what is a twizzle in ice dancing
A twizzle in ice dancing is a fast, traveling turn done on one foot, where the skater rotates multiple times while gliding smoothly across the ice without stopping.
What is a twizzle in ice dancing?
In technical terms, a twizzle is defined as a “traveling turn on one foot with one or more rotations, quickly rotated with a continuous, uninterrupted action.” The skating foot stays on the ice, the free leg can be held in various positions, and then comes back beside the skating foot to flow into the next step. Unlike a spin, which stays mostly in one spot, a twizzle moves across the ice while the rotation is happening.
Because it demands edge control, balance, and perfect timing, twizzles are considered one of the most technically demanding elements in ice dance, often compared to quadruple jumps in singles skating. In competition, ice dance teams perform twizzles in sequence and in perfect unison, so any tiny wobble, toe-pick catch, or touchdown is very visible and can cost points.
How twizzles look in a program
Here’s the basic feel of a twizzle sequence in ice dance:
- Both partners glide on one foot, pick up speed, and enter the first rotation together.
- They rotate quickly while traveling down the rink, maintaining the same direction, speed, and body line.
- Without pausing, they exit the first turn, change edge or direction, and go into the second and sometimes third twizzle, often with arm or leg variations to increase difficulty.
Twizzles can be performed:
- Forward or backward.
- On different skate edges (inside or outside).
- As single, double, or triple rotations in sequence (single/double/triple twizzles).
Why twizzles matter so much
Twizzles are a required element in modern ice dance and heavily judged for:
- Speed and ice coverage – how fast and how far the skaters travel while rotating.
- Control and stability – no stumbles, scraping, or extra turns.
- Synchronization – partners must match timing, direction, and body positions almost perfectly.
- Creativity – teams add arm movements, changes of level, and position variations to stand out.
Because they happen very quickly and are so exposed, commentators talk about twizzles a lot whenever an ice dance event is on, which is why they often pop up in “latest news” and forum discussions during big competitions.
TL;DR: A twizzle in ice dancing is a difficult, traveling one-foot turn with continuous rotations across the ice, usually done in synchronized sequences by both partners and judged for speed, control, and perfect unison.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.