RD requirements for 2025-26

[bckabck]

Xennial, here, and I can say that the 80s, 90s and early 2000s were my music eras. I primarily listened to grunge, alt rock, metal and punk in the 90s. I tended to stay away from pop, but I now have more of an appreciation for it.

The 90s brought such an interesting mix of music genre's and I don't believe all of them will really work for the requirements or for ice dancing. While I would love to hear grunge like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana and Tool, I remember being in mosh pits for those concerts and not really hearing them in the dance clubs.

Just like with the 80s, and even the past cycle of the 50s, 60s, and 70s social dances, I think we're going to hear the same artists and songs. I'm still reeling that we didn't get one Cyndi Lauper for the 80s.

Another issue is the past two seasons have really highlighted the jarring music changes in the programs. Some folks need to go to mixing school to learn how to piece music together.

 

[elbkup]

Whatever comes I hope it includes Drive, Incubus

- YouTube

Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.

youtu.be

 

[cheerknithanson]

Xennial, here, and I can say that the 80s, 90s and early 2000s were my music eras. I primarily listened to grunge, alt rock, metal and punk in the 90s. I tended to stay away from pop, but I now have more of an appreciation for it.

The 90s brought such an interesting mix of music genre's and I don't believe all of them will really work for the requirements or for ice dancing. While I would love to hear grunge like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana and Tool, I remember being in mosh pits for those concerts and not really hearing them in the dance clubs.

Just like with the 80s, and even the past cycle of the 50s, 60s, and 70s social dances, I think we're going to hear the same artists and songs. I'm still reeling that we didn't get one Cyndi Lauper for the 80s.

Another issue is the past two seasons have really highlighted the jarring music changes in the programs. Some folks need to go to mixing school to learn how to piece music together.

I’m no music mixing expert, but I totally get what you mean. In cheerleading competitions, we had the luxury of having different sounds effects in our routines because it’s supposed to be high paced and exciting. Figure skating, it seems you have to get it just right for the mixes in terms where it blends into the next song.

This is where getting into less known songs from the 90’s and non-singles from artists with 90’s releases would be a good idea. Because I found some songs from NKOTB that would work well to blend into a single as the 2nd song.

Kinda frustrating when you know what you have in vision, but can’t execute it yourself.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Savage Garden, Truly Madly Deeply


ETA:
Yet still, the ISU ice dance committee seems so bereft of creative ideas, much less do they possess an authentic, foundational sense of what ice dance is and should be for current times and today's audience.

 

[noskates]

I think some of the music selections mentioned in this post are nice to listen to - and probably the poster's favorite - but they aren't skating music. I was appalled at some of the music used this year in all the disciplines.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I think some of the music selections mentioned in this post are nice to listen to - and probably the poster's favorite - but they aren't skating music. I was appalled at some of the music used this year in all the disciplines.

Yep. That's the kicker, for sure. BTW, Truly Madly Deeply might work, but it would have to be paired with at least an additional selection which creatively compliments, along with appropriate, evocative choreo and costumes that make sense for the 90s. Coupled with whatever dance pattern the committee is attempting to make work for variant 90s music.

In any case Scott Williams performed an unforgettable gorgeous, sexy pro routine to my fave 90s song. See YT link below! Plus, I will link a bonus old GS print interview with Scott, circa 2003 when he was coaching MKwan. Truly Madly Deeply, choreographed by the amazing Brian Wright is mentioned in the interview. I love in the interview how Scott responds to some of these questions, esp about whether he is a 'confirmed' bachelor after his recent divorce. Scott is so right-on about what was then the very new IJS code of points. "The new system is disturbing to me as I think skating is more than the sum of its parts. I don’t feel the scoring system was as much of a problem as the system of judge selection and the lack of skater participation in the governing bodies."

Scott Williams: Online Interview

For 30 years, Scott has devoted himself to the field of ice skating. Throughout his career he has excelled at every level, winning numerous competitions

www.goldenskate.com

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

Back to current ice dance conundrum for RD: Teams must also choose what works for their specific strengths and aesthetics. So far, it's looking like another gnarly, hit-or-miss costume party, mish-mash dance party season. What is ice dance rhythm dance anyway?

Ice dance can and should evolve, yes. However, the foundational, traditional essence has gotten lost and has gone missing for yea too many years cuz of trying to mish-mash compulsory dance pattern with short dance and calling it rhythm dance and then going too far afield with pop music trends to attract non-skating fan audiences... Do ISU speedskater honchos have too much input in trying to manage figure skating?

 

[Marty McFlip]

I can bet my house on a "Bodygard" programme

 

[Moxiejan]

A team needs to grab the Rob Thomas/Santana collab “Smooth” ASAP; released in 1999, so just barely makes it.

 

[noskates]

I agree with Smooth. Kristi Yamaguchi skated to it in an SOI one year and it worked. But some of the mentions here

 

[Lamente Ariane]

At this point I’ll settle for well-mixed programs without jarring cuts regardless of if I actually like the music or not. You can sell me on a song or artist I wouldn’t personally choose to listen to if the choreography is solid and connected and there aren’t too many cuts/extraneous added stuff… and yes some of my favorites are as guilty of this as anyone. RDs are getting worse because so many lack a clear vision or seem to have been haphazardly put together after most choreography is already done. I really hope everyone steps it up for the Olympic season but I have a bad feeling given how the last three season have played out… it truly feels like we’ve had the same “theme” for years now even though it isn’t true because most teams aren’t actually committing to learn new styles of dance or movement or connecting their movements to different music anymore. And why should they, if it isn’t rewarded?

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I can bet my house on a "Bodygard" programme

There's already new chatter in Hollywood about attempting a The Bodyguard remake. The original, with Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, tho' can never be 'remade' (albeit the storyline and script could be somewhat improved upon). That original soundtrack was golden.

But if they are gonna redo it, cuz just like in figure skating/ ice dancing, Hollywood has completely run out of ideas, I say maybe choose Zendaya (as the star singer) and a hunky young up-and-comer guy with great acting chops (as the bodyguard).

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

A team needs to grab the Rob Thomas/Santana collab “Smooth” ASAP; released in 1999, so just barely makes it.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

Absolutely. This is so much the 'right stuff' in all its cool, sexy, hot genre-mixing 90s-era fabulousness. It's giving chills! ️

That said, it still needs the right team, right choreo, right interpretation, great costumes, etc.

 

[elektra blue]

I can bet my house on a "Bodygard" programme

someone might be so daring to try to Challenge Radionova in her field (trashy stuff) again?

 

[cheerknithanson]

I can bet my house on a "Bodygard" programme

Problem is that “I will always love you” will sound more like a FD song.

 

[Marty McFlip]

Problem is that “I will always love you” will sound more like a FD song.

Chock/bates this year used like 10 song in a RD... So everything is possible

 

[noskates]

Possibly sacriligious but I did not like Chock and Bates' music marathon. It was too much.

 

[elektra blue]

Problem is that “I will always love you” will sound more like a FD song.

it's not the only song in the soundtrack

 

[cheerknithanson]

it's not the only song in the soundtrack

I know it isn't. But it's probably the most well-known.

 

[Marty McFlip]

Possibly sacriligious but I did not like Chock and Bates' music marathon. It was too much.

If it's a sacrilege, i should be punished because i hate this programe music marathon. You're right, it's too much

 

[Ziotic]

I take back all my previous requests if I can get a “groove is in the heart” program