Freestyle & Ice Dance Skating-Summer Series

Freestyle skating is when special skating times are set aside for figure skaters to practice jumps, spins, and moves. It is also when they practice skating their programs to music.

Because figure skaters are moving very fast, beginners are not usually allowed on the ice during freestyle sessions, unless they are taking a lesson at the time.

There are different levels of freestyle sessions. A “Low Level” freestyle session would be for skaters below a certain skating level, such as juvenile. “High Level” sessions are for advanced skaters doing double and triple jumps. “Moves” sessions don’t allow spins and jumps — the skaters have to be practicing set patterns called “Moves in the Field.” “Ice Dance” sessions are for ice dancers; pairs skaters usually skate on freestyle sessions.

Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. The first competition was at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but it did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976.

As in pair skating, dancers compete as a couple consisting of a man and a woman. Ice dance differs from pair skating by having different requirements for lifts, requiring spins to be performed as a team in a dance hold, and by disallowing throws and jumps. Typically, partners are not supposed to separate by more than two arm lengths; originally, partners were supposed to be in a dance hold the entire program, though this restriction has been lifted somewhat in modern ice dancing.

Another distinction between ice dance and other disciplines of skating is the use of music in the performances; in ice dancing, dancers must always skate to music that has a definite beat or rhythm. Singles and pair skaters more often skate to the melody and phrasing of their music, rather than its beat; this is severely penalized in ice dance.

Class Schedule Summer Series

 

 

Standard Registration Fees:

Standard Registration fees: $130 Summer; $125 each additional family member.

 

Registration

There are three ways to register for the Learn To Skate program.

1. Online registration using our secure forms (card payments only).
    Register up to two skaters per form.

   
   Freestyle & Ice Dance

    Registration for Ballet, Stroking and Power Development must be
    done in person at the Information window in the Fred Rust Ice Arena.

2. Call (302) 831-2868 to have a registration form mailed to you.

3. Click here download and print the registration form and mail to: Fred Rust Ice Arena,
    547 South College Ave., Newark, DE 19716

4. Visit the Fred Rust Ice Arena Information Window and register in person.
    Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

If you have any questions contact the University of Delaware, Fred Rust Ice Arena, Newark, DE 19716 at (302) 831-6051 or send an e-mail to ud-skating@udel.edu.