Scoped requirements and original diagrams available; see edition and competition/test distinction
Prerequisite: unknown
Assessment: competition program
Passing: unknown
Where: unknown
2026/27 solo competition requirements
These are international solo ice dance competition categories, linked by Swiss Ice Skating. They are not a separate Swiss test ladder. General eligibility, deductions and technical definitions also apply.
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Level Segment Components Factor
Skating Skills
Solo Ice Dance Advanced Novice Pattern Dances Timing 0.93
Presentation
Skating Skills
Free Dance Composition 1.33
Presentation
Skating Skills
Solo Ice Dance Junior Rhythm Dance Composition 1.33
Presentation
Skating Skills
Free Dance Composition 2.00
Presentation
Skating Skills
Solo Ice Dance Senior Rhythm Dance Composition 1.33
Presentation
Skating Skills
Free Dance Composition 2.00
Presentation
Skating Skills
Note: For Events with two Pattern Dances the total score for each PD will be multiplied by a factor of
0.5 in Basic Novice, 0.75 in Intermediate Novice and 1.0 in Advanced Novice.
2 Solo Ice Dance Novice
2.1 Pattern Dances
Pattern Dances will be announced annually by the Ice Dance Technical Committee.
2.1.1 Basic Novice
Two (2) Pattern Dances are to be skated from the following:
Season 2026/27
1. Willow Waltz – 2 Sequences (Tune #6 of the European Waltz ISU Music will be used for warm up)
2. Tango Fiesta – 2 Sequences (Tune #6 of the Tango ISU Music will be used for warm up)
2.1.2 Intermediate Novice
Two (2) Pattern Dances are to be skated from the following:
Season 2026/27
1. Foxtrot – 2 Sequences (Tune #6 of the Foxtrot ISU Music will be used for warm up)
2. American Waltz – 2 Sequences (Tune #6 of the American Waltz ISU Music will be used for warm up)
2.1.3 Advanced Novice
The following Two (2) Pattern Dances are to be skated:
Season 2026/27
1. Paso Doble – 2 Sequences and one Choreographic Exit Element from the following:
● Choreographic Sliding Movement
● Choreographic Twizzling Movement
● Choreographic Spinning Movement
Note: The chosen Choreographic Exit Element is to be performed after the last step of the
Paso Doble and may not be repeated in the Free Dance.
(Tune #6 of the Paso Doble ISU Music will be used for warm up)
2. Blues – 2 Sequences (Tune #6 of the Blues ISU Music will be used for warm up)
*All Pattern Dances must be performed with the first sequence executed in front of the judges’ stand. If not,
the Referee will stop the skater and instruct the skater to restart on the correct side without deduction. The
first step of the dance must be on beat 1 of a measure.
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2.1.4 Music Requirements for Pattern Dances
For season 2026/27, skaters shall provide their own music for all Pattern Dances. The music may be ISU Ice
Dance music (tunes 1-5). After the completion of the last step of the Pattern Dance, the skater must reach the
final pose within 20 seconds. If this time limit is exceeded, a “Pattern Dances Program time” deduction of 0.5
up to every 5 seconds in excess of permitted time after the last prescribed step in the Pattern Dance to the
ending movement/pose shall apply. The music must be chosen in accordance with the Rhythm of the
Pattern Dance and may be vocal. The Tempo throughout the required Sequences must be constant and in
accordance with the required Tempo of the Pattern Dance plus or minus 2 beats per minute (for dances with
4/4 timing) and plus or minus 3 beats per minute for waltz rhythms.
2.1.5 Pattern Dances Diagrams
For Solo Ice Dance Pattern Dance Diagrams, Steps, Key Points and other Pattern Dance requirements,
please refer to Appendix A.
2.1.6 Pattern Dance Warm-Up Time
Solo Ice Dance warm-up time for Pattern Dances will be 30 seconds without music and 2 minutes 30
seconds using ISU tune #6 (using Tango for Tango Fiesta).
2.1.7 Rhythm Dance and Free Dance Warm-Up Time
Solo Ice Dance warm up time for Junior and Senior Rhythm Dance will be 4 minutes. Solo Ice Dance warm
up times for Basic Novice and Intermediate Novice will be 3 minutes. Advance Novice Free Dance will all be
4 minutes. Junior and Senior Free Dance will be 5 minutes.
2.1.8 Warm-Up Group Sizes
Solo Ice Dance will have a limit of:
Basic Novice Pattern Dance; 8 skaters per warm up - Free Dance; 8 Skaters per warm up.
Intermediate Novice Pattern Dance; 8 skaters per warm up - Free Dance; 6 Skaters per warm up.
Advance Novice Pattern Dance; 6 skaters per warm up - Free Dance; 6 Skaters per warm up.
Junior and Senior Rhythm and Free Dance – 6 skaters per warm up.
*Note: 1 skater may be added to one group only when there are time constraints with the schedule only at
the referee’s discretion.
Pattern Dance Rhythm Dance Free Dance
# skaters per Warm-up # skaters per Warm-up # skaters per Warm-up
warm-up Time* warm-up Time warm-up Time
Basic Novice 8 3:00 8 3:00
Intermediate
8 3:00 6 3:00
Novice
Advanced Novice 6 3:00 6 4:00
Junior 6 4:00 6 5:00
Senior 6 4:00 6 5:00
* Solo Ice Dance warm-up time for Pattern Dances will be 30 seconds without music and 2 minutes 30
seconds using ISU tune #6.
2.1.9 Practice Ice
If official practice is not offered, skaters may practice at any time, except once a segment has started.
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2.3 Solo Ice Dance Intermediate Novice Requirements
2.3.1 Characteristics of Levels for Intermediate Novice Pattern Dances
2026/27 Season: Foxtrot and American Waltz
There will be 2 Key Points described and up to Level 3 will be evaluated
Basic Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
50% of Pattern Dance 75% of Pattern Dance 75% of Pattern Dance 90% of Pattern Dance
is completed. is completed AND is completed AND is completed AND
1 Key Point is correctly 2 Key Point are 2 Key Points are
executed. correctly executed. correctly executed.
2.3.2 Free Dance Requirements for Solo Ice Dance Intermediate Novice
Duration 1:50 +/- 10 seconds
Music The music must have a rhythmic beat. The music may be without a rhythmic beat for
up to 10 seconds at the beginning or end of the program and another 10 seconds
during the program. May be vocal and must be suitable for ice dance as a sport
discipline.
Edge Element One (1) Short Edge Element, but no more. The edge element must be held in
position for a minimum of three (3) seconds but cannot exceed eight (8) seconds.
Spin One (1) Dance Spin, but no more. Specifications for Season 2026/27
Dance Spin - A spin to be performed on the spot on one foot with or without
change(s) of foot by the skater.
*Flying Spins or Flying Entries are illegal elements.
Choreographic One (1) Choreographic Character Step Sequence performed on the long axis and
Character Step started with a stop or skidding movement.
Sequence
Not permitted: Touching the ice with any other part of the body than the blades (or
one (1) knee). Dance spins and Edge Elements will be considered an extra element
if the requirements for Basic Level are met.
*For season 2026/27, one (1) retrogression or loop is permitted.
Sequential One (1) Set of Sequential Twizzles. Two twizzles skated one after the other with up
Twizzle Series to two (2) steps in between twizzles. (When the skating foot leaves the ice, a step is
complete. Each push, including a scooter push, and/or transfer of weight while on
two feet between twizzles is considered as a step)
Choreographic One (1) additional chosen from the following
Element ● Choreographic Sliding Movement
● Choreographic Spinning Movement
● Choreographic Twizzling Movement
Maximum Level Up to Level 2 will be considered for Level.
Additional For Intermediate Novice (FD) if a Choreographic Character Step Sequence is not
Information performed within the first two Choreographic Elements, the second performed
Choreographic Element is identified as not according to the well-balanced program
requirements receives (*) symbol. The Choreographic Character Step Sequence
performed as a subsequent Choreographic Element shall not be identified.
*See page 22 for list of Choreographic Restrictions. Touching the ice with hand(s) on purpose when
not permitted will be considered an illegal element.
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9.2 Diagrams Solo Ice Dance Intermediate Novice Pattern Dance
9.2.1 Foxtrot – 2026/27 (Set Pattern Dance)
Solo Ice Dance Steps: Sequence 1, A-Steps and Sequence 2, B-Steps
2 sequences required for Solo Ice Dance Competition - Foxrot 4/4
100 beats per minute plus or minus 2 beats per minute
Number of Measures per Pattern: 7 measures of 4 beats
Minimum Pattern Time: 0:16.5 seconds Maximum Pattern Time: 0:17.1 Seconds
Approximate Duration for entire dance for event planning, (not skating time): 1:30
Key Point 1: Sequence 1, A-Steps 5-6 (CR-LFO3, RBO)
Sequence 2, B-Steps 3-4b (LFO, CR-RFO3, LBO)
Key Point 2: Sequence 1 & 2, Steps 13-14 (LFI, RFI)
Key Point Features: Must include correct turns, edges, foot placement and timing. (Additional
Feature: Correct Cross Rolls)
Sequence # Steps # of 10% 25% 50% 75% 90%
Steps
Sequence 1 Steps 1-14 14 1 4 7 11 13
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9.2.2 American Waltz – 2026/27 (Set Pattern Dance)
Solo Ice Dance Steps: Sequence 1, A-Steps and Sequence 2, B-Steps
2 sequences required for Solo Ice Dance Competition - Waltz 3/4
198 beats per minute plus or minus 3 beats per minute
Number of Measures per Pattern: 16 measures of 6 beats
Minimum Pattern Time: 28.8 seconds Maximum Pattern Time: 29.4 Seconds
Approximate Duration for entire dance for event planning, (not skating time): 1:35
Note: For A steps, a new step 15b, RFI SlCh has been added and step 16 is now a LFO SwR
Key Point 1: Sequence 1, A-Steps 7-9 (LBO-SwR, RFO-Sw3, LBO-SwR)
Sequence 2, B-Steps 1-3 (RFO-Sw3, LBO-SwR, RFO-SwR)
Key Point 2: Sequence 1, A-Steps 12-14 (RBO-SwR, LBO-Sw3, RBO-SwR)
Sequence 2, B-Steps 12-14 (LFO-SwR, RFO-SwR, LFO-Sw3)
Key Point Features: Must include correct turns, edges, foot placement and correct timing (Additional
feature: Correct Swing Three Turn timing)
Sections Steps # of 10% 25% 50% 75% 90%
Steps
1 Section Steps 1-16 16 2 4 8 12 14
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