Ice Dance Rhythm Dance Takes Center Stage at 2026 Winter Olympics as Chock and Bates Lead U.S. Charge

The rhythm dance portion of ice dancing competition began at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina on Monday, February 9, with 23 ice dance teams taking to the ice in a competition themed around "The Music, Dance Styles and Feeling of the 1990s." The event was split into two parts, with Part 1 beginning at 1:20 PM EST and Part 2 at 2:40 PM EST, broadcast live on USA Network and NBC Daytime. Team USA's world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates entered the rhythm dance with significant momentum after placing first in the rhythm dance portion of the figure skating team event earlier in the Games. The decorated American duo, competing in what could be their final Olympic Games, are seeking to add an individual medal to their impressive résumé. Joining them in representing the United States are Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, along with Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, giving Team USA a strong three-team presence in the competition. The French team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and reigning Olympic gold medallist Guillaume Cizeron emerged as formidable challengers for the podium. Despite being edged out by Chock and Bates at the Grand Prix Final in December, the Franco-Canadian partnership has established themselves as genuine medal contenders in Milano Cortina. Cizeron, who won gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics with a different partner, brings invaluable championship experience to the competition. The rhythm dance serves as the first of two components in the individual ice dance competition, with scores from Monday's performance carrying forward to combine with the free dance results to determine the final medal standings. The 1990s theme allowed teams to showcase their creativity and interpretive skills through music from artists like Nirvana, Britney Spears, TLC, and other era-defining acts, offering a nostalgic celebration of the decade's diverse musical landscape. The ice dance competition continues with the free dance scheduled for later in the week, where the combined scores will determine which teams stand on the Olympic podium. With multiple nations fielding competitive teams and the quality of skating reaching new heights, the battle for medals promises to be one of the most exciting competitions at the Milano Cortina Games. The rhythm dance results will set the stage for what is expected to be a thrilling conclusion when the free dance takes place.