by Anne Calder | Banner Picture by Liz Chastney
Editor’s Observe: There’s something quietly highly effective a few waltz in ice dance. Not the sweeping, nameless ballroom sway of a generic 3/4 melody—however the variety with edges. The type with historical past.
For the 2026–27 season, the ISU’s Ice Dance Technical Committee has proposed that steps from two of the self-discipline’s most intricate sample dances—the Golden Waltz (for senior) and the Westminster Waltz (for junior) —for inclusion within the Rhythm Dance. And in doing so, the ISU has not merely chosen steps. It has chosen lineage. These are usually not entry-level waltzes (there’s a purpose that the Westminster was unaffectionately named ‘the Westmonster’). These are dances that separate good groups from nice ones. They’re dances that expose posture, timing, ice protection, and the flexibility to maintain uninterrupted stream throughout demanding sequences.
In Anne’s article beneath, she shares a number of the historical past behind and data on these two sample dances.
Historical past
The primary unofficial worldwide senior ice dance competitors passed off as a particular occasion on the 1950 London and 1951 Milan World Determine Skating Championships.
Ice Dance made its historic inaugural World Ice Dance Championships debut in 1952 on the Palais des Sports activities in Paris, FRA. 4 Obligatory dances and a five-minute Free Dance have been competed. The CDs have been drawn from 4 teams of dances: Rocker Foxtrot (simple), Westminster Waltz (waltz), Quickstep (quick) and Argentine Tango (gradual).
In 1967, the Authentic Set Sample (OSP) was added to the ice dance competitions, changing one of many obligatory dances. It allowed groups to decide on their very own music and choreography to an ISU assigned particular rhythm and music sort that modified yearly.
In 1990, the Authentic Set Sample (OSP) identify was shortened and renamed the Authentic Dance. Along with the identify change, the OD now not required the dance be repeated precisely the identical manner across the rink and have become extra inventive and artistic.
(Y) sure accomplished, (N) not accomplished and (T) Timing error. The important thing factors have been elevated to 4 within the 2014-2015 season to align with the 4 ranges of problem.
One other identify change occurred in 2018 when the title Quick Dance turned a themed Rhythm Dance that higher mirrored the focus of the place particular rhythms have been competed.
Seasons 2022-2026 the seniors now not competed a full set sample dance. It was changed with a Sample Kind Step (StyleD) (PSt) – a partial step sequence with troublesome turns. Technical Panel’s Stage-of-Issue system (Ranges 1-4) mixed with judges’ Grade of Execution (GOE -5 to +5) changed the Key Factors.
The Juniors have continued competing the sample dance by way of 2025-2026. Key factors have been used to guage the Dance.
Season 2026-2027
The Ice Dance Technical Committee has proposed that the theme and music for junior and senior rhythm dances for the 2026/27 season is Rhythm and Waltz.
Any fashion of waltz is permitted, from conventional types to trendy interpretations. A minimum of one (1) further rhythm have to be included to assist the chosen idea or theme.
The Sample Dance Aspect is proposed as follows:
- Junior: Westminster Waltz – One (1) sequence (54 three-beat measures per minute; 162 beats per minute, skated in 3/4 time)
- Senior: Golden Waltz – A bit of the sample dance ranging from step 34 by way of step 20. (62 three-beat measures per minute; 186 beats per minute, said in 3/4 time)
Half I: Golden Waltz
The Golden Waltz is a extremely technical, demanding, and stylish ice dance.characterised by lengthy, flowing edges, intricate, quick, and sophisticated steps, and deep, lyrical, and romantic actions. The dance incorporates a variety of actions, together with varied kinds of waltz steps, three-turns, twizzles, and different maneuvers.
It options the “shoot-the-duck” and the “unfold eagle” as hallmark components, that are extremely athletic and weird for conventional sample dances.
On the 1987 worldwide determine skating Prize of Moscow Information (Moscow Cup) ice dance competitors, the gold medalists have been legendary Soviet Champions Marina Klimova & Sergei Ponomarenko, coached by Natalia Dubova. Their OSP Viennese Waltz is heralded because the genesis of the Golden Waltz.
The Golden Waltz made its debut within the 1996-1997 season, which additionally included Rhumba, Yankee Polka and Argentine Tango. Groups needed to put together 4 dances and be prepared for a random choose. Solely two have been danced on the premier occasions.
On the 1997 European Championships in Paris, France the Golden Waltz made its official worldwide debut as one of many two obligatory dances. The second dance was the Yankee Polka.
The highest placements on the first Golden Waltz competitors have been:
- Oksana Grishuk & Evgeny Platov (Russia)
- Anjelika Krylova & Oleg Ovsyannikov (Russia)
- Marina Anissina & Gwendal Peizerat (France)
Three months later, the Golden Waltz was competed once more on the 1997 World Determine Skating Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland.
On the 2010 World Determine Skating Championships in Torino, Italy, the skating of the Golden Waltz marked the top of the Obligatory Dance period. Federica Faillla & Massimo Scali (ITA) have been the final dancers to carry out a CD in competitors.
On the identical occasion, Tessa Advantage & Scott Moir (CAN) earned the best Golden Waltz CD rating and went on to win the 2010 World Championships.
The next season – 2010-2011 launched the brand new “Quick Dance” format.
All senior ice dance groups have been required to include two sections of the Golden Waltz sample into their routines. The 2010–11 season marked the elimination of the outdated obligatory dance and unique dance format, changing them with a single quick dance that required particular patterned steps.
On the 2011 World Determine Skating Championships in Moscow, Russia, the Golden Waltz chief board was represented internationally.
- Tessa Advantage & Scott Moir (Canada)
- Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)
- Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (France)
2010-2011 was the final season the Golden Waltz was named as a required dance till the latest ISU announcement {that a} phase can be skated within the 2026-2027 Rhythm Dance.
Half II: Westminster Waltz
The Westminster Waltz is characterised by stately carriage and class of line. It must be skated with sturdy edges and a softly flowing knee motion. An upright stance with-out breaking on the waist is important to its stately character. All through the dance the various modifications of place ought to look like easy and in glorious unison.
Smooth knee bends with out bounce, free leg extensions that are sturdy however not flamboyant, matched free leg actions of {couples}, even tempo and dignified expression all mix to reinforce the refined character of this waltz.
Through the 1930’s the Nationwide Skating Affiliation of Nice Britain, held competitions to encourage the creation of recent, tougher ice dances.
One of many newer dances invented by Eric van der Weyden and Eva Keats was the Westminster Waltz and first competed on the Westminster Ice Rink in London, England in 1938.
Following its debut, it was shortly built-in into nationwide and worldwide ability checks and early competitions.
World Struggle II pressured the cancellation of the World and European Championships from 1940 to 1946, and the Olympic Winter Video games in 1940 and 1944.
Within the U.S. new gold degree checks have been launched in 1941. Two years later, the U.S. Determine Skating Affiliation (USFSA) held the Nationals Championships at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis. It was traditionally elevated to a “Gold” occasion in formal recognition of the best technical degree in U.S. ice dance.
The Westminster Waltz was featured with three different dances competed by six {couples} competing within the remaining spherical of the inaugural occasion. The Westminster Waltz stays a “Gold” degree check dance and continues for use in varied aggressive rotations for Junior and Novice classes.
Through the 1959 ISU Congress, the outline of Step 3 was formally altered to mandate a change of edge, guaranteeing the dance was skated precisely as its inventors initially designed.
In Sarajevo, Yugoslavia on the 1984 Winter Olympics, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean representing the UK, obtained excellent scores of 6 from three of the 9 judges for his or her interpretation of the Westminster Waltz.
It was the third obligatory danced after the Paso Doble and Rhumba and the primary given excellent scores for a obligatory dance in Olympic historical past.
For the reason that ISU merged the obligatory and unique dances into the Quick Dance (now Rhythm Dance) after the 2010 season, the Westminster Waltz has not been skated as a stand-alone phase.
Nevertheless, it continues to stay within the rotation of Sample Dance components. The Westminster Waltz was first competed on the Novice degree in 2015-16 and most lately on the 2025 U.S. Championships in Wichita, KS.
