Pair Skating - Program Components

Program Components

The program components score (PCS), also known as presentation, is composed of:

1) Skating skills (SS): Defined as "edge control and flow over the ice surface demonstrated by a command of the skating vocabulary (edges, steps, turns, etc), the clarity of technique, and the use of effortless power to accelerate and vary speed", it includes:

  • Balance, rhythmic knee action, and precision of foot placement
  • Flow and effortless glide
  • Clean and controlled curves, deep edges, steps, and turns
  • Varied use of power/energy, speed, and acceleration
  • Multi directional skating: Forward and backward, clockwise and counterclockwise including rotation in both directions
  • Mastery of one foot skating. No over use of skating on two feet.
  • Equal mastery of technique by both partners shown in unison.

2) Transitions (TR): Defined as "varied and/or intricate footwork, positions, movements, and holds that link all elements", including the entrances and exits of technical elements. The criteria include:

  • Variety
  • Difficulty
  • Intricacy
  • Quality including unison
  • Balance of workload between partners

3) Performance/execution (PE) includes:

  • Physical, emotional, and intellectual involvement
  • Carriage and alignment
  • Style and individuality, i.e. "the distinctive use of line and movement as inspired by the music" and artistic choices
  • Clarity of movement is "refined lines of the body and limbs, as well as the precise execution of any movement"
  • Varied use of tempo, rhythm, force, size, level, movement shapes, angles, and body parts as well as the use of contrast
  • Projection
  • Unison and “oneness”
  • Balance in performance between partners
  • Spatial awareness between partners – management of the distance between partners and management of changes of hold
  • The use of same techniques in edges, jumping, spinning, line, and style

4) Choreography (CH) includes the following criteria:

  • Purpose, i.e. idea, concept, vision, mood
  • Proportion (equal weight of all parts)
  • Unity – purposeful threading of all movements
  • Utilization of personal and public space
  • Pattern and ice coverage, variety of patterns and directions of travel
  • Phrasing and form (movement and parts are structured to match the phrasing of the music)
  • Originality of purpose, movement, and design
  • Shared responsibility of purpose (both partners have equal roles)

5) Interpretation (IN) includes:

  • Effortless movements in time to the music
  • Expression of the music's style, character, and rhythm
  • Use of finesse to reflect the nuances of music
  • Relationship between the partners reflecting the character of the music, equal understanding of the music

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