating with acrobatics. This is a prime example of people who are "acrobats on ice", but not figure skaters.
The headbanger or bounce spin is when the man swings the lady around by her feet. Her head comes dangerously close to the ice in this spin and her weight is supported only by the man's grip on her ankles.
The Detroiter is dangerous because the man is supporting the lady only by her legs. A one-handed hold is even more dangerous than two hands.
The other reason that many moves end up banned is because they aren't strictly "figure skating". The rules for official competitions are attempting to make sure skaters actually "skate" and not just stand around on the ice performing acrobatics. If you're interested in acrobatics on ice, then search for "adagio skating" or "acrobatic skating" on youtube. These kinds of elements are used for show skating and circus performances. They're more about being "acrobatic" than they are about showcasing good figure skating skills. The competition rules are attempting to draw a clear line between figure skaters and acrobats.
For example, just recently, Cirque du Soleil announced their first show "Crystal" to ever combine figure skating with acrobatics. This is a prime example of people who are "acrobats on ice", but not figure skaters.
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See the headbanger in action!
These skaters are show performers who do special tricks for an audience. Some of these moves are illegal in competition and some are not. |
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There are some other things that have been banned from skating competitions over the years. Usually they are banned, as I explained above, for not being strictly about showcasing good figure skating skills. I did find a hilarious video for why lying on the ice has been banned from competitions LOL.
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Mirror Pairs
Hopefully you remember from Lesson 3 where I discussed the differences between counterclockwise and clockwise skaters. While most skaters spin and jump in the counterclockwise direction, about 15% of skaters jump and spin in the clockwise direction. When you have a clockwise skater who is also a pair skater, you end up with a "mirror pair". The pair skaters spin and jump in opposite directions while performing. It is a funny and interesting quirk.
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Tiffany Vise is a clockwise skater, while Derek Trent is a counterclockwise skater. Notice how they rotate in opposing directions every time they jump or spin.
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Synchronized skating
Synchronized skating is a mixed-gender group of 12-20 skaters with emphasis on precise formations and complex transitions between formations.
Rules of Synchro:
1. No Pairs lifts are allowed. (Group lifts are allowed.)
2. Only single revolution jumps are allowed.
3. Spirals and spins are allowed.
4. Skating should focus on formations: circle, line, block, intersection, and wheel.
The danger of any kind of group-skating is the fact that you have multiple people on the ice all moving around at high speeds. If someone trips, they could knock other people over, or get skated over by someone else. But since this isn't pair skating with its high-risk throw-jump and lifts, it usually isn't very dangerous.
Extra info:
List of synchro required elements
ISI synchronized skating levels
Rules of Synchro:
1. No Pairs lifts are allowed. (Group lifts are allowed.)
2. Only single revolution jumps are allowed.
3. Spirals and spins are allowed.
4. Skating should focus on formations: circle, line, block, intersection, and wheel.
The danger of any kind of group-skating is the fact that you have multiple people on the ice all moving around at high speeds. If someone trips, they could knock other people over, or get skated over by someone else. But since this isn't pair skating with its high-risk throw-jump and lifts, it usually isn't very dangerous.
Extra info:
List of synchro required elements
ISI synchronized skating levels
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Synchronized skating focuses mainly on teamwork and precise formations.
There has been a lot of talk in recent years of making Synchro an Olympic sport, but so far it hasn't happened yet. This discipline is very young and new and not many countries have Synchro teams. As the discipline grows larger and becomes more popular, we may eventually see it added to the Olympics. |
Theatre on Ice (TOI)
Theatre on Ice is a form of group skating, usually between 8 - 30 skaters, that utilizes props and theatrical costuming. It is similar to synchronized skating, but focuses on presentation and costumes and telling a story aka Theatre. Disney on Ice may be the most famous example, but many figure skating clubs now have Theatre teams that perform in nationwide competitions. It is often seen as a great way for ordinary skaters to compete in a national competition, since most skaters will never have the talent to compete on the national level in Singles for example. It also fosters teamwork and friendships between skaters in the same club. Figure skating can be a lonely sport since it is usually performed alone. Group-skating (Theatre or Synchro) can be a lot of fun.
TOI has no rules on what kind of moves you are allowed to perform. So in Theatre competitions, depending on the team, you will see elements from Singles, Pairs, Ice Dancing, and Synchro. Some teams have men so you will see Pairs lifts and Pairs throw-jumps occasionally. You may even see some of the "illegal moves" that have been banned from other competitions, such as a backflip!
Ice theatre teams can be composed of all ages, from the youngest to the oldest, and all skating skill levels can be of use in a performance. Which makes this the easiest discipline to join and compete in.... if your local ice rink has a team. Theatre on Ice holds a national competition every year which any team is welcome to come participate in.
TOI has no rules on what kind of moves you are allowed to perform. So in Theatre competitions, depending on the team, you will see elements from Singles, Pairs, Ice Dancing, and Synchro. Some teams have men so you will see Pairs lifts and Pairs throw-jumps occasionally. You may even see some of the "illegal moves" that have been banned from other competitions, such as a backflip!
Ice theatre teams can be composed of all ages, from the youngest to the oldest, and all skating skill levels can be of use in a performance. Which makes this the easiest discipline to join and compete in.... if your local ice rink has a team. Theatre on Ice holds a national competition every year which any team is welcome to come participate in.
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Here's a sample performance by an Ice Theatre team at the national competition.
Plenty of clubs have multiple teams that are separated by age and skill level, so there are adult teams as well. Clubs that aren't large enough for multiple teams will usually do a mixed team of all ages and skill levels. |