New South Wales Ice Skating Assocation Inc

This is the form of figure skating made famous by Torvill and Dean.

Ice Dance is performed by couples and can be aptly described as ballroom dancing on ice.

An ice dance competition consists of three sections.

Compulsory dances are set pattern dances skated to set music. They include waltzes, tangos, cha-chas, Paso dobles.

The Original dance is a dance of set tempo that is changed each session. The couples have freedom to choose their own music.

The Free dance is the event that fills stadiums. The couples choose their own music and skate for a similar duration to the free skating program in singles.

Singles skating consists of either a lady or a man skating to the music of their choice.

Singles skaters skate two programs in competition.

The short program lasts for 2 minutes 50 seconds and can contain up to 8 compulsory elements. These elements are usually spins, jumps and steps. Each level of competition has its own short program.

The Free Skating program allows for more freedom with respect to the elements performed. This program is often called the Long program as a Senior man can skate for up to 4 minutes 30 seconds.

Pair skating consists of a lady and a man skating together. A Pair skates both a short and free skating program.

In pairs skating overhead lifts, death spirals and throw jumps are added to the basic movements of singles skating. These make for very exciting routines for spectators.

Pair skaters must give the judges an impression of unison.

Synchronised skating teams can consist of from 12 to 24 skaters (including 4 alternates) who skate both short and free skating programs. Both programs can be skated to music of the team’s choice. Divisions in NSW are Adult, Novice, Junior and Senior.