Is the Olympic season Rhythm Dance exciting?

[TallyT]

Déjà vu but i don't disagree with the rest of your post It took me a second to figure out which language you were using... to figure out it was my own LOL so yeah thought I would correct if for my own sake

Hey it was near midnight here and my fingers were as tired as my brain.

 

[4everchan]

Hey it was near midnight here and my fingers were as tired as my brain.

no worries i know how that works

 

[Mathman]

Hey it was near midnight here and my fingers were as tired as my brain.

As for me, I have a new problem. I just bought a new computer and the keys on the keyboard that came with it are light grey with letters in lighter grey. I can't see wg=hatI;m type;ekri,

 

[Mathman]

No. It's as bland as watching white paint dry.

For me, the challenge in this discussion is the word "exciting." Is the hundred-meter dash exciting? A bunch of folks run straight ahed as fast as they can for 10 seconds, What's exciting about that?

But a bunch if horses running fast, now yer talkin'

It it exciting to watch someone drive a race car round and round a 2.5 mile track 200 times? Yes we appreciate the skill of the engineers who can build a car that goes 170 mles per hour and the training of the crew who rush out and change the tires in nothing flat. And plus we envy the drivers who don't fall asleep at the wheel for 3 hours, but...

 

[TallyT]

As for me, I have a new problem. I just bought a new computer and the keys on the keyboard that came with it are light grey with letters in lighter grey. I can't see wg=hatI;m type;ekri,

Oh you have all my sympathy - I did take a few touch typing lessons when I was very young but we won't talk about how long ago that was, so I am just a quite speedy three finger typist. I do sometimes use Word's dictation function (due to my studies I have a free Microsoft subscription) but not for anything with lots of foreign names and rare words.....

 

[TallyT]

But a bunch if horses running fast, now yer talkin'

The entire nation here stops - or used to, not so much in the last years - to watch the Melbourne Cup once a year. I admit, I always got a little bored two minutes in (especially when the one I had a sweep on was third from the back as it almost always was) and so was the designated person to go out from the tearoom and handle that one customer who made a point 'because horse racing and gambling are eeeevvvvvil and I must be seen to oppose eeeevvvvvil' of coming in right on the start of the race...

 

[Mathman]

... horse racing and gambling are eeeevvvvvil...

In my grandparents' home card-playing was sinful -- playing with "saloon cards." Their daughter, my aunt, became a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas just to rebel.

 

[StitchMonkey]

I think that there is a certain element of irony in the ISU's efforts to attract a younger audience. Music that was popular in the 1980s and 90s-- i.e., with the parents of the current crop of ice dancers. Last time around it was the 1950s and 60s, which I'm sure, was exciting to the grandparents of current elite skaters. More so anyway than the big band ballroom music of those old fogies, their great-grandparents.

I wonder how much grousing there was when the music of the 1930s and 1940s was replaced but we just don't have internet forums for posterity.


Also.... I like how the 70s just get skipped.

 

[Sai Bon]

If they insist on calling it Rhythm Dance, shouldn't they at least set a rhythm? I don't mind having a broader theme, but it is ridiculous how so many teams seem to choose the same music.

 

[Stephine]

I don't like this change.

It feels like everyone has been doing the same thing for three years now, trying to find modern music and create a kind of street or party dance to it.

The appeal of the earlier years, with one or more predefined rhythms, lay precisely in finding music that was original and fulfilled the rhythm requirements. These could even be modern pieces if you made the effort to search long enough.

Currently, there's just too much uniformity.

And by the way: Music from the 90s isn't contemporary music. My son is 15 and just laughs his head off about it.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

If they insist on calling it Rhythm Dance, shouldn't they at least set a rhythm? I don't mind having a broader theme, but it is ridiculous how so many teams seem to choose the same music.

For Pst: (From ISU Tech Req)

Senior Rhythm Dance
Pattern Dance Type
Step Sequence (PSt)
One (1) Pattern Dance Type Step Sequence (PSt), (Style D):
Rhythm: skated to any dance style chosen from the 90s – minimum 120 beats per minute, in 2/2, 2/4 or 4/4 time
Duration: any exact number of musical phrases
Pattern: Circular shape
1. Starting with a walk around three turns movement around a common axis of at least two rotations by both partners on the Judges’ side
and crossing the short axis during any of these movements. The first rotation must be performed face to face, any partner may skate
forward or backward. There is no restriction of holds / position for the second rotation.
2. Continuing the PSt including the four different difficult turns (listed below).
3. Concluding the PSt when the couple closing the circular shape in front of the Referee at the short axis by performing a Helicopter type
movement (refer to the definition below).
Hold(s): must remain in contact at all times even during changes of Holds (except when performing Twizzles as connecting Choreography).
Technical Requirement(s): Must perform two different difficult turns per partner from the following: Back entry Rocker, Counter, Back
entry Bracket and Forward Outside Mohawk. Only the first 2 attempted Different Difficult Turns per partner selected from those above are
considered for level. Additional attempts of the same Difficult Turn are ignored.
Timing:
All performed different difficult turns for level must be performed with no more than two beats for the entry edge and two beats for the exit edge.
Not permitted:
- Stop(s)
- Separations (except during Twizzles)
- Retrogression(s)
- Hand in hand hold with established fully extended arms
- Loop(s)
Note: The entry and/or exit edge of a Difficult Turn resulting in a temporary deviation in the direction of travel for the Step Sequence pattern should not be considered as a retrogression
Helicopter type movement :
A movement skated in any direction with both partners executing double three turns of at least one full revolution at the same time, with the free leg
extended and elevated at 45 degrees or higher to the side, back, in front or any combination.
Partners may execute this movement in any position around a common axis, for example, face to face, back to back, side by side, etc
------------------------------------------

ETA: There's also the Rhumba+Quickstep Op pattern.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I don't like this change.

It feels like everyone has been doing the same thing for three years now, trying to find modern music and create a kind of street or party dance to it.

The appeal of the earlier years, with one or more predefined rhythms, lay precisely in finding music that was original and fulfilled the rhythm requirements. These could even be modern pieces if you made the effort to search long enough.

Currently, there's just too much uniformity.

And by the way: Music from the 90s isn't contemporary music. My son is 15 and just laughs his head off about it.

Good thing that 90s's isn't contemporary music, b/c contemporary music is banned in the ISU rules for the RD this season.

As stated on ISU website:
2
1. REQUIREMENTS FOR RHYTHM DANCE SEASON 2025/26
1.1. Rhythm/Theme
Rule 709, paragraph 1. a) provides that rhythm(s) and/or theme(s) are selected by the Ice Dance Technical Committee annually for the season. For the season 2025/26,
the following has been determined:
The theme and music selected for the Rhythm Dances for both Junior and Senior for the season 2025/26 is “The Music, Dance Styles and Feeling of the 1990s”.
The Rhythm Dance for the 2025/2026 season takes inspiration from the high energy and entertaining dance styles from this decade. Any music is possible as long as
it was released, either originally or as a cover version in the 1990s and fulfills the Rhythm/Theme mentioned above as well as the Required Characteristics mentioned
below.
Music Examples (but not limited to): Pop/Street Latin, House/Techno, Hip-Hop, Grunge Rock
Required characteristics: High energy and crowd pleasing, demonstrating the essence of the 1990s
What this season's RD is not: Dance styles including Classical, Contemporary, Traditional Folk and Competition Ballroom.
Note: - Remixed and/or remastered music, including cover versions, is permitted. Music created via AI in the “Style of 1990’s” is also permitted.
- The couple should demonstrate through dance movements/dance holds the feeling/essence and dance style(s) from this decade.
- The Rhythm Dance should NOT be skated in the style of a Free Dance.
- To comply with the ethical values of sports, any music chosen for Ice Dance competitions must not include aggressive and/or offending lyrics

 

[jersey1302]

I would have to say yes definitely. While yes.. some pieces can be used by more than one team.. you can definitely tell who used it better which is fun. I think the rd has become more exciting to watch especially for the. Viewers who may not always watch. For the olympics it will be a banger for sure.

 

[lariko]

Oh, (Street) Latin was part of it. I was wondering about one RD this weekend, which seemed to be an odd one out. It was rather Latin, though (not sure if Street Latin is different from just Latin). Let's Get Loud so far seems to be the most repeated song from what I had seen.

 

[thatdarncat]

It maybe more exciting, but I would rather see more variety, every season they pick a decade but you get the same party programs. At least before you had tango, blues, waltz, which have a different look and rhythm and have there own challenges.

Plus as someone learning Ice dance it would be great to see something recognizable to what I am learning.

 

[RobinA]

It's been a four year development of the ISU policy that intended to make Rhythm Dance more exciting - mainly by steering the music choices away from the ballroom dance niche and keeping them within the range of public disco bangers. So, has the policy succeeded? Is the Rhythm Dance of the 2025/26 season exciting?

How do you rate the actual Rhythm Dance programs that you have seen?

If you want to see exciting ice dance, watch older performances. MUCH more interesting than what's out there today with the emphasis on how close are the twizzles and hideous lifts.

 

[viennaskater]

I wonder how much grousing there was when the music of the 1930s and 1940s was replaced but we just don't have internet forums for posterity.


Also.... I like how the 70s just get skipped.

The 70s didn't get skipped, there was an option to use it last year (social dances of the 50s, 60s and 70s).

I have so far found the RDs this season quite fun, but I too am hoping for not too many 'You Can't Touch This'.

Going back to more traditional dances, I still enjoy latin-themed ones (which are still popular worldwide) but I am glad to see the back of the polka. Not only is it not very interesting, they used to have to wear ugly costumes when performing it in the Original Set Pattern.

Also I don't need a waltz, unless it is done as a FD a la Davis and White in 2012.

One dance theme they could revive is the one where you do a country-themed dance. They did it in 2010. Davis and White did a Bollywood-themed one which was spectacular. Less successful was of course Domnina/Shabalin's Aborigine dance.

 

[NanaPat]

One dance theme they could revive is the one where you do a country-themed dance. They did it in 2010. Davis and White did a Bollywood-themed one which was spectacular. Less successful was of course Domnina/Shabalin's Aborigine dance.

I don't think the country-themed dance will ever be repeated. Too much chance of a repeat of Domnina/Shabalin. People are now too tuned to cultural appropriation. I will not miss it. D/S, though the worst, is not the only cringey example.

OTOH, we saw at least two dance teams in the Olympic Qualifier who used music from their own culture, and I liked that!

 

[Rebecca Moose]

No. It's more or less a Ricky Martin rhythm dance. Gag me with a spoon.

 

[Anna K.]

Finally, I watched some RD programs performed by the top teams.

Confession #1: For me, this music is awful. I only survived these hits in the nineties because musical parodies of these hits also emerged in abundance. Hearing it again feels like being trapped in an eternal rickroll. So...

Confession #2: Eventually, I watched with the sound off. I simply wanted to see if there was something exciting happening on the ice. Maybe, so exciting that I'd decide to turn the sound on?...
A spoiler: there wasn't.

I saw two people jerking hands in sync. Then, skating around doing more hands in sync, hands, hands hands. Then there was some pushing and pulling each other in some kind of brief holds, or lifting that also rather looked like pulling and pushing. This was of course because skaters were interpreting the aggressive rhythm of the music. Apparently, they interpreted it very well. The sync was also good. Except, the silly hand moves combined with stupidly optimistic smiles started getting on my nerve just like the music initially did.. So I stopped watching two programs in.

Then I thought, maybe I was idealizing the past while in the past it was even worse? So I watched an Original Dance from 2001, also with the sound off. First impression: the dancers had exaggerated smiles also back then! But then, I forgot about smiles and skaters' faces completely because their footwork was dazzling. The lift was elegant and didn't look like somebody using female as a weight-lifting tool. And hydroblade looked so cool with a skater in her long dress ... I enjoyed it very much but then I felt sad. I felt like I just had a glimpse at the lost art that will never return.
Ballroom dance patterns were niche but the smooth moves were ice friendly and the footwork had a "wow" factor when done right. Nowadays, pulling and pushing each other on the ice apparently has a funny side of it (I don't see it yet but I'm old and grumpy). But is there any "wow" factor?

Long story short, it looks like this will be yet another season without RD on my playlist.