Rhythm dance

2018–2019 season

In March 2018, the ISU published the rules for the 2018–2019 season.^{[2]:p. 1} Senior ice dancers had to skate two sections of the Tango Romantica for their pattern dance, one after the other. The first section had to begin on the judges' left side. Their tempo had to be constant, and remain with the range of 20 measures of four beats per minute (112 beats per minute), plus or minus 2 beats per minute. Junior ice dancers had to skate two sections of the Argentine Tango for their pattern dance, also one after the other. If they chose to skate section one first, they had to start on the judges' left side; if they skated section 2 first, they had to begin on the judges' right side. Their tempo had to be between 24 measures of four beats per minute (96 beats per minute), plus or minus two beats per minute. Both levels could chose the tango or the tango with one other rhythm.^{[2]:pp. 2–3}

The ice dancers' pattern had to "proceed in a generally constant direction".^{[2]:p. 5} They had to cross the rink's long axis once at its end within 30 meters of the its short axis. They could also cross the rink's long axis once as they entered into the pattern dance element and/or once at the entry and/or exit to the not touching step sequence, as well as while skating their required step sequence. The dancers also had to perform a maximum of one short lift, lasting up to 7 seconds, one step sequence, and one combination set of sequential twizzles. The step sequence either had to be in hold, not touching, or a combination of both. They could use a midline, diagonal, or circular pattern to their step sequence as well. Each partner had to perform at least two twizzles, and they could only make one step between twizzles.^{[2]:pp. 4–5}