The free dance is a part of an ice dancing competition. It is usually the third and final part of the competition to be contested, after the compulsory dances and the original dance.

In the free dance, teams are free to choose their own rhythms, program themes, and therefore music. Creativity is also strongly encouraged. Since 1998, dancers have been required to include certain elements in their free dances, including step sequences, lifts, dance spins, and multi-rotation turns called twizzles. Senior level free dances are four minutes long (plus or minus 10 seconds) and usually, but not always, contain a slow section that helps bring variety to the routine and allows the dancers to catch their breath. The hand holds and positions are much more open and free than in the compulsory and original dance categories. Often teams strive to skate in difficult or unusual positions to gain difficulty points. There are more lifts in the free dance than in the original dance.

v • d • e Figure skating Disciplines Single skating · Pair skating · Ice dancing · Synchronized skating Competition programs Compulsory figures · Short program · Free skating · Compulsory dances · Original dance · Free dance Elements Required elements Death spiral · Jumps · Lifts · Moves in the field · Spins · Spirals · Step sequence · Twist lifts Jumps Toe loop jump · Salchow jump · Flip jump · Loop jump · Lutz jump · Axel jump Spins Upright spin (Layback spin · Biellmann spin) · Sit spin · Camel spin Moves in the field 3 turn · Bracket turn · Choctaw turn · Counter turn · Crossover · Mohawk turn · Rocker turn · Twizzle Connecting elements Besti squat · Cantilever · Hydroblading · Ina Bauer · Spread eagle · Split jumps · Walley jump Other ISU Judging System · International figure skating · Adult figure skating Historical interest History of figure skating · 6.0 system · Special figures Lists Figure skaters · Olympic medalists · Competitions · National championships · Terms Category · Portal

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