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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. In the shape of a cross. (Front - side - back - side)






2. 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.






3. Behind you - movements done behind you.






4. To get bigger/ big fast movements






5. Sating ballet slippers dancers use when dancing in sur le point.






6. Inward. Indicates that the leg moves in a circular direction - counterclockewise - from the back to the front.






7. Big - large. (movements)






8. Shouldering. The placing of the shoulders.






9. Carried. Refers either to a step which is traveled in the air from one spot to another.






10. Small jeta - from a demi plia.






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






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






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






14. Male dance partner to the ballerina






15. 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.






16. Raised






17. Step of the cat. Jump where legs come up to double passa.






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






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






20. Withdrawn. A position in which the thigh is raised to the second position.






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






22. To stretch out - make longer






23. 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.






24. To put together - to make a jump from one foot then landing on both feet.






25. Turning fouetta.






26. Dance for two.






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






28. This is a term used in double (supported) work for various lifts in which the danseuse is supported by the danseur in a poisson position. He may hold her above his head in a horizontal fish dive or she may fall from a sitting position on his shoulder






29. Whirl - or spin






30. Separated or thrown apart. Body position.






31. Slow - sustained movement






32. Small - half bend of the knees.






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. Dance for four






35. Two






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






37. 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.






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






39. 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.






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






41. Step






42. To lean






43. Section that brings you to the end of a dance - its big and important.






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






45. A stationary handrail that is used during ballet warm up exercises. The term also refers to the exercises that are performed at the barre - as well as that part of a ballet class that incorporates barre exercises. Much of a ballet dancer's training t






46. 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.






47. Borken/breaking






48. Body.






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






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