When high level figure skaters compete in ice dancing, they compete in three phases at most ice skating competitions. The first phase is the compulsory dance event. The second phase is the original dance event and the last phase is the free dance event.
The original dance is shorter than the free dance. Also, all competitors are give a prescribed rhythm and they must make up their own original dance to that rhythm.
The costumes worn for the original dance should fit the rhythm and theme of the dance. Dance lifts, dance spins, twizzles, ice dance steps, and footwork are included in each original dance.
For awhile, the original dance was called the original set pattern dance, and that meant that the ice dancers were required to create and perform a dance very similar to a compulsory ice dance where patterns and steps were repeated.
The original dance also has been performed as a combination dance where the skaters skated to two or three rhythms from a group of prescribed rhythms. That type of dance seemed similar to free dance, but the the program was shorter in length.
