Ballet and figure skating have been linked since the 1860s, when the American skater Jackson Haines, a trained ballet dancer, brought ballet styles and techniques to skating and took them to Europe, where Vienna made him famous (Britannica). Skaters still take ballet off the ice for posture, extension and the artistry judges score.
What judges score
Under the ISU judging system, a skater's score has two parts: technical elements and program components. The components cover skating skills, composition and presentation, which means how a programme is built and how well it expresses the music (ISU rules). Ballet trains much of what sits behind those marks: carriage of the head and arms, extension through the free leg, and moving with the music.
Spins, spirals and landings
Spins. Ballet turns train a centred, upright axis and a strong core.
Spirals and extensions. Barre work builds the control to hold a high, straight free leg.
Landings. Ballet's plié trains a soft, controlled knee.
What coaches say
Many rinks and clubs run off-ice ballet or dance classes, and coaches recommend them for body awareness, musicality and line. Some coaches now give more off-ice time to strength and jump training, so ballet works best as one part of a skater's off-ice week.
Getting started
A weekly ballet class is enough to start: a graded class for younger skaters, or an adult or teen class for older ones. Tell the teacher you skate. Ballet's turnout from the hip goes further than most skating positions, so expect it to take time. Learn the five ballet positions, then find a class in the schools directory. Adults can browse adult ballet classes.
Frequently asked questions
Do figure skaters do ballet?
Many do, as part of off-ice training. Ballet builds posture, extension and musicality, which feed into the program components judges score.
Is ballet or contemporary dance better for skaters?
Both help. Ballet gives classical lines and control, and contemporary adds freer, more varied movement. Many skaters try both.
How often should skaters do ballet?
Once a week is a common start, fitted around ice time and other off-ice training.
Last checked: 6 November 2026