Test your basic knowledge |

Dance History

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. Taglioni's rival -Her dancing was 'warm and passionate' -Dance was earthy - temperamental - fiery - vuluptuous -Labeled Pagan -Danced folk dances - most famous was Cachucha - Spanish using castanet - twists and turns; Known for her flair and theatric






2. About 1815 to 1848 - reaction against rationalism of Enlightenment - YOUR interpretations - religious nature - UNIQUE individual






3. Child actress could dance and sing very well - was able to keep up with Bill Robinson in tap dancing - was seen as the hope during the Great Depression.






4. Most eligible bachelor - do a wiggle before putting in golf






5. First book of choreography; published posthumously in 1959






6. Pilobolus - human jousting horses






7. High energy act of two African american brothers - Fayard and Harold - had a 'flash act' consisting of an acrobatic tap style - were in movies - only African Americans encouraged to mingle with audience (by audeince demand)






8. 1937 Founded by Ballet Russe's Mikhail Mordkin as Mordkin Ballet- Repertory company- features choreography of many artists such as Adolph Bolm - Michel Fokine - Leonide Massine - Bronislava Jijinska - Balanchine and Agnes de Mille






9. (1822-1910) created the first ballet that would later be classified as classical ballet. He also held the position of Ballet Master in Chief to the Imperial Tsar in 1869. created Don Quixote and La Bayadere and many other works. Though he did not cho






10. Embraces conflict - polyrhythmic - pelvis off centered - high affect juxtaposition (intenseness of feeling) - ephebism (power - vitality) - cool (intensity) - improvisation






11. Work written at a time when one of Jones' company dancers - Demian Acquavella - nicknamed D-Man - was suffering from AIDS; a celebratory - affectionate work about the company defiantly remaining joyful - loving - productive - and cohesive in the face






12. Russian ballet impresario who founded the Russian ballet and later introduced it to the West (1872-1929)






13. Star male dancer of Ballets Russes; became chief choreographer for one year - 1913 - Afternoon of a Faun - Rite of Spring - and Jeux. Rite caused a riot






14. Unsuccessful revival - Ballet Russes lose money






15. Any of a variety of social dances performed by couples in a ballroom






16. In Moscow - very flamboyant & expressive (opposite of Kirov Theater)






17. Music by Stravinsky - ancient Greek contest debate between forces.






18. Ballet with music by Erik Satie and a one-act scenario by Jean Cocteau. The ballet was composed 1916-1917 for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. The ballet premiered on Friday - May 18th - 1917 at the Thaa






19. Created the role of Swanilda at age 16 - she died from a fever @ age 17






20. Arthur Mitchell founder and artistic director -1st black dancer to break color barrier for classical ballet -America's 1st outstanding ballet company of black dancers -started school with Karel Shook -shaped by Balanchine -Dancers known for warmth an






21. Martha Graham explored use of breath to contract & releases the muscles of the pelvis to create a powerful - grounded - percussive - angular dance






22. A pioneer of modern dance - established importance of the male dancer - created masculine movement style - founded own company in 1947; died of prostate cancer






23. Started in NYC by Robert Joffrey - small company - repertoire was eclectic and contemporary - reconstructed works from Diaghilev's Ballets Russes - Financially weak - often folded - moved to LA then chicago






24. 1896-1976 - American - Choreographer - Developed 1930's film fantasy with his daredevil and genius dance design - developed the stage style musical film into a more involved multi-shot fantasy film style with overhead shots - use of tiered set desig






25. United States choreographer (1930-1988) - reconstructed pieces of ballet russes in America died of aids






26. Concerts organized by Dunn continued here until 1968; concert in 1962 considered to have begun the postmodernist movement






27. Robert Joffrey - 59 - Alvin Ailey - 58 - Christopher Gillis - 42 - Rudolph Nureyev - 54 - Ulysses Dove - 49






28. A Colombian-American modern dance choreographer known for his politically-charged productions depicting the black experience - notable productions include Missa Luba in 1965 - Blues for the Jungle in 1966 (portraying life in Harlem) - Las Desenamorad






29. In charge of new Paris Opera; under his direction - Paris Opera made a profit for the only time in its existence; slashed salaries of ballerinas to force them into mistresshood for fellow Jockey's






30. Height of Romantic Ballet - Star: Carlotta Grisi - Choreographer: Jules Perrot (Carlotta's lover) & Jean Coralli - Written by: Gautier (Who was in love with Grisi) - Act I (sunlit) - Act II (moonlit)






31. Called the most poetical of ballets of the 20th century. Premiered during first ballet russes season (1909)






32. Petipa & Tchaikovsky - was not successful at the time it came out - no trace of sensible dramatic action






33. Known particularly for his long associations as musical director with Denishawn and Martha Graham.






34. Performed with New York City Ballet under Balanchine - later founded Dance Theatre of Harlem - first African American principle dancer






35. Created the well-known Denishawn school with his wife Ruth St. Denis. They taught dancers diverse styles - With his wife they set up the foundations for the principal of Musical Visualization 'a concept that called for movement equivalents to the tim






36. 1st principal dancer with Royal Ballet - choreographer-in-residence during the second year (1941) of Ballet Theater






37. (1931-1989) A New York City dancer who created an American Dance Theater which trains dancers and performs worldwide; most famous work was Revelations and piece named Cry - in honor of his mother; lost battle to AIDS in 1989






38. In 1989 - became the first African American to lead a major national political party when He was elected chairman of the Democratic Party.






39. This is a dynamic way to use the space of the dance floor to a fuller extent






40. Waddling on their heels - legs straight - tap dance transition step - dances are about weight and being grounded - not defying gravity - jumps are about coming down - rather than going up - connection of Africanist dance & American modern dance






41. One of the artistic giants of the twentieth century. Helped found the Cubist and Abstract movements. During his life - 1881-1973 - he worked in various media and is noted for scores of important works. His painting Guernica is one of the most powerfu






42. Different names but same theater under different political influences






43. St. Petersburg Ballet School 1738 - Director of Imperial Theater - Official Patronage 1766 & Moscow 1806; - first dancing master that was brought to russia - from france






44. Studio behind the stage at the Paris Opera which is now used as a rehearsal stage and a reception venue but which was notorious in the 19th century (during the reign of Dr Varon) as the salon where members of the Jockey Club could meet dancers.






45. An African American section of New York City. Many A/A writers and artists gathered in Harlem






46. Outstanding for the way he combined expressive movements with dance steps; - choreographed the ballet Giselle






47. Dance class at Dartmouth taught by Alison Chase - stunts - contortions - balance and leverage - men signed up for the class on a dare






48. Designer. Influenced by Greek and Asian art. Costumes and sets full of bold colors. Decorative motifs that employed perspective painting. Successful with ballet. 'sophisticated eclecticism'. Teacher.






49. Inspired by Gautier's novel The Story of the Mummy - very complicated - spectacular - successful ballet - Aspica is the daughter - English Lord in sand storm goes into tomb & gets put into an opium dream where he becomes Tahor and saves Aspico from a






50. Fokine - starred Nijinsky - about a sad puppet who wanted his soul to come to life - belonged to evil sorcerer