Get excited for Theatre on Ice Nationals! (Understanding TOI Judging)

Theatre On Ice (TOI) is a form of competitive figure skating that is popular in Europe, where it is known as Ballet on Ice. It combines the grace of figure skating with the excitement of theater and dance. Teams consist of between eight and 30 skaters. Solo skating is discouraged but is permitted in limited amounts if it enhances the overall telling of the program’s story. The programs are judged by U.S. Figure Skating judges and are evaluated using a Component Judging System (CJS) that rewards originality, costuming, artistry and musicality.

TOI Free Skate Programs are judged on five components:

Skating Skills: Quality of gliding; Quality of edges; Use of jumps, spins, steps and turns, lifts, etc.

Choreographic Composition: Use of various choreographic processes and gestures; Treatment of space

Quality of Groups: Formations and ensembles and their relation to each other; Balance and Cohesion

Theatricality: Acting; Scenery and/or Props (if used); Costumes

Creation of a Universe: Emotion and Feeling; Originality/Creativity; Intensity and Impact