I talked about the elements of the Pre-Juvenile tests here, I explained the virtual testing process here, and I talked about the last weeks training for the test here. And here is the video:
The judges scores were mostly zeros, with some -1s balanced by +1s. I've got positive for the first move and the last. Mixed mostly 0s and some -1s for the 3-turns. I've got -1 for the power pulls from all 3 judges for minimal power... And I've got 0s for the back circle eight. That confirmed what I've felt myself, that the moves were correct but without having anything special, like power, extension. confidence.
But, for me this pass is very special, as I am an adult in my 40s that started skating as an adult, and testing standard track, as the kids test. I fought really hard for my little power and ability to hold extensions. I do plan my next moves test to be on adult track, adult gold. Then I may go back and test Juvenile standard to motivate myself to work on "power" . The juvenile test would have few moves that I would have missed, like the cross rolls, 8 step mohawk and the back power 3 turns. But firstly I have to have workable boots, only then I can get back to "work"....
I'll start at the beginning. This exhibition was a series of solo numbers on Nutcracker music. It was organized as some kind of replacement to the beloved annual "Nutcracker on Ice" production that this rink puts on each year, for 45 years! The production follows closely the actual ballet, with a huge number of skaters, and this year, because of covid situation, it was not possible to be put together.
I've told you how difficult my preparation was in the last few posts. As rinks, including this rink, have recently closed because of new covid restrictions, I thought that the exhibition will be canceled. I found out it will go on just two weeks before the show. I scrambled to fit my old Freestyle program on the Nutcracker music and to revive Freestyle elements that I don't regularly train. This was also, only the second time I ever performed a solo program, the
first time being when I tested for Pre-Bronze Freestyle, the same
program on different music. I just added some intro steps because the
Nutcracker music was a bit longer than my previous music.
I had two worries. One, to hold the performance together, don't fall, don't be totally awkward... Two, and maybe even more important, I was worried that I won't be able to enjoy, being that the program was prepared in such a short time and it was not muscle memory and I knew I'll have to think a lot during the performance. But, while it wasn't perfect, I've done it better in practice, but I've also done it worse, I think the performance was a fair display of my current abilities. And I did enjoy it!
And here is the video
And here are the thoughts running in my head during each step...
It was the first and only time I had the music played on the rink's speakers, I've only trained the program with music playing in one earbud, from my cell phone. I prepared to be overwhelmed, but I was perfectly happy, maybe the fact that I love the music a lot, helped.
I started a little after the music started, just as I usually did in practice, that made me have to rush a little to keep the first swing roll on 3 or even 2 counts, while allowing 4 counts for the next one. Then, I did a dropped 3-turn into a back 3-turn. When I practiced without music I held those edges a little shorter, but I had no problems in following the music and waiting to turn it, then holding the exit edge to put the next edge on music. There is a little lean forward after the 3-turn, that's just my current technical ability, no surprise there.
On the next two inside edges and the inside edge spread eagle I was able to let loose and really enjoy. I'm very happy to see in the video the improvement I made in the arm movement. The arms and especially the hands are way more fluid then in the old program.
I may have been so loose, that I've forgotten I have to slow down the 3-turns series. In the old program those were more toe picks turns, not 3-turns, they were done on a line, in front of the judges for the test, building to the hand pointing towards them (that was suppose to show confidence by interacting with the judges). On the Nutcracker waltzy music, I had to hold those turns longer, and being 3-turns they needed to go on a curve, that I actually liked. But... then, I had to be sure to control to finish facing towards the spectators. The first 3-turn was rushed, I had to adjust on the second one, to the point that I felt that the third one was late. That made my arm gesture towards the spectators rushed, it looks like I'm dismissing something, but I haven't realized that during the performance. I feel if I would have worked with a coach, or at least filmed a practice, I could have made more out of this hand movement, and the next gliding element. The gliding element felt better then it looks. The skating knee should be more bent, so it would be clear it is not spiral (bad spiral), or more stretched... and the free leg should be more stretched...
Next are a series of steps leading to a salcow jump and I had to control myself to do them slower than I would have enjoyed ( where the music was taking me). I had a hesitation on the first mohawk, is the "bad side", the harder one to control, but you cannot really see in in the video. Then, at some point I'm not on music... that was on purpose, as I learned from practice that if I let myself go on music there, I catch to much speed and excitement and I cannot do the salcow...
Ok... slacow was tiny, as the other two jumps yet to come. But, I'm training the jumps, basically... never. So I'm happy I was able to do it. Next is a matching 3-turn as with the one before the salcow and a gliding on a back edge, with extension, after which I've change the arm movement, from pushing away (that was originally choreographed), to a more balletic gesture. I've decided to do that just before the show, I've never trained it. And I'm mentioning it, so I can share the extent of how many thoughts I had to control for this performance. With more time to train, the majority of these thought become automatic gestures, body memory. I'm thinking now, that that dismissive arm movement could have been changed into a presenting one. I'll know better for the future...
Then, I have a chasse into a swing roll and two dropped 3-turns. When I practice I've tried different arm movements, both up, the inside up, the outside up... I haven't really had a plan for the show... I just didn't feel I had enough place in my mind to think about this too. But, I'm actually so very happy how they've turned out, they came from the inside, feeling and living the music.
The Waltz jump is immediately after one of this 3-turns (counting as a difficult entrance)... it was ok. Immediately after it is a Forward spin from an inside 3-turn. That is not my regular entrance, and I'm happy that it felt way more comfortable then when I tested the program on the other piece of music.
A chasse goes into the more difficult direction crossovers and into the spiral. I decided just before the performance, when I saw where the video camera is, to change the placement of the spiral, initially should have started exactly near the camera, going away from the camera...
Then I had a half flip, oh, how tiny... and entrance into the scratch spin. The plan was to hear the music while I spin and if there is extra time to continue the spin with a back pivot. I didn't expect the spin to happen, as I couldn't make it happen in the warm up. I expected that I'll bail out of the spin and I was prepared to have to improvise. But... the spin happened! Unfortunately I forgot about the back pivot... I change the weight to the other leg, and did some kind of pose... I'm quite sure I would never ever be able to repeat that end thingy I did.
So, there is was, done and done.
I ended up enjoying for the most part both the performance and the preparation... and I am so happy that it also brought joy to my family and friends. We are all ballet and Nutcracker lovers... and my performance was a nod to that...
And here is the video filmed from a little higher, through plexiglass, so not so clear, but this perspective catches the flow a little better.
While writing the previous post about hopes and goals and progress, I've went back and I've red some of my old posts and I realized that I haven't wrote in a while a post about technique. I remembered I was planning to write about backward edge presses, and I've filmed them, in January!
I described the forward edge presses here. To me, it is the exercise that helps the transition from the basic beginner forward edges, to all the beginner-intermediate forward dance steps: chasses, progressives, swing rolls and the more advanced skill, the deep forward edges. I see I wrote these posts very soon after I started the blog.
I described the beginner basic backward edges here, where I mentioned the backward push and backward posture. Then I covered the backward push, posture and balance here in more detailed, as it is important and difficult, at least for me. Then I described the backward chasses, swing rolls, but not the backward progressives and edge presses. It's not because I forgot about them, but because I described everything technique related in the succession I've learned them. And I haven't felt I've understood them well enough to describe them properly.
So back to the backward edge presses... They are done on alternating lobes, on an axis (same principle for both outside and inside).
- You start with the upper body almost square with the lower body over the axis, turned towards the inside of the circle just a little bit (for both outside and inside edges) both feet on the axis.
- You push away from the axis, straight back, maintaining the upper body square with the hips.
- Then you bend your knees and "sit"... you bend the knees and ankles, you push the ankles towards your back (that helps the balance) and keep the shoulders back too and you PRESS with your ankles into the ice
- you create the edge by leaning into the circle, with the whole body and the ankle, being careful to not drop out the free hip or stick out the skating hip into the circle
- and you repeat on the other side...
Here is me practicing them I start on the right side of the screen with the outside ones, then I come back with the insides but somebody cut my way. I'll try to film them again when I'll get the chance for a more close up view and update on the progress.
I was saying that I waited to be sure I understood them before writing about them... And that was smart. I was one day telling my coach of how much working on them help me with balance and alignment for the backward 3-turns. And he said "let me see them", because he hasn't seen them in a while. And he said... you are doing them all wrong! I was twisting my upper body immediately after the push... The coach said to keep doing them as an exercise for the 3-turns, as you need the body twisted like that before the turn. And here are a version of the backward edge presses, with the upper body twisting after the push.
But the correct edge presses, that my coach thought me, with the body square, train something else...The meaning of this exercise is to help find the lean for getting an edge going backwards (along
with finding the alignment, balance, posture and the finding the feeling of "gripping" the ice).
I've had few new (and old) corrections on yesterday private lesson.
Firstly, you know how I was saying in my last post, that I feel my skills for the Ten Fox are good enough for the level, and all I need is to put a little more power and pay attention to partnering? Actually, it seams that I scrape the 3-turn... badly. May coach showed me the tracing on ice (in the Ten Fox pattern) and it was soo bad. That would be a good reason to fail the test. When I do the dance on my own, I'm never able to find the tracing. When I do the 3-turns on their own, I can find the tracing and it looks correct more often then not. But in the dance, I do the 3-turn after steps harder then and outside stroke, plus I have more speed, so it is a more difficult set up. I have to fix this before thinking of testing.
Here is the post I wrote about the dropped 3-turns. I'll go over the mistakes I make often now, and what I should be doing correct them:
- good forward outside edge on the entry stroke. That would include a good push from underneath yourself, so re bend on the skating foot, but then flip it on the inside edge as you actually put the new foot down. This will make space for the new foot to be set on an outside edge. I am able to do this consistently, but I'm not doing it in the dance... the problem I think, is rushing, getting overexcited or nervous, and actually stepping, not pushing from underneath.
- maintain this outside edge, not flatten it. Well, firstly, if I don't set it on an outside edge to begin with, it's kind of impossible, at least for me, to fix it. But let's say I do that right. To maintain the edge I should keep on the back of the blade (and I often find myself forward, again probably from the bad push) and press into the ice keeping the knee out. Yes, I'm letting the knee fall in, then of course the edge will flatten. It's possible I do this even worse with the partner as I may worry I'll hit his knee with my knee. But even on my own, this is not a skill I do without really concentrating on it. Another reason I think I lean forward is that I know I have to get closer to my partner just before turning the 3-turn, so leaning forward does get my upper body closer. I have o get closer with all my body, including the lover body.
- rise over the skating hip, lifting the rib cage. I feel I'm not doing this good enough, but my coach says that what it's messing me up, is in fact that I re bend while still turning (rushing again), and that it is what takes me out of the alignment and making me lean outside the circle not inside as I should, and this is making me scrape.
- another mistake I make often, is allowing the left shoulder forward. I am conscientiously twisting my upper body, but the left shoulder block my, and I am not aware of it while doing it.
- of course I have to turn my head with the turn...
- the old mistake was that I was pushing back after the 3-turn while re bending. It seams I fixed that by re bending even sooner (joke on me), instead of after the 3-turn...
The second correction I've got it was about the back push, and that translates into all backward skating so I'm very excited about it. It will be one of my next posts.
Then we did partner Ten Fox again and again, and I still do all kind of mistakes. There is this expectation that the coach helps the student during the dances, including during the tests. But these things eventually need to be corrected. And I think I have enough corrections for a whole post, so again, I'll come back to it in a new post soon.
Corrections Jan 2020
- I worked on these for half hour on the next two
sessions I was on ice. I went trough all the corrections, and I found
the one mistake that ruined it even when everything else was right. This
is the LFO 3-turn, so I have to twist the upper body towards the left.
Well, I do, but I'm also pushing the left shoulder forward, so I'm
blocking the twisting...
- Then on my next lesson, the coach said
that even if I'm twisting toward the left, I'm still not aligned over
the left hip, I should think of pushing the left hip forward (until now
he was saying butt in)
- I was saying that holding the 3-turn
entry edge on an outside edge was a problem mostly in the solo pattern
dance. I realized that I wasn't finishing the previous lobe correctly, I
wasn't twisting while rising towards the inside of the next circle, as I
was explaining here.
I should finish the previous lobe with the right hand forward and left
shoulder back, ready for the 3-turm. I finish sometimes square and
sometimes with the left hand forwards, that also means the left shoulder
forward and that is a problem even when I do the 3-turn on its own, setting it like this in the pattern is doubling the same mistake!
- But I'm able to correct these, so I need to practice them enough to became body memory. And the dance was already better....
And here is a video with my dropped 3-turns done in a circle, both directions
Update from end of January: The dropped 3-turn definitely got better, I would even dare to say good,
when I do them slowly. When I go faster into them I still skid, but not
as badly as before. I was complaining to my coach about maybe feeling
scared when having more speed and he asked if I felt is the velocity
that scares me or the quickness. Good question... I wasn't
differentiating between the two, and I thought is the velocity, but now I
find it's actually the quickness. And it's not even fear, it's more
that I'm not quick enough to find the right alignment over the hip when I
go faster. So, as my coach says, I need to drill it, for that alignment
(that I have when moving slower, because I have the time to think about
it) to became muscle memory. I also feel confused about the timing of
it, I'm so busy aligning I'm waiting to feel that alignment and there is
just no way I can also think about putting it on a count. Back to work
then...
Corrections 2023:
- twist the upper body while rising (I was stroking, rising then twisting) and bring the free hip along, don't leave it back. And I figured the stroke-rise and twist is a continuous move. I also figured that with a deeper knee bend in the stroking I have more flow/ inertia into the rise and twist
- let the foot turn (don't stop it) and don't turn it yourself. I was stroking, stalling and then force the foot to turn, as I can see in the 1st 3 in the video
- Note from my own observation to check with my coach... Today I suddenly scraped the 3s (they were fine for a while now), and I think it is because my muscles were tired and as I stroke the outside edge I leaned forward, so when I raised and twisted I didn't have more space to go forward on the blade ti turn cleanly...
A requirement in ISI Freestyle 3 level is a Change Foot Spin that is a tree spins combination: from
forward one foot spin (free foot at ankle or crossed) to back spin (free
foot at ankle or crossed) to forward spin again. Each has to have 3
revolutions. Another requirement is that each spin should not be started
further away then hips width.
My old way of doing it
in Freestyle group class was from a short forward inside pivot-pump lift the
right foot to the left ankle (so forward spin) and hold 3 revolutions,
put the free (right) foot down on the toe pick and do a quick back
inside pivot style pump, lift the left foot at the ankle of the right
foot and hold 3 revolutions, then again forward inside pivot to forward
spin. Here is my video:
As I was saying in my previous post, there are some tricks for these spins, both forward and back.
- finish the pivot bringing the foot that pumps to the ankle of the spinning foot, before lifting it (so you won't throw yourself off center)
- the spinning is happening on the middle of the blade not on the ball of the foot (as the forward spin)
- keep the weight over the spinning foot
- keep the upper body square over your hips
- press into the ice
- lift the upper body (that would hopefully help keep it straight)
My private coach
wants me to start with a forward spin from winding up from back
crossovers, hold 3 rotations, put the free (right) foot down for a short
2 foot spin and pick up the left leg for the back spin for 3
revolutions, and same again for another forward spin. This last spin
should be held as long as comfortable to give the impression you are in
control. I cannot do it... Firstly, starting with winding up from back
crossovers, I have too much speed to control the change of foot. But
even with my regular slow pivot entrance, I'm off balance on that 2 foot
spin in between the first forward spin and the back spin. Then, I often allow
the left side to go back, instead of holding it square. He also says I'm not pressing into the ice, that's
probably why I like using the pivot, because I press into that and I re
balance. Also I'm still rocking back and forth on my blade, the coach
says I'm
too forward on my blade. I do occasionally hit the sweet spot that is
more towards the middle of the blade... As I start the spin (I'm still talking about the back spin) from the pivot, I have the toe pick in the ice, and I think it is quite impossible to hit that sweet spot and balance of it going from the toe pick over the place where the blade is most curved. And that is why I rock back and forth...
My coach from
the summer group class said to hold the arms out laterally for the
whole first forward spin and during the transition to the back spin,
maybe even on the backspin and bring them in just for the last forward
spin. That's actually helping a little. I spent few month on this on
group classes, few years ago, then stopped doing it and it was lost. So I
had to spent again, few months to get it but this time with more
awareness of what I was doing.
Despite all the "challenges" I was having, my private coach wanted me to stick with this back spin without the free foot crossed, until I've got comfortable, so the fear was almost gone. I don't know if you can read the frustration between the lines. Just in case you cannot not, I'll say it... Learning the back spin and the change foot spin as describe in these 2 last posts, must have been the most frustrating time in my skating. And it took me between 6 months and a year to get to the point described here. But then, when I started to do the back spin from an inside 3-turn (that gets you on the sweet spots more smoothly, plus it's crossing the free foot by itself, literally), everything got on a path that made sense. I will describe this intermediate back spin with the free foot crossed, so the back scratch spin, after I describe some more beginner stuff, plus I progress a little more, so I'll be able to describe it a little better.
Here is a video of mine, done on alternating lobes.
Read the post on the Backward Chasses, as there are similarities between these steps.
Intro steps: I do 2 forward strokes, Mohowk, 2 back strokes,
that would bring me to the axis going on the lenght of the rink. First lobe:
1.Right
Back Outside Edge (RBO). Use the backward push into it, and push
straight back, perpendicular from the axis, put the right foot on an
outside edge as you push and hold the free foot extended (when partnering, it should and
will match the partner extension stroking forward). The skating leg is bent at the knee. The upper body is
turned a little toward the inside of the circle.This is the same as for the Back Chasse, with the mention that you hold the edge until the middle of the lobe. Also the extension of the free leg is emphasized more (it has to match the extension to the back in the second half of the lobe). Also, I was surprised when my coach mention it, but, concentrating on having a higher and longer extension, puts you on a better back edge... As for errors, I can see in the video that after the back push I allow the upper body to open towards the outside of the circle immediately. If I would hold it slightly towards the inside of the circle, again, I would have a stronger back outside edge.
2.At the top (middle) of the lobe, you straighten the skating leg and bring the free foot at the ankle of the skating foot. You keep your weight over the skating hip and press into the ice. This is where you would square the upper body (that should have been kept facing inside the circle until now).
3.Continue the RBO Edge. The free leg goes back (in a controlled manner, not a swing) and should be kept back for the whole second of the lobe (not dropped down immediately). The upper body turns slightly with the back at the circle, and the free leg and the arm on that side are moving together. Changing the lobes:
- When there is a foot left till the axis you bring the free foot in, pressing into ice, holding the core engaged and keeping the weight over the skating foot and hip. The upper body doesn't change (it did at the top of the lobe)
- Still
keep the weight over the skating foot and re bend and flip your outside
edge on an inside edge and push and
start a new lobe
Swing Rolls (both forward and backwards) hurt my hip so i didn't work at them at all. I'm sure I'll get more corrections and tips from my coach when we will work at them.
Backward Chasses are advance beginner Ice Dancing steps appearing first in the Swing Dance, a Pre-Bronze pattern dance.
They are done as a 3 step on alternating lobes, or a 2
step on a circle, but the name Chasse is for one particular step where
the foot is lifted and "chases" the other foot.
When I first started talking about Ice Dancing technique I talked about "Edges and Lobes" and that covers the forward and backward edges. Then, before I described the first forward Ice Dancing steps (forward Chasses, Progressives and Swing Rolls), I described the "Deep Forward Edges" and an exercise called Forward Edge Presses. I will describe the Backward Deep edges later because I think the Backward Chasses are easier to do (having 3 steps on a lobe) then the Backward Edge, which requires to hold that edge for the whole lobe... I'm bringing back the talk about the lobes because transitioning between lobes (changing direction) is a skill in its own, separate from any step. For backward lobes it is the same principle as on the forward lobes, just harder to do at beginner level.
I described in my previous post the backward push and the posture and balance when skating backwards.
Here are my chasses on alternating lobes:
Intro steps: you need some speed going into any pattern. I've got used to do 2 forward strokes, Mohowk, 2 back strokes, that would bring me to the axis going on the lenght of the rink. First lobe:
1.Right Back Outside Edge (RBO). Use the backward push into it, and push straight away, perpendicular from the axis, put the right foot on an outside edge as you push and hold the free foot extended (it should and will match the partner extension stroking forward). The upper body is turned a little toward the inside of the circle.
2.Left Inside Chasse. There is no push to get on the inside edge, you kind of fall into it. Lift free foot flexed and keep it close to the skating foot. And press the inside edge. The inside edge should bring you to the top of the lobe (middle).
3.RBO Edge. There is a push from the inside edge onto this outside edge and it is straight back, parallel with the imaginary axis (I'm not doing it, you can see in the video, I push around). You put the skating foot on an outside edge and that edge and the lean of the whole body into the circle should bring you around the lobe. And you hold the extension again. Changing the lobes:
- When there is 1/4 left of the last outside edge lobe, you rise keeping the weight on the skating foot, that is straighten your skating leg while pressing into the ice, bring the free foot near the skating foot (using the inner tights muscle like a scissor motion), and holding the core engaged, square the upper body to be perpendicular to the circle, when you'll take the new push back, the upper body will be over the imaginary axis)
- Still keep the weight over the skating foot and re bend and flip your outside edge on an inside edge to prepare for the new backward push while rotation the upper body slightly to face the new circle and... push and start a new lobe
- I certainly couldn't do this holding the weight over the skating side, I was "falling onto the new edge, so basically I was transitioning between lobes on two feet. And that is acceptable for a beginner and for the Pre-Bronze pattern dances. At this point I was still working in finding the balance going backwards. Nowadays, after 2 years I've learned the backward chasses and I work and test the Bronze pattern dances, I have days when this transition is better. The one exercise that I felt helped is the edge presses. I've described just the forward ones, but I'll describe the backward edge presses soon.
When I first started writing about technique I looked into the ISI levels to follow their progression in difficulty of the skills I describe. I was surprised to find backward stroking in the Beta level (early beginner). For once, I don't remember learning it at all, and then, I think it is impossible to learn it at that level. Surely, at that level it is an intro to backward stroking. And I had post describing skating forward and backward for beginners. And on the ISI web page there are videos demonstrating the skills for each level. (https://www.skateisi.org/programs/testing-requirements/). On the ISI next levels there is some back push into the back edges, that I described here, but more then that there is no backward stroking in Freestyle. To go backward in Freestyle you use 3-turns and mohawks and do backward crossovers.
In Ice Dancing, on the other hand, there is all kinds of backward skating that need a strong backward push and he understanding of posture and balance when going backwards.
The posture and balance: for skating backward you should feel your
weight on the front part of your foot arch, some say it's the ball of
your foot, but then it's the back part of it. (Reminder, for forward stroking you feel your weight at the back of your foot arch, some say back of the blade). The posture when skating
backwards is even more erect then skating forward, it almost feel you
are leaning back. To balance, you push your heals underneath you (towards
your back, but they travel forward) bending your ankles and knees more.
The backward push:
- bend your knees
- keep the weight on both feet, but mostly on the the foot that will push, otherwise the push will be "empty", will have no power
- push back from "underneath" you at a 30 degrees angle from the axis of traveling (pigeon toe), gripping the ice with the ankle. I kind of have the same sensation as when I cut with a knife the flower stems at an angle (to absorb water) to put in the vase.
- there is tension in that push, extension, that is kept to turn out the foot from the pigeon toe (this may be that ice cream scooping image that I was given, that I didn't really feel)
- do not drop the free hip (the ice cream scooping made me drop the free hip). For me is more the feeling of piercing something, so pointing forward while rotating, the ice cream scooping feels for me more like grabbing around). The most recent correction was that my free hip is too back (I feel it's part of the same problem as dropping the hip). Also that I don't transfer the weight completely on the left side (and I can see that in the video that I've took for this post)
- keep a strong core, you should feel like you are a wall and the push moves the whole wall. My coaches explanation is that you feel the push in your opposite shoulder blade.
The backward stroking:after a good backward push there is no much to stroking. You just bring the free foot turned out and with pointed toe to align 6 inches to the skating tracing on ice.
Here is the the judging form for Fiesta Tango, Pre-Bronze pattern dance that includes the diagram with the steps of the dance. This dance felt more difficult to me, compared with the other two on this level (Cha Cha and Swing Dance). I felt that every single step is a new one... The hold for this dance is a reversed killian hold, meaning partners are lateral to each other, the women is at the left side of the man.
Intro Steps: forward strokes left, right, left, right, from the red X on the diagram towards West.
The Pattern Dance I'll describe in steps from the diagram grouped into lobes.
1.2. Left Forward Outside Edge, Right Forward Outside Edge (2-2,total 4 beats). These are very quick edges. I've learned that the only way to do them is by starting with the upper body towards the inside of the circle of the edge (so left for the left step) and as you rise to re bend for the next stroke you pull the edge (like power pulls) and turn the upper body to the right to basically "check" the rotation of the lower body. That will leave you in the right position to start the right edge. It is also important to step on am outside edge.
3.4.5. Left Forward Outside Progressive. (1-1-2, 4 beats total) Ok, this is not a new step, but it is the only one that is not new. What is new is that you don't "check" the upper body as you rise, you keep it toward the inside of the circle to be prepared for the cross roll.
6.7. Right Forward Outside Cross Roll and Left Forward Inside Cross (X) Behind. (2-2, 4 beats total). At the point when I learned this dance I haven't done Cross Rolls, in fact I'm just learning them right now. Very short instruction: Stroke, then bring the free leg over the skating leg (like a crossover) but crossing the free leg over the knee and twist the upper body towards the inside of the circle simultaneously with the free leg movement. Hold the outside edge and the upper body position to slide the free leg in the cross behind inside edge. The new free leg (right) goes forward, like a slide chasse.
8. 9. It is a Forward Outside Swing Roll hold 4 beats, the the free leg is moved back, while going on an inside edge and an Left Forward Outside Edge. Step 8 is a very long edge, 6 beats, step 9, 2 beats continues the lobe created by the change of the edge of step 8. I feel the "secrets" on this step 8 are a strong stroke (from underneath you), an erect posture (the edge is impossible to control if you are leaning forward) and a strong press into the ice with the ankle of the skating foot. I used to group in my mind step 9 with the steps 10.11, the mohawk, kind of like a preparation for the mowhak. But I feel it makes more sense for firstly the rhythm count but also the technique to have it combined with the long change of edge step. I feel I kept the end of the long edge stronger (that ends as an inside edge), continuing with this step 9 that is the same lobe as the inside edge.
10.11.12. Right Forward Inside Mohawk to Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Backwards Outside Edge. (1-1, 2 total 4 beats). This is not your regular inside mohawk. It is very, very quick and the free leg stops at the ankle after the turn so it doesn't help in balancing. You have to have at this point a good posture and balance skating backwards (that is different than skating forward), I'll cover this in a coming post. I was sometimes hitting this and sometimes I didn't. At the test I didn't. As I said I used to practice steps 9.10.11. together but I feel grouping 10.11.12, finally made me keep steep 11 at 1 count., because I had to step immediately for step 12. I said "step", as per my instructor, you never "step" in Ice Dancing, you always "stroke". But at that time, I was stepping all this end pattern.
13.14. Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Backward Outside Edge (2-2, total 4 beats). These should be easy steps, just backward stroking, but you need that balance and posture for going backwards that I mentioned at the Mohawk.
15.16. Cross Forward Left Backward Inside Edge and Right Forward Inside (2-2, total 4 beats). I loved step 15, as I felt it showed the tango character, it is a pity that I couldn't do it strongly when the previous steps weren't solid. Step 16 is step forward, ready to start a new pattern.
Here is the video of my test and you can read about the day when I tested here.
The Swing Dance is basically just chasses and swing rolls, it should be easy, right? Well, it is the first dance in a waltz hold so it's the first dance that requires skating backwards. Another new concept is the tracking, meaning that the skater going forward has to follow the one going backward in a certain way. And there is one more challenge, it is a longer dance. The pattern dances have to be repeated twice at these levels. The previous pattern dances were half of the ice rink so twice of that is once around the rink. The Swing Dance pattern goes around the whole rink, and twice that would mean you have to go twice around the rink.
Here is the form used for judging, and it shows the diagram of the dance.
Intro Steps:facing South lateral to the right side of the partner - Left stroke, Right Outside 3-turn and Left Back Swing Roll (on the hockey circle, finishing on the axis formed by the red dots on the length of the rink) during which you get into the waltz hold
The Pattern Dance I'll describe in steps grouped in lobes:
1.2.3. Right Back Outside Chasse (count 1-1-2, total 4 beats) (on the judges drawing these steps are (16.17.18.). I've described the Back Chasses here.
4.5.6. Left Back Outside Chasse (count 1-1-2, total 4 beats) (19.20.21). This should bring you to the middle of the rink.
7. Right Back Outside Swing Roll (4 beats) (22.), and I'll link the explanation of the Back Swing Roll soon.
8. Left Back Outside Swing Roll (4 beats) (23.)
9.10. Right Back Outside Edge to Left Forward Outside Edge (2-2, 4 beats total) (24.25.). Here at the end of the back edge you have to rise and bring your weight over the skating foot and hip and rebend the knees and ankles in order to step forward neatly (feet close together). On the step forward the waltz hold is released into just holding hands.
11.12.13. Right Forward Inside Edge to Left Forward Outside Edge to Right Forward Inside Slide Chasse (2-2-2, 6 beats total) (26.27.28.). I explained about the Forward Slide Chasse here.
This is an optional step, meaning you can do just a regular edge, but
the partner at this point does the second edge of a Mohowk and the
extension of the slide matches nicely the extension of the partner's
Mohowk.
14.15. Left Forward Outside Edge to Right Forward Outside Swing Roll that I described the technique here. (2-4, 6 beats total) (29.30.). These steps follow the hockey circle as in the intro steps. The waltz hold is reacquired during the left outside edge.
16.17.18. Left Forward Outside Chasse (1-1-2, 4 beats total) (diagram steps are 1.2.3. and described as the first steps for the man)
19.20.21. Right Forward Outside Chasse (1-1-2, 4 beats total) (4.5.6.) and this should bring you to the middle of the rink.
22. Left Forward Swing Roll (4 beats) (7.)
23. Right Forward Swing Roll (4 beats) (8.)
24.25.26 Left Forward Outside Edge to Right Forward Inside Edge to Left Forward Outside Edge (2-2-2, 6 beats total)
27.28. Mohawk that I described the technique for here is Right Forward Inside Edge to Left Back Inside Edge (2-2, 4 beats total)
29.30. Right Back Outside Edge to Left Back Outside Swing Roll (2-4, 6 beats total)
I mentioned "tracking" that is following the partner, and you can see that in the pattern dance drawing tracking is shown with an interrupted line at both ends of the pattern. Tracking also happens in all the other lobes, But I feel there is enough to be said about tracking to fill a whole post.
I also mentioned that learning the backward skating felt difficult. I was surprised how uncomfortable it was to go forward while the partner was going backwards in a waltz hold. I suspect it was a mental component, fear of hitting my partner... But it also felt that he was going faster then me and I was being dragged and a little off balance because of that. The coach's correction was to stroke each step, not step it. And here is the video from the test (test that i described here). I've got passing marks on each category, with the mention that I was "cautious".
I don't have much new to say about my skating, I'm in rebuilding mode, as I said in my last post. I'm thinking to describe the Pre-Bronze pattern dances that I've write about testing (read about it here), but didn't get into the actual dance.
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: https://www.usfsa.org/content/cha-cha.pdf
This dance goes only forward, as the Preliminay ones (Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango and Rhythm Blues), in fact, I haven't found it more difficult than the Preliminary ones. Here is drawing where I showed the starting point with the red X, and I put in the cardinal points so I can describe the direction of the steps.
Intro steps: 4 Forward Strokes: left, right, left, right. The pattern dance: As in the previous dances, I will describe groups of steps as I was grouping them in my mind to
remember them, usually they form lobes.
1.2. Left Forward Progressive, 3 edges LFO.RFI. (2-2, 4 beats total). When I've learned this dance, I remember that I've learned this as a crossover, maybe it changed recently, but it may be a printing mistake. To me, a crossover (that is crisper then a progressive) makes sense to show the character of the dance.
3.4.5. Left Inside Edge, Right Outside Chasse, Wide Step Left Inside Edge (1-1-2, 4 beats total). Ive must have gotten the most correction for this dance on step 3... It is not terribly difficult to do, I just kept forgetting to pay attention. I mean, is is not easy, easy would be to do an outside edge... but it is double if you only remember to pay attention and to "place" the left foot on the proper inside edge. Then, there is the chasse on the right outside edge, and you keep your weight over the right side as you move the left leg to the left and wide step on an inside edge again.
Step 3 is a very important step from few different points of view:
- if incorrect it will affect the next steps. If placed on an outside edge, the chasse will very probably be on an outside edge (otherwise there would be a wide step there) and that wouldn't allow a strong control of keeping the weight to the right side, so then, the skater would "fall" (drop, not place) on the the wide step (step 5)
- done correctly it shows the character of the dance cha cha (the hips movement), by placing the feet first, the hips movement is delayed and when it happens it is more accentuated.
- I find it is the first step that reveals what pattern dances are all about! Accuracy while showing character of the specific dance!
6. Right Outside Edge with knee rise at the middle (4 beats total). This step was not an easy step for me. I was stepping somehow forward, instead of directly on an outside edge. It is difficult to go on an outside edge if you don't set your foot on an outside edge to start with. Also my weight was forward on my blade, instead of back of the arch where it should be and that didn't help the control of the outside edge either, especially having to do the knee rise.
7.8. Two foot slalom (1-1-2-1 1/2) The slalom should have the feet together. The timing is interesting but I've felt the music carried it trough.
9.10. Left Inside Chasse (1/2 beats) Right Forward Inside Edge (2 beats). The slalom end on the right foot and then the left one touches the ice for just half beat to set the right foot on an inside edge.
11. Left Forward Outside Swing Roll (4 beats) is important to end towards the center of the rink
12.13. Cross Forward Right Forward Outside, Cross Behind Left Forward Inside (2-2, 4 beats total)
14. Right Forward Inside Swing Roll (4 beats total)
For the "Skating technique" I'm following the ISI levels, I started with the beginner classes and I progress in difficulty. The Back Pivot (on an outside or inside edge) is part of Freestyle 3. I think is usually done just in the direction of the spinning, that's CCW for most skaters. And as level of difficulty, it is an intermediate skill .
The Back Right Outside Pivot it's done from a Right Back Outside Edge.
I learned it from a Right Forward Inside 3-turn (so Right Inside edge, turn and finish on an Right Back Outside edge. The 3-turn is checked with the Left hand and shoulder in front but if the back edge continues the Left hand will go back and the Right hand forward).
- as you ride Right back outside edge (Left hand back and Right hand forward), the back will be align with the circle you make with your edge, in other words will be over the circle
- you bring the free foot (Left) to the ankle of the right foot and then back into the circle
- transfer the weight between the legs (50-50) while you put the Left toe pick in the ice
- bend strongly into the right ankle, turn out the right foot
- have the right heal "drive" pull forward or lead with the right heal, push inside of the heal out
- I vaguely remember you have to hold the thighs together (I'm not doing it in the video)
- you need 1.5 revolutions, I've just red that, I thought was just one full revolution, so I'll have to work on it.
Here is mine:
And here is the Back Pivot done after a forward spin finished in a landing position so on a Right Back Outside Edge. On the first example, I had the weight more on the right foot so it made the pivot stop. The second one is a little better but it could be hold longer. I had this spin finished with the back pivot at the end of my program.
And I found an example of back pivot on youtube, not concentrating on the technique for the pivot but using the pivot to work on the alignment for the back outside edge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qYDV7DHF64
The Back Left Inside Pivot could start from moving bacwards but also from standing.
-the left hand is hold forward and the left laterally
- you plant the toe pick from the right foot in the ice and transfer the weight on the right foot, on a bent knee while moving the left arm laterally, to start the rotation
- on the same time the left foot presses into the ice to start the rotation and then keeps pressing into ice
The back inside pivot it's used to start the back spin.
Here is again the link to the judging form.
And the videos of my tests, retry the first one, pass the second one
1. Forward and Backward Crossovers on circles (focus power) with a swing Mohawk when transferring from the second forward circle to the first backward circle.
I'll write a post about the crossovers technique soon and link it here.
I
started from standing at the middle of on an end line with 2 strokes,
then forward CCW crossovers on the hockey circle, then a left forward
swing roll (not required) continued with forward CW to the right hockey
circle, swing Mohawk, then CCW back crossovers, back swing roll (not
required) before changing to the last circle of CW back crossovers,
finish with a backward stroke holding the extension and step forward and
stop. The circles have to be similar in size.
My challenges were
-
making all 4 types of crossovers looking as they had the same power
(they didn't), so I had to pull back on the stronger ones and obviously
push as strongly as I could on the weaker ones
- figuring out
where to start the swing rolls and finding a pace for the crossovers to
get to finish at the point were I was starting the swing. I worked on
this test for around a year, and as I did get stronger and faster I had
to adjust the number of crossovers and the place were I started the
swing rolls.
- the back swing roll I did just on the second test,
coming with some speed after the CCW backward crossovers, at first I
wasn't comfortable in stroking backwards and holding the extension
forward before swinging.
- the swing Mohawk. The swing is all on
an outside edge, but then the edge should be changed to inside for it to
become the start of the Mohawk. I could do it at slow speed and using
more space but on the tight space between the circles I always ended up
getting on the inside edge as I was swinging the leg and that made it
look wimpy. This is one of the skills on my "wish" list. After I injured
my left hip I figured that the forward swing roll to the right was
straining my left flexors and abductors so I stopped doing them. But
it's time will come.
I've got passing score of 2.5 on both tests but I do think I was more confident at the second test. 2. Consecutive Outside and Inside Spirals (focus on extension and edge quality).
My
straight spirals were pretty consistent on both legs at this point, BUT
you need to do 5 consecutive and equal lobes of outside edge spirals on
the length of the ring, then 5 more on an inside edge. And you need to
keep the extension higher then the hip level for 4 seconds so you need
to get on the edge and the leg up very quickly, otherwise you run out of
space. My biggest problem proved to be getting out of the spiral
quickly and in a controlled way. I was saying when I talked about the
spiral technique here,
that I wasn't used to square the hips and upper body, but stack the
hips and twist the upper body. I think that is easier to hold the edges
like that, but it's hard to change the lobes, you have to change the
lobes square to the axis, there is no other way. By the second test
I've gotten a little better.
Again I've got 2.5 on both tests, but I definitely improved the control on changing lobes on the second test. 3. Forward Power 3-Turns(focus on power)
That
is a 3-turn step wide on an inside edge and pull into a back crossover,
and step forward into the 3-turn and repeat. My RFO was way slower then
the left one, but to be honest they were both slow. This is a power
move so it needs to show speed. I also wasn't turning the 3-turns at the middle of the lobes on the first test, i was rushing. That wasn't even my biggest challenge.
That was to step forward squared after the back crossover,
perpendicularly to the axis. If I wasn't square at that point I couldn't
control the next 3-turn.
On my first test I messed up a 3-turn, but
either the judge didn't see it, either one mistake was allowed, she
didn't comment on it. But still I've got just 2.4 for luck of power.
I've got. 2.5 on the second test. 4. Alternative Forward 3-turns (focus on edge quality)I've got 2.5 on both tests.
I talked about outside and inside forward 3-turns technique here and here.The alternative outside 3-turns was the hardest move for me, more exactly the transition between the 3-turns. Theoretically you need to do a controlled 3-turn (figures style) leaving perpendicularly from the axis (forward outside edge) and returning perpendicularly to the axis (back inside edge) with a perfect balance and posture and then twist your blade on that spot from backwards to forward to start next 3-turn. But again, for this test the quality should be 2.5 out of 6. The judges don't expect perfection. And I saw kids testing and forcing the end of the 3 turn close to the axis but not on the axis into the next one, so that's what I set up to do. So, my trick was to snap the turn and really keep the free leg, hip and glutes tight and as I was approaching the axis, open the hips to be able to start the next turn. This move is not on any of the adult MITF tests, it is an award, wicked one... 5. Forward Circle 8 (focus on edge quality and continuous flow). I talked about it here. I've got 2.5 on both my tests. On the first test I was wobbly but I didn't actually put the foot down (as it appears in the video) and after the test the judge complimented me for the "exact" edges and that circle 8. Again, she either didn't see the wobble or it was "exact" for this level. 6. Alternating Backward Crossovers to Backward Outside Edges (focus on power and extension)
I've got 2.3 on my first test, again for "lack of power", and 2.5 on my second test but with the suggestion "more power needed". I'll talk about power in one of my next post, I have enough thoughts and feelings about it to fill a whole post! What I think helped me on this move the most in the second test, was a straighter posture (shoulders rolled back and lift from the waist up, core engaged) on the backward edge. On the first test I was off balance after the back edge so I couldn't push well into the crossover. I knew and I see in the video that on the LBO edge was not over my hip, I'm working now on back swing rolls and I'm close in finally correcting that.
When
I tested, the scores were given from 0 to 6, and for the Preliminary
MITF test the passing average was 2.5. Now the scores are between -3 and
+3, so the same range, but an element that is done as expected for this
level would be scored 0. I tested this one first on June 2017, and got a
"retry" (a nicer way of
saying failed) for "lack of power" and I tried again and passed on October 2017. If you remember, I'm an adult testing standard quality test, for this specific reason, to get the power that kids get.
Firstly, let me tell you about the preparation for the tests and the tests days. As I was saying in my post about the Pre-Preliminary MITF test, at the point when I started to learn the moves for the Preliminary test, I was talking group classes and having my first private lessons with different coaches. Close to the point of the Preliminary test I took in June, I designated one coach in charge with the moves. She was specialized in dance, not moves but extremely good coach. She is also the nicest person. She never once mentioned "power" in preparation, for either her inexperience in judges expectations, or for our similar soft personalities. For the second test I trained with a different coach, who pushed me the hardest on power. But, I'll fess up. We both knew perfectly well at that point that I didn't understand the power and I haven't got it. He coached me that I should display power trough a confident attitude.
Another thing that I'll fess up is that when I was preparing for it I thought this test is gonna be easy. I thought I already knew the elements in it. But I knew to do the elements separately, when I put them together, even not trying to show power, I've still got more speed that I was usually putting into those elements and that made me lose some of the control. Plus, as we know now, I really didn't have enough power required for that level. Looking back I don't think this test it's easy, I think it's a strange phase in a skater development, in the sense that you are still a beginner at this phase, not truly understanding how the moves work, but doing them somehow.
Funny thing, I had wardrobe troubles for both tests :) For the first test, the trouble was on practice the day before. In the summer I like to wear a tunic over leggings to the rink (I made myself the wrap tunic in the first video that follows). At the rink I'll put on a jacket over the tunic. Well, I forgot the jacket home. I was cold but I stayed and skated and I've got used with it. That gave me the idea to wear the same outfit for the test, instead of a leotard and nude tights and skirt (that I would have had to change into at the rink, and as somebody that never performed as a kid in any type of show, seamed very dressed up and made me self conscious). On the day of the test my coach couldn't be there and that surely didn't help. I felt like I didn't belong. I was also the only adult in the test session. I later wondered if my choice of a more comfortable costume also made me feel like not a legit skater...
The second test was in the fall, so I could drive in my leotard (that I also made) and nude tights with black leggings over, and the skirt in my bag. Guess what, I took with me the wrong skirt (I have a long skirt from the same fabric as the skating skirt). Luckily I had the wrap tunic in my skating bag and I took it over the leotard and nude tights. It was way shorter compared with the skirt I was planing to wear. And remember, I was self conscious, but I wanted to display confidence, and maybe it helped... You have to look the part to play the part. But lesson learned, now I check my bag numerous times before leaving for a test and I started to even take 2 outfits and tights with me, just in case... I'm now thinking I should throw in some treads and needles for emergencies...
And here is the first test, June 2017- retry
And here is the pass test in November 2017.
I'll describe the 6 elements of this tests in my next post.
Firstly, let me tell you how the last week of preparation went. Not terrible but not well either. I skated Monday, Wednesday and Friday and each session was crowded. I did what my coach advised me (and I wrote about in in the previous post) and that was to warm up 5 minutes and do the program. On Monday I didn't jump the Salchow and the program felt shy. So I worked a lot on the elements and did few more run throughs... Wednesday the elements were all in but the Salchow was cautious and the program still shy. So I allowed myself to go a little bit bigger. On Friday the run through felt nice. The Salchow felt stable enough so I decided to work on it to make it better. When I'm not confident in an element I rather don't mess with it before a test. I let it be... The two foot spin ( from the inside 3-turn entrance) didn't center the whole session, but the regular one did. And I've got the back pivot working consistently. So I felt pretty good for the test.
I was scheduled to test at 12 on Saturday. My morning was quiet. Maybe I should have skipped the second coffee, but I usually have 2 each morning... I went to the rink at 11, fully dressed. At 11.15 my coach said to warm up my muscles, I did some light running and some stretches. Went to the restroom. At 11.45 I put on my skates and at 12 I had my warm up on ice. Everything went well. I even centered the two foot spin. I was the last one skating but it went very quickly. I was on ice before I know it. And here is the video.
I felt happy afterwards. Here is how it went:
- on the first move, the arms opening, I felt stretched out and in control.
- I didn't get in a big pivot, I finished it a little earlier then usually, so I felt I had to wait a little for the music and I kind of dropped into the next step, I didn't push from underneath me
- so the inside edges were wimpier the usually
- I don't remember the inside spread eagle, I suspect I was telling myself to get it together. In the test's video it seems again, smaller then in practice
- the toe pick turns and the stop were ok
- on the moment I pointed to the judges I gave them a big smile and eye contact.
- the steps towards the Salchow I don't remember
- I did remember to think "wait" before the Salchow. And I felt I've got a good landing.
- from the video I'm surprised I hold that power edge after the Salchow so little.
- the next steps were slower then usually because I realized I'm ahead of the music. I think that relaxed me as I've been afraid I'll be behind...
- I remember I wasn't totally happy with the Waltz Jump but looks good enough in the video.
- the two foot spin felt ok, but in the video you can see it travels
- I think I relaxed, in the sense of getting mentally tired, here, on the steps towards the spiral
- the spiral I could do better, but as the coach said, I'll do it in the performance just as I practice. And again, I fell I was thinking that the end is close, so I was slowly giving up my concentration...
- I don't remember the Half Flip...
- I gathered all my energy to tell myself to wait and center the spin. And I did :)
- and then I totally gave up on the inside pivot. The funny thing that I didn't even realized it until I saw the video. I finished early too, don't be fulled by the video, I edited it and faded the music at the end... Honestly this is my only disappointment in this performance.
- and then, I felt exhausted...
I mentioned few times during the posts describing the preparation of the program that I was purposely holding back on the frills (edges, speed and expression) to be sure I give the best chance for the jumps and spins to happen, as they are the elements judged for this test. I have proof now, that there is enough time to hold my extensions and posses in few places, so I should remember and try on my next showing of this program and the next programs. It seems it's a known fact that the adrenaline is making you move quicker. So I'll concentrate now in getting the underlined elements bigger and better. And the plan is to show this at my local rink competition in June. It's gonna be under the "artistic program" ISI requirements as I want to improve my expression, extensions and musicality on ice.
Here is my program after my 6th meeting with coach B on Monday.
Read about the experience with coach A here, then, the first, second, third and forth and fifth lessons with coach B.
I watched the video on my phone immediately after the coach took it and I said "Oh, lots of things to improve, posture, hands, I forgot some steps, the spins were a mess, I wasn't on time..." and he answered "You just see the negatives...".
So lets start with the positive. As it is in the video, the program would pass the test, so let's check that and don't worry about it. Even if there were people in my way and I felt I'm late on music and I forgot some steps, I made it work. The jumps were there, the spins were better then last week. And coach B keeps complimenting my edges, that I worked hard for with the Ice dancing...
Now things to improve:
- Posture! The blouse that I had on was ruched and did rise up my shoulders but still...
- Don't look down! I think that would help fix the posture too.
- Smile :) I am really really serious. I actually soo enjoy skating my program, I should be able to smile. I tried today to start the program with a smile and I forgot about it after the first 5 steps. My previous coach, coach A, was around and he advised me to choose some points in the program when I'm comfortable and to smile there. And maybe to add victory smiles after the jumps. Just as I was adding the arm movements. He always has practical advice!
Now picking the program apart from the beginning
- After the inside spread eagle where my palms are up, I would like to turn them down, today, I become aware just after the first step to flip them.
- Before the step like a spiral, I don't like how I bend the right hand from the wrist, again, today I was barely becoming aware of it while I was already moving, hopefully I'll start to remember before.
- The hand movements on the next steps are all very short, like after thoughts, I would like them to blend into each other and feel more connected to the upper body. These I feel ware better, in fact I was somehow complimented on it by somebody saying that at the end of the program my arms are not so controlled and pretty as at the beginning.
- I have to remember to not push on the back crossover before the Salchow. If I feel I have too much speed I hold the next edge too long and I get off time. Actually it is not the back crossover, it is the forward crossover before the mohawk that I felt I gained a lot of speed. So, again, an awareness moment. On that forward crossover would be also a good spot to smile :)
- Remember to check the Salchow, thou, lately it worked quite well. Smile here? Maybe not, because usually I'm rushing to do the next 3-turn and then the outside power edge where I look up...
- From here on, everything was late on music, I can recover if I do just one crossover after the Salchow, but as I slowed down more to avoid a person in my way I needed 2 crossovers and I added a chasse before those. Smile :) on crossovers and swing roll.
- At least look up during the dropped 3-turns if I cannot hold the smile..
- Jump the Waltz Jump, it was really tiny
- I messed up the entrance in the spin. I want to do an inside 3-turn. I did an outside one...
- Hopefully I can hold the spiral higher. I didn't do it in a year because of the hip pain. Also I didn't get a good push into it as people were in my way, so I adjusted the trajectory. And smile :) while doing the spiral.
- Don't rush the final spin
- After the spin I should do a back pivot, I just started practicing that, hopefully I can make it better... I learned today that have to stop the spin while in control and keep that control during the spin exit so I can do the pivot.
- And smile :)
I think the biggest positive is my coach's comment that he can see improvement each time I do the program. We think with my current ability I'll be able to improve it a little more. Then I will have to get back at work, and work hard moves, Ice Dancing and next jumps and spins to be able to increase my ability.
My legs were a little tired at the end of today session so I decided not to skate tomorrow (I had to cancel the Ice Dance lesson) so I'll be fresh for Friday. My test will be in 2 weeks on Saturday morning and one of my worry is to not be too tired. So this week skating just Monday, Wednesday and Friday would be a test to see if I'm rested enough. If not, I still have next week to figure it out.
Read here the MITF Pre-Preliminary part 1, where there is a link to the judges form. I'll go on here, explaining how I prepared for each task. And here is the video of my test:
1. Forward Perimeter Stroking (CCW and CW) with focus on power and extension.
I explained the Forward Stroking in a previous post.
Firstly CCW and here is the diagram.
There are 6 strokes with 4 crossovers at the end and then repeat. The intro steps were 2 strokes to the end of the ring (left, right) and two crossover (left, right, left, right), so 6 steps total. I was mentioning in the previous post that I was getting few coaches help in preparing for this test. Two of them insisted that for my height I should do just 4 strokes to demonstrate power. I tried for few weeks if not more but I was as I was trying to push harder into the stroke, I was loosing the posture and I was actually getting tired quickly. When I asked another coach about this, he said that if I look like I'm struggling (as I was) it doesn't show power, shows the opposite. So, I went back to 6 strokes. But working on power I did get better at it and now I was running short on space after 5 strokes, so last stroke on the left foot. And that is a problem for starting the crossovers as they are left, right. So, it took me a while to get the right stride, rhythm, pace and breathing... I won't go so far as saying that this was the hardest task of the test, but I will say that this showed me exactly what testing is. It is not just knowing to do something, but doing in on a count (yes, the majority of the skills in MITF tests are done on a count so they are consistent and uniform), on a specific pattern and in a pleasant manner.
For the CW stroking I ran into another problem. As the crossover were right, left, right, left, I either had to start the intro steps from a farther away step to fit 3 intro strokes (left, right, left), or start with a right stroke, as I choose. You wouldn't believe how many times I forgot that! And being that these are intro steps and are not judged, it is not a big deal do add a stroke to get on the right (well, left foot), but it's unsettling...
This task takes probably half of the test time, and it gets boring so really it ends up being an exercise for focusing your mind and breathing.
2. Basic Consecutive Edges on alternating lobes (FO, FI, BO, BI) with focus on edge quality. Read about the Forward Edges and Backward Edges. Again, the diagram asks for 6, but for my height is ok to do 4. Also, you can start with whatever foot you want. I settled into doing 5 and I started on my best foot, so I've got 3 on the better side and 2 on the weaker side. The challenge here was to do them same size. My forward edges were way better then the backward ones. I was comfortable doing 4 lobes forward and 6 backwards. That's another reason I ended up doing 5 of them.
3. Forward Right and Left Foot Spirals with focus on extension.
I'll explain the skill in a different post and link it here. The test asks for intro steps (as for forward stroking), then spiral on one leg up to the middle of the rink then on the other foot till the end.
4. Waltz Eight with focus on edge quality.
I described the Outside 3-turn in a previous post. The pattern for the test is on a circle an outside 3-turn, followed by and outside edge and an inside edge, each element covering a third of the circle, then another circle do the other side, forming a figure eight. Then repeat. It is called a "waltz" eight because you do the elements on a count of the waltz rhythm: for 3-turn 123 for the outside edge, 456 for the inside one and so on... Generally, for the test, the 3-turn is done with the foot extended at the end, but it is not a specific requirement. I've just learned to do it with the foot in, and hold the exit edge with the foot in, that for me was way harder, and I wanted to changed myself and did it like that for the test.
I was satisfied when I finished the test. Not that I was perfect, but I did almost as well as I did in practice. I know there is a saying for competing: practice as it would be the competition and compete as it would be the practice. The same would apply for the tests. Actually for tests, my coach advises to be over prepared to compensate for the nerves during the test.
I gave myself an early Christmas present and passed the Willow Waltz on December 23rd. Here is the description of the dance written as I was learning it.This Is the second of the Bronze Pattern dances I tested. The first one is the Hickory Hoedown, that I passes in January. As I was mentioning in a post before, this was a lower key testing session covering dances just up to Bronze Dances. I tested in this session before and I felt less intimidated as there were younger skaters (kids) that weren't stronger skaters than me, testing mostly Preliminary and Pre-Bronze Dances.
Not this time... There were 3 groups of skaters testing Bronze. At my rink kids have to take Preliminary and Pre-Bronze Dances as
prerequisite to be in the syncro teams. So they do them while quite young usually in group classes. Then, the majority of them lose interest in dance, as they consider it boring. They come back to it after years, as teenagers, either to improve their presentation in Freestyle, or because they get stuck in Freestyle, or to test towards achieving the Gold medal to put in their collage applications. And that's why there were lots of strong skaters (way stronger then me) on this session, testing Bronze as me.
The weeks before the test I was working into building confidence and presenting. As I was hurt in March and lasted 6 months, I couldn't work on power and extension so I think that made me look a little hesitant. But I felt good and confident the day of the test. Now the test was at 6 pm and while I wasn't nervous I was a little tired from all this holiday preparations. I went half an hour earlier and skated on a public session for 15 minutes. It was crowded and the ice was bad but I've got my knees and ankles soft and I put in some 3 turns and the mohawk. As our session began I found out I was in the first group.
As I stepped on the ice I found myself holding my breath as the teenagers started to warm up fast as the wind. They were all doing the power crossovers. My first thought was "Don't get intimidated...." but as I was watching them, I realized "I can do this...". This power crossovers pattern I prepare for my MITF test and my coach said it's good enough to test, so I let myself go as fast as they went, well, maybe not as fast as them, but fast. And I felt great! Then I warmed up my backward skating as I couldn't in the public session. Then, I was ready to put a solo pattern in and that felt good. There was no music playing, maybe it was for the best, why?, read here. And here is my solo warm up.
As the waltz music was playing my coach partnered me and that felt good too. I was the second one to test. I wasn't nervous, maybe a little hyper. While waiting for the music my coach cracked a joke (like on the previous tests) to relax me. You can see me laughing just before starting (look at my left shoulder). I couldn't think of much during the test, usually, during practices, I could. I was on autopilot and before I knew it the 2 patterns were done. My coach said good job and ran to his next student. I couldn't think of anything that I did wrong. I thought it's gonna be a matter of having shown enough power, as I test standard not adult track. When I've got the test form the only suggestion from the judge was to extend the extensions. I passed with one point over the passing average. I'll take it!
It was 5 years ago when I've first learned the forward spin. It was in the group class. I don't remember every single challenge, but I remember it was a big challenge. I actually stopped skating for 6 months because I felt stuck (on the spin) and I didn't enjoy it anymore.
I wasn't taking videos of my skating at that point, but I have some clips from skating while in skiing vacation (2014). I count 4 revolutions on both tries, but I was able at my indoor rink to usually get 6, as needed for passing the test ISI FS2.
During the time I learned it in group classes, I had few different instructors. They offered different entrances and everything I'll describe is for a CCW rotation. From a two foot spin that was entered from a pivot, just lift the right foot up at the ankle of the left foot with the tip to hold the arms to the sides to balance. That never worked for me... I don't remember, once, the weight transfer to have been mentioned in group classes. You need to have all the weight transferred on your left hip. I remember being told to lift the right hip, that theoretically would transfer the weight but in the video I shared I see that my right hip is lifted but my weight is not transferred. Another thing I didn't hear in group classes was to press into the ice. We were instructed to engage our core but I know now that that means to engage the core (abs and hips ) to lift the upper body from the ribs while grounding (so pressing into the ice). That is the ballet posture, but I didn't know that either. From a pivot is like I described for the two foot spin but without doing the two foot spin. On the second part of this video (starting at second 1.35), is explained very well how to center if entering a spin from a pivot. So don't move while pushing, push around one point, your left foot. Also, bring the right foot, that does the pushing around, in, near the left foot, before lifting it up. If you pick it up while is shoulders apart you would throw your upper body of center. The first part of the video is about entering from an forward outside edge that I'll describe next. From a Left Forward Outside Edge (like the first edge of the 3-turn). The instruction here was: enter with the left arm forward and hold the edge for a long time making it tighter. At the point you would turn the 3-turn you swing the left arm to the left, and the right foot from back to forward (ideally you hold it there, in front, to help you balance and then you bend the knee and bring the right foot at the ankle of the left foot) having now the upper body square and arms lateral to balance. You spin on the ball of your foot. That never worked for me either.... I think I was afraid on even trying to deepen that outside edge. Plus I suspect I didn't swing the left arm and right leg properly and at the same time.
Update 11/24/2019 In the group class I take now we reviewed the spins and I've finally got a correction that helped me with this entrance. It was to keep the free leg back until really turning into the spin. It seams I was letting it come around a little so when I was ready to actually swing the free leg around, it wasn't in a stable point and I wasn't stable on the outside edge also. It is the same for the next entrance too, but for some reason I was doing with this entrance. From Winding up from CW Back Crossovers. Surprisingly, what is considered the more difficult entrance work best for me. Now I'll go crazy and share every single tip I remember. Some of them I've learned more recently, working with my private coach at the scratch spin, so they may not be doable for beginner.
- The wind up: As the right foot crosses over the left (the second edge of the crossovers) you wind up your upper body to the right (or outside the circle), right arm and shoulder is back and you look outside the circle (or over your right shoulder) holding the left foot (extended and pointed) underneath you to balance on the right foot that is on an bent knee on and back inside edge. One weird thing I was doing and had to correct was keeping the left foot on ice while gliding backwards as you can see in my video. Here is a link to a video that iCoachSkating.com shared on Facebook. The instructor calls the bringing the left foot (from the back) near the right foot that is the skating foot a "curly cue". She advises to square the hips and deepen that back inside edge and so you create a curl on the ice. I didn't here this as a beginner but now I like it, I feel it gives me a better balance and makes me press into the ice without thinking at it.
- Step on the left foot on a deep outside edge. I heard instructions to step int the circle (so not going back on the previous tracing of the back edge, or step perpendicularly to the tracing, but that makes me hesitate. They are all instruction to set your left foot on the outside edge anyway. Then press into the ice and make the edge deeper.
- The arms: In the video I shared from the icoach, the instructor advises to enter with the upper body square, so right hand in front, that reducing the chance of getting of balance while adjusting the upper body later. I still enter with my left hand forward and swing it at the same time as the right leg from the back forward to start the spin. Now if the left arm is used I heard to first squish it across your body during the wind up and from there to swing strongly... My coach had me holding the arm in a nice curved (like ballet) position and asked me to trow flowers when I start the spin.
- The hook: (none of my instructors used this term, but it is used in the icoach video) is the point where you would turn the 3 turn. The icoach instructor advises to create an axis composed of bent ankle,
bent knee and sternum (created by bending on the hip too) before the hook. I was advice not to think of it as a 3 turn, but more as lift over the hip.
- The swing of the back leg is immediately after the hook and at the same time with the left arm swing if used. I was instructed to swing around to create centrifugal force. I have the feeling that thinking of swinging around makes me break at the hip. The icoach instructor says to lift the leg at the hip level before the swing to maximize the distance of the between the foot and axis. I tried that cautiously as my hip was hurt but I felt I got it once or twice and I was surprised of how much power I got into the spin. It also made me stay over the left hip.
- Center the spin: by holding the arms to the side to balance. I heard from many instructors to keep the left knee bent until centered, especially as beginners. My coach, now, instructs me to press into the ice and keep lifting over the hip. That works better at this point for me. Also one day recently when I wasn't centering I've got the correction press into the edge immediately after turning the 3-turn. But if I have a day when I don't center I do play with bending the knee. I feel it brings awareness. My says that there are different techniques, and not one is right. Different things work for different people. The next thing that helps balancing is holding the right leg extended to the front (like 1 o'clock) but I couldn't do that as a beginner. I had the feeling that that you would hold that free leg at a 45 degrees but I was corrected to bring it more forward. I think bringing it more forward makes you close the hip and not "drop" it. I'm starting to work on that as it is part of the setting for the scratch spin.
- Spinning: is kept balanced by engaging the core. By bringing the arms in, the spin will go faster. My new coach instructs in pressing the arms down, or to the chest. I do that for the scratch spin, but for the regular spin I don't actually feel I want go that fast. I like to hold the arms like I would hold a beach ball. And I was instructed to bring the right knee (and foot) up. The spin definitely looks better compared with the right foot coming at the ankle of the left foot.
- Exit by putting the right foot down and pushing on it on a back outside edge with the left foot (like a landing position). Always finish with a strong exit. I've got into the habit of checking the spin if it's centered while exiting and I have to say I sometimes have to fight to finish pretty.
I stopped doing spins and jumps almost 3 years ago as I hurt my left ankle and it wasn't healing. I kept skating but doing Ice Dancing and MITF. I started working a little on Freestyle again with my private coach one year ago, and we've got to review the forward one foot spin and start working on the scratch spin. Then I hurt my left hip and stopped again :( I still do a couple of them almost each day I'm on ice so I won't loose the progress and the comfort with dizziness. Supposedly the only way to train not felling dizzy is spinning more. I'm working more at the back spin now, as it's on the other hip.
