Test: Preliminary Dances (Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango, Rhythm Blues)

This was my very first test.

I stumbled across a testing session at my rink when I just started my private lessons. I decided to stay and watch. There were maybe 20 skaters and their parents and coaches. It was one adult lady testing  the first 2 dances solo, the rest were kids and teens. I was hit by how nervous was everybody. They were stiff in their dresses, hairdo and makeup. After testing some of them were crying. I decided right then that I'll NEVER test. But, never say never...

As I started to work on dances with my coach, I already knew the steps from a friend and I was bored. I knew the steps from the first 9 dances so 3 levels, but my technique was acceptable just for the first level. I needed to keep working on them to develop the technique for the next levels. To keep myself motivated, my coach suggested to test. She said that the first level is an encouragement test, so I won't have reasons to get stressed. I love fashion and she said that I'll get to dress up. She sign me up and sent me to take a lesson with a male coach that would be my partner for the test. There were just 2 weeks left to the test. In a way it was good, because I didn't have much time to overthink. I took 3 lessons. But I surely didn't feel prepared. I was intimidated and uncomfortable to skate so close to somebody. Plus we were going faster together then I was skating on my own. All these 3 pattern dances from the Preliminary level, are going forward in Killian hold. That means that the skaters are side to side, one of the man arms goes around the woman waist.

My new coach showed me the paper that the judges use for the test. It had two sets of requirements
1. Technique: accuracy, placement, unison, form, cleanness, and sureness
2. Timing/Expression: correct timing, expression of the character of the music
The coach said the technique I have is good enough for this level. I definitely knew the steps. The coach said that's the most important thing. He worked with me on the character of the dances. He said that in his experience even for high level dances, presenting the character of the dance could make a just ok test pass.

My test was in January 2017. Getting close to the testing day I felt fairly nervous. I decided to not think about it. Just let it happen. The dress that I planned on wearing, more precisely the nude tights seemed to be stressing me. I decided to wear black leggings instead, and that actually ended up making me feel not dressed-up, just awkward. I was asked to be at the rink with an hour before my test and I was nervous as i arrived, but standing around, I've got even more nervous.  Both my coaches were there but my partner coach was more aware of my nerves so he babysat me a little... well a lot.  He explained me how to breath deeply to relax, how to warm up a little, he told me to put on the skates just 15 min before and bend into the ankles to warm them up. He said not to think about anything, he'll tell me everything I need to do, including when is my turn. I have to say, it helped a lot.

We had 5 min to warm up on ice, and after the 5 minutes they played the music for every dance. I wasn't nervous at all when I first got on ice, but I was rushing through everything, I got a little tired and stop breathing right, and here I was nervous again. And, I was first to go. The first dance was the Dutch Waltz and here is the video. The second the music started my partner coach asked me something. I don't remember what, something about plans for the rest of the day. I didn't have time to answer but it made me smile and forgot all about nerves. I felt very stiff through the 2 patterns I had to do but I didn't feel I made any mistakes.
Canasta Tango (video here) was next, after 2 or 3 other skaters doing the waltz. It was was my favorite dance from the 3, and I felt I gave it a little more confidence.
On the Rhythm Blues (video) I was fairly relaxed, but also quite spent.
As we were getting off the ice my coach said "good job".

The whole test was done in 10 minutes and the judges sent the papers out immediately. I passed the first two dances with " pass +", the last one just "pass". Was I too relaxed on the last one?

All in all wasn't that bad!

Ice Dancing: Rhythm Blues pattern dance and the Cross Step Behind

The Rhythm Blues is the third and last of the Preliminary pattern dances.  It has steps that I already described: Forward Stroking, Forward Progressive and Forward Outside Swing Rolls as in the Dutch Waltz, and it introduces Forward Inside Swing Rolls and the Cross Step Behind that I'll describe after I describe the pattern.

Here is a link to the form judges use at tests, it shows the diagram of the dance and the skills they are looking for: http://usfsa.org/content/rhythm-blues.pdf and more explanation is in  the "Rule Book". You see in the drawing that the Rhythm Blues has 16 steps. This dance covers half of the rink's perimeter starting in one corner and finishing on the diagonally opposite corner and the hold is killian like the Dutch Waltz. The count is 12,34 where each is one beat.
Here is the dance done and explained by national competitors ice dancers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koDwfqUv_Jo

Starting point: is on the red cross on my drawing

Intro steps: 4 Forward Strokes: left, right, left, right.
The pattern dance: Again, I will explain this in lobes grouping the steps in the judges drawing, as I was grouping them in my mind to remember them.
1.2.3. Left Forward Progressive, 3 edges LFO.RFI.LFO (1-1-2, 4 beats total)
4. Right Forward Outside Swing Roll (4 beats)
5.6.7.8. (6 beats total). So, here, there are  two, 2 edges progressives, the actual Progressive is the inside edge as I was saying in the Forward Progressive description...
   5. RFO edge 2 beat long with a rise on the skating foot after 1 beat
   6. RFI Progressive (1 beat)
   7. RFO edge (1 beat)
   8. RFI Progressive (2 beats)
9. Left Forward Inside Swing Roll (LFI-SR) (4betas)
10. Right Forward Inside Swing Roll (RFI-SR) (4 beats)
11.12.13 Left Forward Progressive (4 beats total in a 1-1-2 count) and continuing on the same lobe or circle but almost flat not curved
14.15.16. RFI-XB, LFO-XB (cross optional), RFI-XB
Cross Step Behind
As I learnt all these 2 years ago, I don't remember the exact instructions, but I remember the cross behind steps were scary... What I remember are mostly tips:
- First try by the boards
- Try off ice without and with boots plus by a mirror
- Have your weight over your skating hip until you are ready to put the new foot down
- An Exercise: Don't lift you free foot back and high so the calf comes parallel to the ice, this will make you lean forward and loose your balance. Instead, think more like lifting the free knee up and sneaking the free foot around the calf, then slide the foot down flexed (so push the heel down while lifting the toes) so the blade is parallel with the ice and you don't catch the toe pick. Lifting the foot up not back will not mess up your posture and balance. The actual step seams to be somehow between the don't and do... But trying to do the exercise will get you there...

On the judges form it shows that they look for: Accuracy, Placement, Skating Skills, Style, Unison (if partnered). In my understanding it means that you have to know the steps, and where they go on the pattern, have some edges, some extension and posture, and some unison. The judges also look for timing and the character of the dance (for the blues that is a lazy, good mood feeling).

And here is my Rhythm Blues test after learning from a friend for few months, taking a 2 months, once a week 35 min long ice dance group class and just 3 lessons with my dance coach.

I didn't spend as much time on this dance as on the other two at this level. It felt easier... first the tempo is slower, then there were not as many outside edge to an outside edge transitions between the lobes and looking back, that was the thing that was giving me a lot of trouble.