Skate The Night Away

Skate The Night Away

Every four years the Olympics come to the NBC channels for families everywhere to watch. The Olympics is a time where families can gather around in the living room and watch their favorite athletes run, dive and jump. Now in 2018, we all gather around to watch the Winter Olympics live from Pyeongchang, South Korea where many people may be watching figure skating. Skating comes in two forms, figure skating and ice dancing. Many of you may be wondering, “What is the difference?”

“Ice dancing has been thought of as ballroom dancing on ice, so the emphasis is on a graceful and entertaining routine that could easily be done on the ground,” said Shape Magazine.

Ice dancing has many different rules and technical moves than figure skating. When you watch ice dancing, it may be harder to see the technical moves they perform. Ice dancers moves are more hidden in their routine than figure skaters. It is easier to see a jump or a spin preformed than a step routine across the ice.

“Ice dancing pairs are scored more on how they move together as one. For example, if one dancer moves or spins at a slightly different pace than their partner, it could mean huge point deductions,” said Justin Ross, a former ice dancer, to NBC San Diego.

Figure skating is a whole different world. There are individual events for men and women, plus pair figure skating too. Now what can be different about figure skating that ice dancing doesn’t have?

“Figure skating focuses more on the jumps, lifts, death spirals and spins. There are both pairs and men’s and women’s singles competitions. While figure skaters are scored on the connecting footwork between all of those elements, ice dancers are judged more on the precision of their footwork,” said Shape magazine.

Watching the two different events may still seem like they are the same even after being told what the difference is. So how will viewers be able to keep the two straight?

“An easy distinction for the folks at home: If the music is more melodic, and if the routine involves lots of lifts, throws and spins, it ‘s probably figure skating. If the music is rhythmic, and the skaters are more focused on technical footwork and styling, it’s probably ice dancing,” said Hannah Golden, reporter from Elite Daily.

After the two wonderful weeks of watching athletes throw a curling stone down the ice, throwing their partner into the air and performing a routine on the half pipe, at least viewers will known what the difference is between ice dancing and figure skating.