ice dancing

ice dancing, ice-skating competition in which couples are required to perform dance routines to music. The sport gained popularity in the 1930s and the first world championships were held in 1950. Ice dancing is similar to pairs figure skating, but does not allow lifts or other strength moves. Ice dancing competitions consist of three parts—prescribed pattern dances; an original set pattern dance; and a free dance, which allows the greatest freedom of expression. The first Olympic ice dancing competition was in 1976. At that time, traditional ballroom dances comprised the core of skaters' programs. The leading ice dancers in the 1970s were the Soviets Lyudmila Pakhomova and Aleksandr Gorshkov. In the 1980s, the British ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean dominated the sport with dramatic and innovative choreography performed to a variety of musical forms (e.g., popular, jazz, classical). They won four consecutive world championships (1981–84) and the gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics. Outstanding in the late 1980s and early 1990s were the Russian ice dancers Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko.

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ice dancing

French ice dancers Isabelle and Paul Duchesnay competing at the World Ice-Dance Championships.

(credit: © Duomo Photography)

Sport in which ice-skating pairs perform to music routines similar to ballroom dances. Ice dancers are judged on the difficulty and originality of their dance steps, their interpretation of the music, and their timing and unison. Unlike figure skating, ice dancing does not allow movements of strength or technical skill (particularly overhead lifts, jumps, and spins of more than one-and-a-half rotations). It has been an Olympic event since 1976.