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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. Male dance partner to the ballerina






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






3. Arms






4. A step traveling in a diagonal direction.






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






6. To the front.






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






8. Connected movements on the points






9. A jump from both feet onto one foot






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






11. To rock - or to swing.






12. 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.






13. Outward. Leg moves clockwise in a circular motion






14. 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.






15. Dance for two.






16. To face hips square. Not particularly to the front.






17. Royal. A changement in which the calves are beaten together before the feet change position.






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






19. Big - large. (movements)






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






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






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






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






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






25. Two






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






27. 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.






28. 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.






29. Shouldering. The placing of the shoulders.






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. Small - little






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






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






34. Round of the leg. Circular movement of the leg.






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






36. A






37. Turning fouetta.






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






39. 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.






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






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






42. Under. Indicates that the working foot passes behind the supporting foot.






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






44. Slow - sustained movement






45. Backwards - reverse.






46. Behind you - movements done behind you.






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






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






49. Small jeta - from a demi plia.






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