Ice Dance: Rules, Structure, and Updates for the 2025/2026 Season

Ice dance is one of the most complex and aesthetically refined disciplines in figure skating. It combines precise technique with musical expression, synchronization, choreography, and often a dramatic storyline. For the 2025/2026 season, several important rule changes have been introduced, defining not only age and skill requirements but also the content of the competition programs.

Age and Performance Requirements

Junior Ice Dance Pairs:

• Minimum performance test: Test No. 7 (“white” or “green” variant)

• Age requirements:

  • Girl born after July 1, 2004

  • Boy born after July 1, 2002 and before June 30, 2012

  • Maximum age gap between partners: 7 years

Senior Ice Dance Pairs:

• Both partners must be born before July 1, 2009

• Required test for participation at Nationals and international ISU competitions

Structure of the Competition Programs

Ice dance competitions consist of two segments:

1. Rhythm Dance (RD)

Each season, the Rhythm Dance has a predefined musical theme. For the 2025/2026 season, it is:

• 90s Style: Pop, Street Latin, House, Techno, Hip-Hop, Grunge Rock

• Allowed: remixes, instrumental versions, cover versions, and AI-generated tracks (if officially released and ethically appropriate)

Required elements in the Rhythm Dance:

• Step sequence PSt – Style D in 2/2 or 4/4 time, min. 120 BPM

• 4 different types of difficult turns: e.g., backward counter, rocker, twizzle, mohawk

• Dance lifts: 1–2 short lifts, maximum 7 seconds each

• Dance spin, contact variation, choreographic sequence (according to current technical specifications)

2. Free Dance (FD)

This segment allows more choreographic freedom, while still evaluating:

• technical difficulty of elements

• musical interpretation and creativity

• fluidity of movement, timing, and synchronization

Required elements include:

• at least two step sequences

• dance lifts (one combination, two short)

• spins, twizzles, choreographic elements

Judging and Goals

Ice dance is evaluated according to the ISU judging system, which combines:

• Technical Elements Score (TES) – difficulty and execution

• Program Components Score (PCS) – musicality, composition, performance, transitions

The main goal of any ice dance team is to blend technical precision with artistic expression, making the program feel natural, elegant, and emotionally engaging.

Ice dance is a true bridge between sport and art – and thanks to its clearly defined rules and structure, it fosters the development of individuals as well as the discipline itself. The 2025/2026 season brings new challenges, fresh rhythms, and exciting opportunities.