Ice Dance's Problem: Not Enough Men (WSJ)

[barbk]

OMG I want to do this. Had it been a known option 20 years ago I would have been so on it!
Thanks for sharing.

One suggestion: I know the thread titled is just repeating the stupid, lame article title, but you may want to change it. I skipped over the thread several times because really, an article about lack of men in ice dance? What next, an article about how the sun rises every morning? I'm so glad I finally gave it click and discovered this new sport exists. And not to rant too much, but the title also makes it seem like singles dance is an act of desperation, like an imaginary boyfriend, when really it's a legitimate, fun sport.

I would...but I don't know how to change a thread title.

 

[Debbie S]

My mom saw the print version, just the headline, and asked me if ice dance was going to die out b/c there weren't enough men to form teams.

I know skaters who competed in solo dance and qualified for the nat'l competition. I don't know if it's an East vs West coast thing, but I did hear a coach in my area (East) express disapproval about the judging. I didn't hear specifics but picked up that many coaches don't think the dances/skills are being judged properly.

The problem with testing solo is once you start solo, you have to continue doing that. If you get to the higher levels and decide you'd rather test partnered, you would have to go back and test partnered from the beginning. And dances are harder to pass solo...that's why the Adult and Masters tracks don't require a solo version of the dances at Silver and higher, like the standard track does.

 

[Dobre]

Avonley Nguyen competed in the solo ice dance event at Lake Placid last season while she was in between partners. Seems to have worked out well.

 

[vireo]

Until I watched solo ice dance, I assumed it was just the pathetic last resort of desperate skaters who couldn't land a partner. Then I watched some solo dance from Lake Placid and the U.S. qualifying comps. I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I would like to see solo dance develop as a separate discipline within figure skating.

 

[gkelly]

I've been saying that for years.