What Is Rhythm Dance in Figure Skating? Learn About It in Time for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics

Whether you’re an Olympics super fan or more of a casual observer, we can all agree that figure skating is one of the buzziest winter Olympic sports. For many viewers, this is the first time they see the programs these skaters have been working on and competing with over the season. But unlike other disciplines in figure skating that feature a short and long program, ice dance is completely different. Which is why some new fans might ask: What is the rhythm dance?

Here’s everything you need to know about the rhythm dance in figure skating.

In ice dance, couples compete with a short program at the beginning of the competition called a “rhythm dance.” They then perform a second program called a free dance. In the free dance, couples can perform almost any genre and dance pattern that they choose, but the rhythm dance is slightly more restrictive.

The components change year after year and may include things like a requirement that the chosen music must come from a musical or operetta (which was the case during the 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021 seasons) or the dance pattern must be the Tango Romantica with music that runs 120 beats per minute (which was the case during the 2018-2019 season).

The rhythm dance requirements are determined by the International Skating Union (ISU). Even with a big competition like the Olympics, the components don’t change between competitions, so couples are able to use the same program all season long.

Here are the requirements for the rhythm dance in the 2025 to 2026 figure skating season:

• The theme and music selected for the Rhythm Dances for both Junior and Senior for the season 2025/26 is “The Music, Dance Styles and Feeling of the 1990s”. The Rhythm Dance for the 2025/2026 season takes inspiration from the high energy and entertaining dance styles from this decade. Any music is possible as long as it was released, either originally or as a cover version in the 1990s and fulfills the Rhythm/Theme mentioned above as well as the Required Characteristics mentioned below.
  • Music Examples (but not limited to): Pop/Street Latin, House/Techno, Hip-Hop, Grunge Rock
  • Required characteristics: High energy and crowd pleasing, demonstrating the essence of the 1990s
  • What this season's RD is not: Dance styles including Classical, Contemporary, Traditional Folk and Competition Ballroom.
  • Note: Remixed and/or remastered music, including cover versions, is permitted. Music created via AI in the “Style of 1990’s” is also permitted.
  • The couple should demonstrate through dance movements/dance holds the feeling/essence and dance style(s) from this decade.
  • The Rhythm Dance should NOT be skated in the style of a Free Dance.
  • To comply with the ethical values of sports, any music chosen for Ice Dance competitions must not include aggressive and/or offending lyrics.
• One (1) Pattern Dance Type Step Sequence:
  • Rhythm: skated to any dance style chosen from the 90s – minimum 120 beats per minute, in 2/2, 2/4 or 4/4 time
  • Must perform two different difficult turns per partner from the following: Back entry Rocker, Counter, Back entry Bracket and Forward Outside Mohawk. Only the first 2 attempted Different Difficult Turns per partner selected from those above are considered for level. Additional attempts of the same Difficult Turn are ignored.
• Program must include one short lift up to eight seconds;
• Program must include one step sequence where the couple is not touching
• Program must include one set of sequential twizzles, minimum two
• Music must be 2 minutes and 50 seconds, give or take 10 seconds;
• Ladies are free to opt out of wearing a skirt and go with trousers if they prefer.

Even with all these requirements, every couple still has a different ice dance style and taste. For example, Team USA’s Madison Chock and Evan Bates will be skating to a rock themed Lenny Kravits program while Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson are skating to Spice Girls. So definitely expect to see a wide range of music genres and programs in this competition, even with the requirements!