2004 Worlds

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Original Dance (OD) Rules -- Charleston 2004

GENERAL - SR 3.33


3.33.01	An Original Dance (OD) dance allows the skaters to skate to the limits of their ability, thereby allowing the judges to see the best skaters in the contest. The best skaters should be those with the highest technical expertise, coupled with the best artistic impression.

3.33.02	An OD must incorporate not only existing and recognizable steps, but also new and original steps.

3.33.03	The pattern of the dance is very important in determining Technical Merit. A dance which utilizes the entire skating surface is more difficult than a dance which uses ninety per cent of the surface. A dance possessing good Technical Merit will use the corners of the skating surface

3.33.04	The lobes of an OD must be deep, with the flow of the dance maintained at all times.

3.33.05	The skaters should use as many positions as possible. A constantly changing relationship of the partners indicates a great degree of difficulty.

3.33.06	Novelty items are perfectly acceptable, provided they are not excessive and fit the character of the music.

3.33.07	Difficult steps, position, and novelties must not impair the speed of the dance.

3.33.08	The character of the dance should be obvious throughout the entire dance. There should be no lapses in any part of the dance. All steps should co-ordinate to the phrasing of the chosen rhythm.

3.33.09	Even the most difficult steps must be skated with ease, they are of little value if not performed with confidence. Clean execution of steps is a must for good artistic impression. The skaters should make the difficult steps look easy, with flow throughout the dance. (CIPA 3.33.10)

3.33.10	EA team's unison and line are very important to the overall impression. The team should present a total look of togetherness, using bodies, legs, arms, heads, hands, etc., for a total performance. It is not necessary that the couple perform the same steps or the same movements at the same time, but remember, separate movements must co-ordinate to form a complete "picture"

3.33.11	THE DANCE MUST NOT BE A FREE DANCE.

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MUSIC - SR 3.34

3.34.01	Each couple must choose their own music, tempo, and composition. Orchestral music and vocal music is permitted. This does not preclude background musical effects, which are considered as being expressive of a particular type of folk music. The incorrect selection of music for the rhythm chosen shall result in a mark of point zero (.0) by each judge.

3.34.02	The rhythm is set each year by CIPA (see ER 5.22 - 5.22.02)

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TIMING - SR 3.35

3.35.01	The OD shall be a total time of 2.30 (two minutes thirty seconds) +/- 10 seconds. Timing of the dance will begin with the first movement and end with the last movement.

3.35.02	The OD can be started at any place on the floor.

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EXECUTION OF THE ORIGINAL DANCE (OD) - SR 3.36

3.36.01	The choice of steps, connecting steps, turns and rotations is left to the skaters, provided those choices conform to the OD rules. This does not exhaust all the possibilities of steps, turns and rotations. Any are permissible, providing that at least one skate of each skater remains on the skating surface at all times throughout the dance except for 3.37.02 and 3.36.07.. Toe stop steps are permitted but remember whilst on the toe stop, there are no edges skated and therefore considered less difficult. Little hops (lifting of the skating foot a small distance from the floor) are allowed to express the character of the dance.

3.36.02	Two stops are allowed during the dance which must not exceed 10 (ten) seconds for each stop.

3.36.03	Pulling or pushing the partner by the boot or skate is not permitted.

3.36.04	Partners must not separate except to change dance holds, or to perform brief movements in character with the rhythm chosen, or during a permitted stop, provided that they are performed no more than 2 arms- length apart and no more than 10 (ten) seconds except for 3.37.01.

3.36.05	There are no restrictions on dance holds, arm movements, hand claps etc. which are interpretive of the music.

3.36.06	The dance must contain difficult movements and be expressive of the music.

3.36.07	During the first and the last 10 (ten) seconds of the OD the following movements are allowed (but not obligatory): a) laying with hands, knees or other parts of the body on the skating surface b) stationary movements in character with the rhythm of the OD A deduction of 0.2 from both the A and B mark will be made for any violation of the above

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SET ELEMENTS THAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE OD - SR 3.37

3.37.01	One straight-line step sequence, along the long axis of the rink, extending as near as possible the full length of the skating surface. During this step sequence the partners MUST NOT touch but remain no more than one arms length apart. NOTE:- the closer the couple skate this sequence without touching, and the more difficult the steps/turns, will obviously receive more credit.

3.37.02	One change of direction lift - one small lift MUST BE executed with one change of direction - there must not be more than one half (1/2) revolution in the lift, only a change of direction, (either change of edge and/or forwards to backwards, or backwards to forwards), with the lady's waist no higher than the man's shoulder.

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COSTUME REQUIREMENTS - SR 3.38

3.38.01	Costumes for the Original Dance (OD) should be in character with the dance but not extreme. Props of any nature are forbidden. For the complete guidelines concerning costumes, consult ER 5.28

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ORIGINAL DANCE TECHNICAL MERIT and ARTISTIC IMPRESSION - SR3.39

3.39.01	Scores are assigned for the Original Dance as outlined in ER 5.26

3.39.02	The first score (Technical Merit - A) shall be assigned based on the following factors exhibited by the team: Originality Difficult Variety Position Pattern Speed of the Dance The second score (Artistic Impression - B) shall be assigned based on the following factors exhibited by the team: Correct timing of the dance Movements of the couple in rhythm Relationship of the skating movements to the character of the music. Cleanness, execution, and utilization of the skating surface General carriage and line of the couple. For assignment of standard point deductions for compulsory dance, Original Dance, and Free Dance, please consult SR 3.47 to SR 3.51

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Return to 2004 Schedule & Rules

Original Dance (OD) Rules -- Charleston 2004

GENERAL - SR 3.33

3.33.01

An Original Dance (OD) dance allows the skaters to skate to the limits of their ability, thereby allowing the judges to see the best skaters in the contest. The best skaters should be those with the highest technical expertise, coupled with the best artistic impression.

3.33.02

An OD must incorporate not only existing and recognizable steps, but also new and original steps.

3.33.03

The pattern of the dance is very important in determining Technical Merit. A dance which utilizes the entire skating surface is more difficult than a dance which uses ninety per cent of the surface. A dance possessing good Technical Merit will use the corners of the skating surface

3.33.04

The lobes of an OD must be deep, with the flow of the dance maintained at all times.

3.33.05

The skaters should use as many positions as possible. A constantly changing relationship of the partners indicates a great degree of difficulty.

3.33.06

Novelty items are perfectly acceptable, provided they are not excessive and fit the character of the music.

3.33.07

Difficult steps, position, and novelties must not impair the speed of the dance.

3.33.08

The character of the dance should be obvious throughout the entire dance. There should be no lapses in any part of the dance. All steps should co-ordinate to the phrasing of the chosen rhythm.

3.33.09

Even the most difficult steps must be skated with ease, they are of little value if not performed with confidence. Clean execution of steps is a must for good artistic impression. The skaters should make the difficult steps look easy, with flow throughout the dance. (CIPA 3.33.10)

3.33.10

3.33.11

THE DANCE MUST NOT BE A FREE DANCE.

MUSIC - SR 3.34

3.34.01

3.34.02

The rhythm is set each year by CIPA (see ER 5.22 - 5.22.02)

TIMING - SR 3.35

3.35.01

The OD shall be a total time of 2.30 (two minutes thirty seconds) +/- 10 seconds. Timing of the dance will begin with the first movement and end with the last movement.

3.35.02

The OD can be started at any place on the floor.

EXECUTION OF THE ORIGINAL DANCE (OD) - SR 3.36

3.36.01

3.36.02

Two stops are allowed during the dance which must not exceed 10 (ten) seconds for each stop.

3.36.03

Pulling or pushing the partner by the boot or skate is not permitted.

3.36.04

Partners must not separate except to change dance holds, or to perform brief movements in character with the rhythm chosen, or during a permitted stop, provided that they are performed no more than 2 arms- length apart and no more than 10 (ten) seconds except for 3.37.01.

3.36.05

There are no restrictions on dance holds, arm movements, hand claps etc. which are interpretive of the music.

3.36.06

The dance must contain difficult movements and be expressive of the music.

3.36.07

SET ELEMENTS THAT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE OD - SR 3.37

3.37.01

3.37.02

COSTUME REQUIREMENTS - SR 3.38

3.38.01

Costumes for the Original Dance (OD) should be in character with the dance but not extreme. Props of any nature are forbidden. For the complete guidelines concerning costumes, consult ER 5.28

ORIGINAL DANCE TECHNICAL MERIT and ARTISTIC IMPRESSION - SR3.39

3.39.01

Scores are assigned for the Original Dance as outlined in ER 5.26

3.39.02