The ISU has released Communication No. 1932, the much-anticipated slate of ice dance technical requirements for 2015-16. While further details, like point value, will be released in the off-season, this early document provides some significant insights into what couples, coaches and choreographers will be faced with in the off-season.
Supplemental rhythm options for both senior Ravensburger Waltz and junior Starlight Waltz short dance are the foxtrot, march or polka, with one of those additional rhythms being mandatory in a divergence from previous years which permitted use of a single rhythm. The partial step sequence including pattern key points that made its debut in this year’s Paso Doble short dance has been scrapped in favor of a return to two consecutive pattern dance sections. However, a partial in-hold step sequence has been retained in a different capacity: in a radical departure from short dance tradition, it replaces the side-by-side no-touching step sequence for seniors and must be skated to that non-waltz rhythm; this sequence will be signaled with a full stop immediately preceding its beginning. This change in step sequences will by its nature amplify the extent of in-hold content in the short dance, but, in this site’s opinion, also sacrifices an additional element that served a particular role in reflecting the extent of a team’s unison, interplay and connection, and overall speed and ice coverage.
In the free dance, the choreographic lift and spin options have been joined by the “choreographic twizzling movement,” two sets of at least two continuous rotations for one partner, the second set on the spot or traveling. Whether one of these choreographic options will continue to hold a higher base value than another remains to be seen.
Icenetwork has made available audio from yesterday’s teleconference with Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim, as well as from today’s calls with 2015 ice dance silver medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani and bronze medalists Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue.
Icenetwork has also contributed its coverage from this week’s teleconferences with Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford and Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, while Steve Buffery of the Toronto Sun covers Weaver and Poje’s call.