2010 Olympics Ice Dancing: Free Dance Preview

The Olympic Free Dance will contest tonight, with Canada's Virtue and Moir presently in first place, USA's Davis and White in second and Russians Domnina and Shabalin falling to third. Belbin and Agosto remain in fourth, Italy's Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali are in fifth, with France's Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder pulling in at sixth.

In the free dance, teams choose their own themes, rhythms and music. Required elements in the four-minute dance include two step sequences, three lifts, one dance spin, and one multi-rotation turn called a "twizzle." Difficult or unusual positions earn additional points, and there are more lifts in the free dance. The hand holds and positions can be more open than in compulsory and original dances. Phrases to listen for tonight include "twizzle," mid-line step sequence, and straight line step sequence. Finally, if any part of a skater's costume falls on the ice during competition, they will receive a costume deduction.

1. After Canada's loss to the US last night in hockey, they can hang onto Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, who are in the lead after the Original Dance with 111.15.They are technically skilled and come alive on the ice. Their free dance will be "Symphony No. 5 by G. Mahler."

2. US champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White moved into second place with 108.55, amazing for their Olympic debut, and are just as exciting to watch as Virtue and Moir. Davis does tend to have problems with her twizzle, but so far that problem has not surfaced. They will be performing "Phantom of the Opera" in the free dance.

3. Russians Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin fell from first to third with their controversial Aboriginal dance, their 106.60 score high for a disjointed, confusing, unattractive and ungraceful program. And I really hated that caveman hair-pulling move. Their free dance will be "The Double Life of Veronique."

4. US skaters Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto just don't seem to be on their game, some of their electricity missing, earning only 103.33 in the original dance. While they are beautiful to look at, her smiles seem "Stepford-like." Some aura is lacking in their skating so far, and I'm not feeling the emotion. They've been tweaking their free dance, "Ave Maria," all year, and it is their strongest, most difficult one. If they wake up tonight, they may medal.

5. Italy's Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali's fiery Tarantella evidently not moving the judges, their 100.06 score was lower than I thought they deserved. I like this pair, their programs are entertaining, tell a story, and their music is pleasing to the ear. Their free dance will be "The Emigrants by N. Rota."

6. France's Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder Original Can-Can dance was delightful, but only earned them a 96.67. They will perform "The Impossible Dream" in their free dance.

Sources: Original Dance Results; Ice Dance line up; Free Dance requirements