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STARSkate figure skating logo

Skills, Tests, Achievement, Recognition – this is what STARSkate is all about!

STARSkate offers opportunities for skaters of all ages to develop fundamental figure skating skills in the areas of ice dance, skating skills, free skate and artistic skating. This program teaches figure skating skills in a group and/or private lesson format in a progressive and sequential manner and includes specifically designed awards and incentives. Skaters have the opportunity to take Skate Canada Tests through a nationally standardized testing system Star 1 to Gold.

At Acton Skating Club your private coach with guide you through the steps and is available to answer any questions you may have. For those just getting underway in the Star 1 STARSkate program and you haven't yet taken the step to a private coach your STARSkate Coordinator Coach can help answer any questions.

The information below provides a general overview guide of the Canadian wide STARSkate program. For how Acton Skating club stages the levels within our programs please see the STARSkate programs and levels.

 

How STARSkate works

The STARSkate program consists of figure skating skills in four areas – Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Free Skate and Artistic. Each area is divided into the following levels:

Star 1 to 5 Tests

  • Skating Skills
  • Free Skating
  • Dance
  • Artistic: Star 5 only

Star 6 to Gold Tests

  • Skating Skills
  • Free Skating
  • Dance: Star 6 to Diamond
  • Artistic: Star 7, Star 9 and Gold only

What Options do I have as a STARSkate Athlete?

Once a skater is in the Skate Canada STARSkate Program, there are several of options. Skaters may choose to remain in the STARSkate Program, taking tests (although not mandatory) at organized test sessions and honing learned skills. Skaters may also choose to enter competitions, while still trying Skate Canada tests. Other skaters may feel that they have progressed to a point where they may wish to enter the Skate Canada CompetitiveSkate Program or become involved in synchronized skating, evaluating or judging, or participate as an adult or varsity member.

Skating Skills

Skating Skills are a combination of fundamental skating movements, executed on a pattern and skated solo. The basic components of all disciplines of figure skating are incorporated into the program. The movements are derived from former compulsory figures, free skating and ice dancing. The objective of the Skating Skills program is mastery of the basic fundamentals of skating – edge quality, control, power and speed.

There are Skating Skills tests at all levels of the STARSkate program: Star 1 to Gold

Ice Dance

Consisting of eleven levels of tests, the Dance Test program teaches timing, musicality, rhythm interpretation, structure as well as basic skating skills such as edges, flow, control and unison.

The dances in the STARSkate Program can be tried in any order based on the Star level, but a candidate must pass the required dances in a Star level before proceeding to the next level. In addition to the traditional compulsory dances, there are also Creative Dances to challenge skaters’ creativity, artistry and originality.

The Dance Tests are as follows:

  • Star 2 Dance Tests - Dutch Waltz, Canasta Tango
  • Star 3 Dance Tests - Baby Blues, Dance Elements Test
  • Star 4 Dance Tests - Swing Dance, Fiesta Tango
  • Star 5 Dance Tests - Willow Waltz, Dance Elements Test
  • Star 6 Dance Tests - Ten-Fox, European Waltz, Fourteenstep
  • Star 7 Dance Tests - Foxtrot, Tango, American Waltz
  • Star 8 Dance Tests - Killian, Rocker Foxtrot, Starlight Waltz
  • Star 9 Dance Tests - Paso Doble, Blues, Silver Samba
  • Star 10 Dance Tests - Cha Cha Congeldo, Westminster Waltz, Quickstep
  • Gold Dance Tests - Viennese Waltz, Argentine Tango, Gold Rhythm Dance
  • Diamond Dance Tests - Ravensburger, Tango Romantica, Yankee Polka, Rhumba, Austrian Waltz,                                        Golden Waltz 

Free Skate

Free skating consists of the execution of jumps, spins, footwork, field movements and stroking, either in isolation or performed in sequence to music. There are two piece to Free skating, the Elements test (in Isolation) and the Program Test

  • Star 1: Free skate test only
  • Star 2 to 10: Free skate Elements and Program
  • Gold : Program only

Artistic

The objective of the Artistic program is to encourage and develop skaters’ creativity, expression, musicality, movement, interpretation of music, as well as the use of space, rhythm, line and style. The program provides skaters with the opportunity to explore the performance aspect of skating without focusing on technical elements.

The Artistic tests consist of skating to and interpreting a piece of music 2.0 to 3.0 minutes (+/- 10 seconds) in length. Skaters can take Artistic tests as individuals and/or as a couple (male/female, female/female or male/male) at four levels:

  • Star 5, 7, 9 and Gold: Artistic only

Competitions for STARSkate Athletes

Club Competitions
 

Acton Skating Club offers most years offer a club competition for members to compete against each other each December called Winterfest. The club determines the categories which generally follow Skate Canada STARSkate guidelines (e.g. length of program, category name, type of event offered, etc.) The club may also offer other creative events such as longest shoot-the-duck, similar pairs, spins and jumps, etc.). If there is a Winterfest and your skater is interested in participating in Winterfest please speak to your private coach or program coordinator.

STARSkate Interclub Competitions

These are events involving a number of clubs in the same region or area. The competition categories offered generally fall in line with the applicable Skate Canada Section specifications, so that all Interclubs within the Section are standardized (this allows Skate Canada Sections to offer a Section Final). The STARSkate Championship program provides opportunities for skaters who want to have the challenge of competing up to a Sectional level in a credible, nationally standardized event. A private coach is needed to participate in these competions. Please speak to your private coach about events our club members are participating in this season.

Invitational Competitions

These are events coordinated by a Section or Club(s) and offered, generally, to STARSkaters and competitive skaters. Most events fall within Skate Canada’s specifications regarding program length and eligibility to compete. For more information contact the hosting Section or club and your private coach.

 
 

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