Original dance

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir perform their flamenco original dance at the 2010 World Championships

The original dance (OD) was a segment of an ice dancing competition. It was usually the second of three programs, sandwiched between the compulsory dances and the free dance. Until 1990, it was known as the original set pattern dance (OSPD). Following the 2009-10 season, the original dance was discontinued and replaced by the short dance (SD).

Each season, the International Skating Union designated a rhythm or set of rhythms that all dancers must perform to in the original dance, but unlike the compulsory dances, the competitors chose their own music (within a specified tempo range) and choreography. The original dance could be compared to the short program in singles and pairs. The length of the program was shorter than the free dance, and the skaters had more rules to which to adhere. The dance had to be choreographed so that the steps did not cross the midline of the rink. There were certain exceptions for this rule that took into account required step sequences such as the diagonal footwork sequence. Closed partnering positions and close skating was also important for the original dance. The current world record holders for the original dance are Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir with 70.27 points.

List of original dance rhythms by season

Tanja Kolbe / Sascha Rabe perform the tango original dance.

The following is a list of senior level original dance rhythms.

Season	Rhythm[1]
1983–1984	Paso Doble
1984–1985	Quickstep
1985–1986	Polka
1986–1987	Viennese Waltz
1987–1988	Tango
1988–1989	Charleston
1989–1990	Samba
1990–1991	Blues
1991–1992	Polka
1992–1993	Viennese Waltz
1993–1994	Rhumba
1994–1995	Quickstep
1995–1996	Paso Doble
1996–1997	Tango
1997–1998	Jive
1998–1999	Waltz
1999–2000	Latin Combination: Merengue, Cha Cha, Samba, Mambo, Rumba
2000–2001	Charleston, Foxtrot, Quickstep and March
2001–2002	Tango, Flamenco, Paso Doble and Spanish Waltz
2002–2003	Memories of a Grand Ball: Waltz, Polka, March, and Gallop
2003–2004	Swing Combo: Jive, Boogie Woogie, Jitterbug, Rock N' Roll and Blues
2004-2005	Foxtrot, Quickstep, Charleston
2005–2006	Latin Combination: Merengue, Cha Cha, Samba, Mambo, Rumba
2006–2007	Tango
2007–2008	Folk, Country
2008-2009	Rhythms of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s
2009–2010	Folk, Country[2]
2010–2011	The ISU planned "Rhythms and Dances of the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s",[3] before discontinuing the OD.

References

1. "Compulsory & Original Dance History". ice-dance.com.
2. http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=940
3. "ISU Communication No. 1567 ICE DANCE".

External links

• Technical reference at ice-dance.com