| Figure skating is a sport in which individuals, mixed | | | | Other disciplines of figure skating include: |
| couples, or groups perform spins, jumps, and other | | | | Synchronized skating, for mixed-gender groups of 12 |
| moves on ice, often to music. Figure skaters | | | | to 20 skaters. This discipline resembles a group form |
| compete in multiple levels, from novice to elite, and | | | | of ice dance with additional emphasis on precise |
| at national and international competitions. The | | | | formations of the group as a whole and complex |
| International Skating Union (ISU) regulates figure | | | | transitions between formations. |
| skating judging and competitions. Figure skating is an | | | | Compulsory figures, in which skaters use their blades |
| official event in the Winter Olympic Games. In | | | | to draw circles, figure 8s, and similar shapes in ice, |
| languages other than English, figure skating is usually | | | | and are judged on the accuracy and clarity of the |
| referred to by a name that translates as "artistic | | | | figures and the cleanness and exact placement of |
| skating". | | | | the various turns on the circles. Figures were |
| Major international competitions are sanctioned by | | | | formerly included as a component of singles |
| the ISU. These include the Winter Olympic Games, | | | | competitions but were eliminated from those events |
| the World Championships, the ISU Grand Prix of | | | | in 1990. Today figures are rarely taught or |
| Figure Skating, the European Figure Skating | | | | performed. The United States was the last country |
| Championships, and the Four Continents Figure | | | | to retain a separate test and competitive structure |
| Skating Championships. | | | | for compulsory figures, but the last national-level |
| The sport is also associated with show business. | | | | figures championship was held in 1999. |
| Major competitions generally include exhibitions at the | | | | Moves in the field (known in the UK as field moves), |
| end in which the top-placing skaters perform for the | | | | which have replaced compulsory figures as a discipline |
| crowd. Many skaters, both during and after their | | | | to teach the same turns and edge skills in the |
| competitive careers, also skate in ice skating | | | | context of fluid free skating movements instead of |
| exhibitions or shows which run during the competitive | | | | being constrained to artificially precise circles. |
| season and the off-season. | | | | Fours, a discipline that is to pairs as pairs is to singles. |
| Olympic sports in figure skating comprise the | | | | A fours team consists of two men and two women |
| following disciplines: | | | | who perform singles and pairs elements in unison as |
| Single competition for men and women (who are | | | | well as unique elements that involve all four skaters. |
| referred to as "ladies" in ISU rulebooks), wherein | | | | Theatre on ice, also known as "ballet on ice" in |
| skaters perform jumps, spins, step sequences, and | | | | Europe. This is a form of group skating that is less |
| other elements in their programs. | | | | structured than synchronized skating and allows the |
| Pair skating teams consist of a woman and a man. | | | | use of props and theatrical costuming. |
| Pairs perform singles elements in unison as well as | | | | Adagio skating, a form of pair skating most |
| pair-specific elements such as throw jumps, in which | | | | commonly seen in ice shows, where the skaters |
| the man 'throws' the woman into a jump; lifts, in | | | | perform many spectacular acrobatic lifts but few or |
| which the woman is held above the man's head in | | | | none of the singles elements which competitive pairs |
| one of various grips and positions; pair spins, in which | | | | must perform. |
| both skaters spin together about a common axis; | | | | Special figures, the tracing of elaborate original |
| death spirals, and other elements. | | | | designs on the ice, common in the early days of |
| Ice dancing is again for couples consisting of a | | | | skating. |
| woman and a man skating together. Ice dance | | | | Acrobatic skating, also known as "Acrobatics on ice" |
| differs from pairs in focusing on intricate footwork | | | | or "Extreme Skating", is a combination of circus arts, |
| performed in close dance holds, in time with the | | | | technical artistic gymnastics skills, and figure skating. |
| music. Ice dancers do not perform the acrobatic | | | | Acrobatic skating merges many sporting worlds and |
| jumps, throws, and lifts of pair skating. | | | | has become popular worldwide. |