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. French for 'big dance for two' - Entrae - Adagio duet - Male solo - Female solo - Coda - plot structure of Petipa






2. Confirmed that Balanchine was an experimentalist - Africanist principles in his rhythmic scores - turns not resolved as in ballet - they just stop - take 'one' counts rather than 'and' counts






3. American leader of the movement to legalize birth control during the early 1900's. As a nurse in the poor sections of New York City - she had seen the suffering caused by unwanted pregnancy. Founded the first birth control clinic in the U.S. and the






4. Wrote Discourse on the Origins of the Inequality of Mankind; wrote The Social Contract; wrote Confessions; believed that emotions as well as reason were important to human development but sent his own children to orphanages






5. A signature piece of Taylor's in which he and his pianist remain motionless for the duration of the music-less score by John Cage.






6. Composer of Le Train Bleu - influenced by jazz






7. Innovative United States dancer and choreographer (born in 1941)






8. Famous for her incredible technique - lightness - and ethereal presence -(1804-1884) -Introduced new costume design (bare neck/shoulders - tutu) -Perfected dancing en pointe -La Sylphide`






9. 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






10. Most important figure in Russia in immediately pre-Romantic days. Did much to improve the repertory and teaching. 20 ballets - raised standards. Flying wires - pointe works.






11. Choreographed by Filippino Taglioni and performed by one of the greatest ballerinas of the 19th century Marie Taglioni. One of the most famous Romantic Ballets. - First true romantic ballet






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






13. (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






14. 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






15. Gentlemen's club which indulged in fencing - horses - and mistresses; often took ballerinas with low incomes as mistresses






16. 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






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






18. Choreographed by Petipa & Ivanov - Odette (under a spell) & Odile look alike - Prince Siegfried (Odette saves other swans & tells him her tale) - his mother throws a ball for him to find a wife - Odile shows up as Odette & Prince commits his love to






19. Previous member of Denishawn (left late 1920's) - developed a comedic mime aesthetic - shared a school with Humphrey for years - pioneer of modern dance






20. Major 20th C composer - Three famous ballets The Firebird - Petrushka - The Rite of Spring






21. African American social dance in the 1920s; spurred the Jitter Bug






22. 1st male dancer to make an impression in United States. Danced with Dane Margo Fontain in the Royal Ballet; died of AIDS






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






24. American composer - 'chance music' - music not expressive or communicative because it says nothing - invented prepared piano






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






26. Massine - parable about freedom - Picasso - aesthetic unity






27. Nijinsky choreographed - rustic - sacrifice a virgin by making her dance to death






28. 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






29. Different styles: 1. hoofers: Gregory Hines - Savion Glover - intricate footwork 2. class acts: Fred Astaire - Ginger Rodgers - refined and elegant 3. flash acts: tap with acrobatics 4. soft shoe: skimming floor - producing soft & muted steps






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






31. A serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles






32. Choreographer of Parade & Three-Cornered hat - known for symphonic ballet - comedy satire - character dancing - and color






33. Nijinsky choreographed - means 'games' - about a trio (2 women - 1 man) - relief sexual tension through tennis






34. Predominately black - but whites attended - social dances were done - had to change the floor every three years because of the intense dancing - many whites went to go watch Black People Dance






35. End of ACT I - Aurora partnered with 4 different princes - en pointe a rose is exchanged. Difficult.






36. Born in NY - raised in Boston - first exposure to dance in 1920 - witness Diaghilev funeral - worked with Balanchine - established NYC ballet - passion for Japenese culture






37. 1957 TV show (similar to the Corny Collins show from Hairspray) - Lindy Hop dance; segregated; eventually shut down due to refusal to fully integrate; presented black music and dance on TV






38. Opened in 1948 - artistic director Balanchines. Distinguished choreographers: Tudor - Frederick Ashton - Robbins...Permanent home New York State Theater at Lincoln Center






39. The protection granted by a nation to someone who has left his native country as a political refugee.






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






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






42. 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






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






44. Ballet by Michel Folkine; 1910; based on '1001 nights'






45. One of the major figures in the development of modern dance - an American dancer - choreographer and teacher who created more than 150 works on a wide range of subjects from ancient Greek to modern American; contraction and release






46. Scene where Odile shows up to the ball & dances with Prince Siegfried - very famous dance






47. Any of several psychotic disorders characterized by distortions of reality and disturbances of thought and language and withdrawal from social contact; Nijinsky had this illness






48. Writer of Giselle - Dance Critic - Wrote against male dancers - Praised ballerinas for their sensuality and beauty - in love with Carlotta Grisi






49. Associated with Danish-style ballet; equal roles for male and female dancers






50. (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