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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. Flying brisa. In this brisa the dancer finishes on one foot after the beat - the other leg crossed either front or back.






2. Separated or thrown apart. Body position.






3. Male dance partner to the ballerina






4. This means 'moving' the leg.






5. Outward. Leg moves clockwise in a circular motion






6. This term is used for a fault in which the dancer turns his or her foot in from the ankle - thereby breaking the straight line of the leg.






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






8. A step traveling in a diagonal direction.






9. A ballet fan or enthusiast. The word was invented in Russia in the early nineteenth century.






10. To prick






11. Shaded. Position in which the dancer stands at an oblique angle to the audience so that a part of the body is taken back - almost hidden from view.






12. Small - half bend of the knees.






13. 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.






14. To throw. A jump from one foot to the other in which the working leg is brushed into the air and appears to have been thrown.






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 Withdrawn.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






16. To rock - or to swing.






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






18. 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.






19. Round of the leg. Circular movement of the leg.






20. This means to pose on one leg whilst extending the other leg to the back.






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






22. Small jeta - from a demi plia.






23. To get bigger/ big fast movements






24. 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






25. Sideways. Used to indicate that a step is to be made to the side - either to the right or to the left.






26. Open - opened.






27. Raised






28. Carriage of the arm. The changing of arm positions.






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






30. Shouldering. The placing of the shoulders.






31. Behind you - movements done behind you.






32. Dance for four






33. 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.






34. To turn in a walk. The dancer turns slowly in place on one foot by a series of slight movements of the heel to the required side while maintaining a definite pose.






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






36. 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.






37. To the front.






38. Small - little






39. To stretch out - make longer






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






41. Running.






42. This jeta is done in all directions and in a circle.






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






44. Body.






45. Big - large. (movements)






46. Borken/breaking






47. Arms






48. Step






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






50. Whirl - or spin