How is para dance sport judged?
I · Intermediate · Dancing and judging · 4 of 4Under the skating system each adjudicator places the couples, and in the final the lowest total of places wins. Under absolute points, used in freestyle, seven to nine adjudicators mark technical skills and choreography from 5.0 to 9.9 and difficulty as a factor of 1.00 to 1.50. The score is the two marks added, times difficulty, minus deductions.
How it works
- Skating: place marks, lowest wins.
- Absolute points: three areas.
- Technical skills: 5.0 to 9.9.
- Choreography and presentation: 5.0 to 9.9.
- Difficulty: 1.00 to 1.50.
- Formula: (technical + choreography) x difficulty.
- Extremes: highest and lowest dropped.
- Panel: seven to nine, each marking two areas.
The glossary has the skating judging system, the absolute points judging system, the technical skills, the musicality, choreography and presentation, the difficulty level and the result formula.
Tricky cases
Two freestyle couples tie. How is it broken?
By counting all marks, without dropping any.
Can a mark go below 5.0?
Yes, down to 1.0 for weaker performers.
Does every adjudicator mark all three areas?
No. Two each.
Can two couples share a place in the skating system?
No.
Why the rule exists
Dropping the highest and lowest marks limits the effect of one generous or harsh judge.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Skating | Places | R 4.5.1 |
| Points | Three areas | R 4.5.2 |
| Ties | All marks | R 4.5.2.3 |
From the rule book
World Para Dance Sport, 2026 Rules and Regulations, articles 4.5 and 4.6. Checked 15 October 2026. Official documents: WPDS 2026 Rules and Regulations and the classification pages.