Test your basic knowledge |

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






2. 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.






3. To prick






4. 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.






5. To the front.






6. 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.






7. Separated or thrown apart. Body position.






8. Leg.






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






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






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






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






13. 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.






14. Running.






15. Raised






16. This means 'moving' the leg.






17. To stretch out - make longer






18. Small - little






19. Grand dance for two. Has a definite 5 parts.






20. Connected movements on the points






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






22. Borken/breaking






23. Behind you - movements done behind you.






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






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






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






27. 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






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






29. This describes certain jumps and steps - for example - jumping and landing from two feet - or a specific movement that is usually performed at the 'barre' - to stand on one leg - the other leg will then beat against it.






30. 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.






31. 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.






32. To get bigger/ big fast movements






33. Dance for two.






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






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






36. Male dance partner to the ballerina






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






38. A jump from both feet onto one foot






39. 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.






40. Sinking down. A term used to describe a lowering of the body made by bending the knee of the supporting leg.






41. Like a bell. Refers to grand battements to the front and back sliding through first position.






42. Chains - links. A series of rapid turns on the points or demi-pointes done in a straight line or circle.






43. Step






44. Turning. Indicates that the body is to turn while executing a given step.






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






46. Turning fouetta.






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






48. Slow - sustained movement






49. Small - half bend of the knees.






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