Canadian pair Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon seized the early initiative in the ice dance competition at the world figure skating championships in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The world silver medallists scored 38.96 points in the compulsory dance to gain an edge over defending champions Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski of Bulgaria.

Denkova and Staviski, skating in their last official competition, posted 37.42 points with Russia's Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin third on 37.29.

Dubreuil and Lauzon were a cut above their rivals, performing the compulsory Rhumba with real panache, Dubreuil dazzling in a sequined lime green dress.

"I think the green looks great with black hair," Dubreuil said with a smile. "Even though we're first it's still very tight. At least we're the world champions of Rhumba!"

The Four Continents champions take an advantage of 1.54 points into Thursday's original dance and Lauzon insisted they would take nothing for granted.

The free dance programme takes place on Friday.

"It feels really good to be leading but what's important is to get as many points as possible and not leave anything behind," he said. "Every little extra counts."

France's European champions Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder were fourth on 37.20 with American Olympic silver medallists Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto fifth on 37.17.

The pairs short programme takes place later on Tuesday.