UPDATES ON MY DREAM TO LEARN TO ICE-DANCE...WISH ME LUCK!!

FSWer, gliding on one foot only is not just a requirement in ice dancing, but in almost everything you do on the ice. And it's not complicated. I'm sure you can do it, because when you move on the ice and skate, you logically lift one foot off the ice and glide on the other, then change feet (of course, when gliding, you can rest on both feet for a while, but to gain speed again, you need to push with one foot/blade). When walking, you also always lift one foot and put your weight on the other, in quick alternation.

Please tell us about your experiences and your progress! I wish you the best of luck!
 
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Were you able to watch the videos of swing rolls that gkelly posted? If you can watch them, you will see that the skaters glide on one foot for quite a long time while they swing the other leg. A swing roll is a step that you need for the first ice dance, the Dutch Waltz. That is why you need to be able to do some basic moves first before you learn to ice dance.

I can't wait to hear about your lessons!
 
Well guys...just want to say that I have my Partner and I a coach,and I am now waiting to see on her avilibility. So,hopefully she will write me back. Hopefully we'll start in June. I'll keep you all updated.
 
That sounds really good, FSWer, I keep my fingers crossed for you that everything will soon fall into place!
 
@FSWer, you can always take lessons on your own before that, if your partner is not available until June. Working on basic skating by yourself will make the lessons with your partner even better.
 
rjblue said:
https://youtu.be/Up7rtb6iMmYUp7rtb6iMmY

I like this one because this shows how the dance can be done by people learning the dance, not people in a competetion.
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Just popping in here. Gee, that brings back memories. I still have my Dance 1 and 2 (ISI) tests on VHS tape - 1995?

And I don't know if my barely 2 cents is going to sink in, but........before I ever thought about taking ice dance lessons, I used to follow my friend Peggy around the ice doing the Rhythm and Blues (Dance 3 ISI). At the club skate, they would have a section of dance music and announce the specific dance and anybody who could do it would do it without a partner. We used to say we looked like baby ducks following each other (weaving around people who were just skating).

We all took the beginner lessons at the same time through the club (not the rink's Learn to Skate), and Peggy went on to dance lessons. Then I thought it looked like "fun" so I took dance lessons. I had to learn progressives, chasses` (can't get that to type right) and swing rolls on each foot forward and backward before I EVER skated with a partner or learned the holds. For my tests, I practiced with one of the guys in our club who was a higher level ice dancer.

When Peggy was testing the Hickory Hoedown (ISI 4), her male coach who she partnered with for testing couldn't make it, and she had to skate with another guy in our club who had just passed it during the last test session. She did not pass. Just trying to figure out how to say how hard it would be to teach two beginners ice dance at the same time.................And you need to learn the steps before you try to do it with a partner............
 
Regarding how to begin with the ice dancing pattern, I can well relate to what @Susan1 tells us about her first lessons. In our club, we have good ice dancing coaches, and ardent ice dancers of almost all levels. Last winter season, I went to a class for beginners and intermediate dancers. There were only adults, some well in their sixties, who have been practising the dances for ages. Our coach did some basics first (always a must and I focus very much on that as I also need it for my free style skating), and asked us what dances we'd like to pracitse. Every lesson I was busy running after one of the other ladies who were doing their steps in rhythm and secure enough to be good models. My, it was tough! I was told to watch, focus, copy, copy, copy...and get into rhythm.
In our class, we had a very good skater, who has passed some tests and is far advanced. He can do all the dances on his own, and sometimes does them with his wife. She knows the dances, too, but she's rather insecure and wouldn't go fast, and her patterns cover only half of the rink when she goes on her own. When the two of them dance together, logically, he has to take care of her and adjust to her pace and length of steps. They are lovely to watch btw.

In spring, I took another class and I was lucky to have a mate who would partner me for some exercises. We only did some edges, chassees and easy steps together - it was exciting, yet not easy to stay in tune together, hold a good posture and simultaneously pay attention to the partner. I wouldn't be able to do a single step in hold if I wasn't able to do it on my own.
 
Shyjosie said:
Regarding how to begin with the ice dancing pattern, I can well relate to what @Susan1 tells us about her first lessons. In our club, we have good ice dancing coaches, and ardent ice dancers of almost all levels. Last winter season, I went to a class for beginners and intermediate dancers. There were only adults, some well in their sixties, who have been practising the dances for ages.
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I know we're getting off the original poster's question with our personal experiences, but........two weeks before I was to take my ISI Dance 1 and 2 (steps and Dutch Waltz) some how or another (skating Gods smiling on me), they had a dance hour at 11 a.m. on a Friday morning at the rink. Since it wasn't for regular skating, I just wore jeans to work, took my skates with me to work, drove half an hour to the rink (went through the McDonald's drive-thru on the half hour back)...........About 5 really good dancers from our club were there, but they ran through all the dances in order for practice. After the first Dutch Waltz, a lady who was working on her Gold dances said I was doing a good job but to bend my knees more (like nobody's ever told me that, huh?). The next time the Dutch Waltz came up, we were doing the "baby duck" thing, and I did such sweeping knee bending swing rolls that I was staying right with the better dancers' pattern covering the whole ice. I didn't want to stop! I was like "did I just do that?". I wish somebody would have been taping that day. My test dance was not that pretty!

And after just practicing my steps during the harder dancers (as much out of the way as possible and watching patterns, of course), at the next club skate my dance coach asked me how my backwards progressives had gotten so much better in a week. ha ha
 
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Hi everyone. Just an update here on my Dream to become an Ice-Dancer. I had a little Meeting a while back with my Case-Worker and Staff,and we talked about what Coach I will go with,as well as money. So,I now know who I will ask to coach me and a Partner (if I can ever get the Girl to write me back)..So I MIGHT have to keep looking for a Partner. The one thing that's making it hard for me,is that I can't get anyone besides my Case-Worker to support me. What I have coming up next is my 6th-month Meeting. So hopefully I'll have better luck there.
 
@FSWer , you can have ice dance lessons with a coach and not have a partner. If you can't find a partner, you should still take the lessons. You can learn a lot by working with a coach on your own, and that may help you find a partner eventually.
 
overedge said:
@FSWer , you can have ice dance lessons with a coach and not have a partner. If you can't find a partner, you should still take the lessons. You can learn a lot by working with a coach on your own, and that may help you find a partner eventually.
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Ok,I have a question Overedge....My Rink doesn't HOOK you up with Skaters as Partners. BUT my Case-Worker found out from my Rink that if I BROUGHT a Partner,a coach could teach us...SO,if I WAS to just learn from a coach FIRST...would that coach themself still sooner or later be able to hook me up with a Partner after teaching me? Even though my Rink doesn't? Also,the coach I have in mind is ALSO the coach of the Skater that hopefully will be my Partner (would THAT factor in)? The coach also talked with her Skater about this as well,and the Skater also replied that she would like a Partnership in an e-mail to me.. SO,what I've waiting on and trying to find out NOW is when this Skater IS avarible. Which is what I'm stuck on,as it's been almost a month with no reply from her on when she can meet me at the Rink. I'm pretty sure she's out of School now. But I'm still wondering when she'll write back and what to do next.
 
FSWer said:
Ok,I have a question Overedge....My Rink doesn't HOOK you up with Skaters as Partners. BUT my Case-Worker found out from my Rink that if I BROUGHT a Partner,a coach could teach us...SO,if I WAS to just learn from a coach FIRST...would that coach themself still sooner or later be able to hook me up with a Partner after teaching me? Even though my Rink doesn't? Also,the coach I have in mind is ALSO the coach of the Skater that hopefully will be my Partner (would THAT factor in)? The coach also talked with her Skater about this as well,and the Skater also replied that she would like a Partnership in an e-mail to me.. SO,what I've waiting on and trying to find out NOW is when this Skater IS avarible. Which is what I'm stuck on,as it's been almost a month with no reply from her on when she can meet me at the Rink. I'm pretty sure she's out of School now. But I'm still wondering when she'll write back and what to do next.
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Rinks usually don't "hook" you up with partners. You usually learn yourself with a coach (you need your basics) and then eventually you get partnered with another skater through the network of coaches, etc. I think you should go and skate lessons with your coach and when the partner thing happens, it happens. :) Best of luck!
 
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@FSWer, I don't know any ice dance coaches that won't teach someone without a partner. Most people who are learning ice dance don't have a partner, especially when they are beginners. If ice dance coaches only worked with skaters who had partners, the coaches would not have much business. Ice dance coaches work with skaters on their own all the time.

If the coach you have talked to knows a person who could be your partner, that's great. But if that person hasn't written back to you, you shouldn't have to wait for lessons because of that. Ask the coach if the coach will teach you by yourself. I am pretty sure they will say yes, and then you can start your lessons.

If the other skater writes back to you, then you can figure out how to have lessons together. But don't wait for that to happen if you have a coach that is willing to teach you. You can learn a lot about ice dancing by taking lessons on your own.
 
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I can only second what Kecasyl and Overedge say here. Go for it, FSWer, don't waste time on waiting to get partnered. Just go and have lessons with a reliable, nice coach, you'll see it's fun and you'll make progress on your own!
 
FSWer it is very rare for an adult to ever find a partner. Just go learn and skate. Your coach can partner you when needed.
If you focus on finding a partner, you may never be able to ice dance
 
I agree with everybody else - go for it and take lessons from the coach, whether or not you have an official partner. I don't have a partner right now, but I still take ice dance lessons. When I work with my female coach, I skate by myself and she works on my skating skills. When I work with my male coach, he partners me and works on the steps of the dance. Both things are good. Someday maybe I'll have a partner again, and because I will be a better skater it will be easier for us to dance together right away.
 
Even if you have a same sex coach they can partner you though.

Clarice is pretty advanced, which is why she likely used multiple coaches. That isn't necessary for beginners.
 
What Skittl says is true! I didn't mean to suggest that you needed to have more than one coach. My point was that I don't have a partner either, and I still take ice dance lessons and learn things.

The real reason I use more than one coach is that I have to drive pretty far to get ice dance lessons, so I take two in a row from two different coaches. It makes it seem more worthwhile after having traveled all that way.
 
Hello again everyone!!! Another update on my Dream to be an Ice-Dancer. I just spoke to one of the Coaches today on the phone,and she says that the Girl who was going to be my Partner has decided to go to Collage, and won't be able to Partner up. She suggested that I take lessons from the coach who will be teaching me alone. She also said too that a Partner would have to pay too. Is there anyone here who lives near Newington,CT. that would be interested in Partnering up with me? Thanks.
 
@FSWer the coach is telling you the same thing that we have all been telling you. You don't need a partner to learn how to ice dance. The coach is willing to give you lessons on your own, so take the lessons. The coach can be your partner while you learn.

I don't mean to sound nasty by saying this, but if you wait to find a partner before starting lessons - if you never find a partner, that means you might never get to learn ice dance. Many skaters who take ice dance lessons never find a regular partner, but they take lessons anyway. @FSWer, if your dream is to be an ice dancer, take the lessons on your own. Don't miss out on your dream just because you can't find a partner right now.
 
I absolutely agree with Clarice, overedge and Kecasyl here - go for it, FSWer, don't waste any more time with waiting. If a coach suggests you to take lessons on your own, do it - it's professional advice and they know how things work out best for you. Go for it and have fun! I'm sure you won't regret it!

I'm going to have a lesson with an ice dancing coach next week. Can't wait!
 
Say,I was wondering about something else too. Since my Rink schedules a lot of Hockey. How do I go about arranging private Ice-Time with the coach to work around and get on the same page with the Rinks Schedule? Also,is there anyone here who uses my Rink (Newington Arena) as a place to train that can help me? Thanks.
 
You don't...you need to commit to a coach and a rough time slot. For example - Coach, I can be there mornings MWF, do you have a 30 minute lesson weekly lesson available? Then they give you a time and you say Great, I can commit to that every week. Then you find out how to pay for them and the ice. And then you show up 15 minutes early and get your skates on. The coach knows the rink schedule. They know their own coaching schedule.

I will say, no coach will hold a time when you haven't committed. So if you ask if they have a time and then take several weeks to commit to a day, then your time is probably gone and you have to start all over. Basically when you are ready to commit, call or email them.

If it is too much for you to commit, you might just take group classes until you are ready for private lessons. Or the coach might not have a lesson open for you and I'm sure you don't want to waste anymore time learning to skate.
 
@FSWer your coach is the one who will schedule the ice time for lessons. You don't have to do it.

Ask your coach when he or she teaches at the rink and when they have time for lessons. Then you choose a time and a day of the week that works for you, during the time when the coach is giving lessons, and you schedule that time with the coach. You usually schedule lessons for each week, as many weeks as you are able to attend.

@TheGirlCanSkate is right that if you tell the coach you want a lesson on a certain day and time, it is very important to be there. The coach loses money if they have scheduled a lesson with you and you don't show up. And they may not want to coach you if you miss too many lessons.
 
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Hi Guys...another update....I just had my 6-month Meeting today with my Case Worker,and I called the coach who will be training me in Ice-Dancing,and at this point she is on vacation. But is going to call me back in a few weeks. So,in a few weeks I should be starting my very first Lesson. BTW. can anyone tell me what to expect on the first day?
 
@FSWer that's great that you are going to be starting lessons! Congratulations!!

On the first day, the coach will probably ask you what kind of skating experience you have - e.g. have you taken learn-to-skate lessons, have you taken private lessons, have you passed any badges or tests. The coach will probably also ask what you are interested in learning, or what your goals are in skating.

The coach will probably also ask you to do some very basic skating moves, like forward stroking or gliding on one or two feet. The coach will want to see what level of skating skills you have, so he or she can decide what would be best to work on with you (at least for the beginning).

Don't be discouraged if it feels like the coach isn't actually teaching you anything, or if you feel like you're not learning to ice dance. For the first couple of lessons the coach may be trying different things with you, to see what they can help you with and to choose what they think you should focus on learning. And having good basic skating skills is very important to being a good ice dancer, so working on basic skills will help your ice dancing even if it doesn't feel like dancing.

Listen to the coach, and don't be afraid to ask questions if you don't understand what they're telling you to do. Good coaches want to work with you, not just boss you around. They would much sooner have you ask a question than have you be confused or to try something you're not sure how to do.
 
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