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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. 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.






2. Behind you - movements done behind you.






3. 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.






4. Open - opened.






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






6. 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.






7. To the second. Applies to legs or arms. Second position.






8. To stretch out - make longer






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






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






11. Shouldering. The placing of the shoulders.






12. Step






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






14. Slow - sustained movement






15. Borken/breaking






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






17. Small jeta - from a demi plia.






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






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






20. To get bigger/ big fast movements






21. Dance for two.






22. Body.






23. Dance for three






24. Outward. Leg moves clockwise in a circular motion






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






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






27. 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.






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






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






30. 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.






31. Round of the leg. Circular movement of the leg.






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






33. Connected movements on the points






34. Small - little






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 Withdrawn.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






36. Leg.






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






38. Diversion - enjoyment. A suite of numbers called 'entraes -' inserted into a classic ballet. These short dances are calculated to display the talents of individuals or groups of dancers.






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






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






41. 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.






42. 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






43. This means 'moving' the leg.






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






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






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






47. Small - half bend of the knees.






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






49. 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






50. Raised