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Ballet Basics Vocab

Subjects : performing-arts, dance
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Interweaving or braiding. A step of beating in which the dancer jumps into the air and rapidly crosses the legs before and behind each other.






2. To the front. Any step in front of your body.






3. Turning fouetta.






4. Whipped. A term applied to a whipping movement.






5. To strike powerfully. An exercise in which the dancer forcefully extends the working leg from a cou-de-pied position to the front - side or back.






6. Step in which the fotot goes in back coupa and you turn ¾ of a circle then do a grand jeta to complete the turn. Usually done in a circle or diagonal.






7. The crossing of the legs with the body placed at an oblique angle to the audience.






8. Male dance partner to the ballerina






9. Fish. A position of the body in which the legs are crossed in the fifth position and held tightly together with the back arched. This pose is taken while jumping into the air.






10. To the second. Applies to legs or arms. Second position.






11. The working foot slides from the first or fifth position to the second or fourth position without lifting the toe from the ground.






12. On the points. Rising to the tips of the toes.






13. A






14. Open - opened.






15. To throw about. This is a jump from either one foot or both feet. Jump up to double passe and extend out.






16. To glide. A traveling step executed by gliding the working foot from the fifth position in the required direction - the other foot closing to it.






17. Basque jump. A traveling step in which the dancer turns in the air with one foot drawn up to the knee of the other leg. Fifth position are foot front.






18. The ability to jump easily and lightly into the air. Springy - usually men.






19. Pas de bourra - running. This is a progression on the points or demi-pointes by a series of small - even steps with the feet close together. It may be done in all directions or in a circle.






20. To prick






21. Dance for three






22. Small - half bend of the knees.






23. Foot rises about four inches from the floor with a well-pointed toe - then slides back into the the first or fifth position.






24. Ground to ground. Feet never leave the floor.






25. To turn in the air. A complete sing - double - or triple turn in the air; usually landing in 5th position.






26. Bourrae step - done on pointe of demi-point.






27. Body.






28. Term used to describe the ability of a dancer to raise and hold her extended leg en l'air.






29. To face hips square. Not particularly to the front.






30. Bent or bending. Bending of the knee or knees






31. Connected movements on the points






32. To pose - balanced on one leg while the other leg is slightly bent at the knee - extended to either the front - side or back.






33. Developing movement. A daveloppa is a movement in which the working leg is drawn up to the knee of the supporting leg and slowly extended to an open position en l'air and held there with perfect control.






34. Jumped - jumping. When this name is added to a step - that step is done in the air.






35. Arms low or down. This is the dancer's 'attention.' The arms form a circle with the palms facing each other and the back edge of the hands resting on the thighs. The arms should hang quite loosely but not allowing the elbows to touch the sides.






36. Step






37. Small rise on the ball of the foot - usually in pointe shoes.






38. Dance for four






39. Borken/breaking






40. To escape. From 5th to second. Feet slide and don't leave floor.






41. This means 'moving' the leg.






42. Round of the leg. Circular movement of the leg.






43. A march in which two steps are taken forward on the demi-pointes and then the third step is taken flat with the supporting knee bent in fondu and the other leg raised in front.






44. A step traveling in a diagonal direction.






45. Closed sissone. Low elevation and a quick tempo - this sissonne finishes on two feet with the working foot gliding along the floor into the demi-plia in the fifth position.






46. Backwards - reverse.






47. Enrico Cecchetti was a ballet teacher. He had a system of passing the tradition of ballet down to the next generation. The method has a definite program of strict routine and includes a table of principal set daily exercises for each day of the week.






48. Arms






49. Chased. A step in which one foot literally chases the other foot out of its position; done in a series.






50. Line. The outline of a dancer as she executes certain steps.