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. A jump from both feet onto one foot






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






3. Two






4. To rock - or to swing.






5. 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.






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






7. A






8. 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.






9. Body.






10. 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.






11. To glide. A traveling step executed by gliding the working foot from the fifth position in the required direction - the other foot closing to it.






12. Whirl - or spin






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






14. Behind you - movements done behind you.






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






16. Big - large. (movements)






17. On the points. Rising to the tips of the toes.






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






19. Over. Indicates that the working foot passes in front of the supporting foot.






20. Separated or thrown apart. Body position.






21. 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.






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






23. Open - opened.






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






25. To get bigger/ big fast movements






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






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






28. Slow - sustained movement






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






30. 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.






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






32. Seven






33. Waltz step. Done with a graceful swaying body. Like a balanca but feet do not cross.






34. Step in which legs/thighs beat in the air






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






36. 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.






37. 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.






38. At the neck of the foot. Wrapped around.






39. Step






40. 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.






41. Outward. Leg moves clockwise in a circular motion






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






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






44. Male dance partner to the ballerina






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






46. Turning fouetta.






47. 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






48. 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.






49. Leg.






50. Shouldering. The placing of the shoulders.