Test your basic knowledge |

Dance History

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 signature piece of Taylor's in which he and his pianist remain motionless for the duration of the music-less score by John Cage.






2. Different names but same theater under different political influences






3. Famous ballerina who formed her own company and toured 1910 - famous for portraying birds - insects - and plants - brought ballet (aristocratic art) to the common person (high schools - etc.)






4. French cabaret singer who became a famous designer - costumes - color pink (patented)






5. Sharp powerful movement; angle






6. About 1815 to 1848 - reaction against rationalism of Enlightenment - YOUR interpretations - religious nature - UNIQUE individual






7. Choreographer of Parade & Three-Cornered hat - known for symphonic ballet - comedy satire - character dancing - and color






8. One of the major figures in the development of modern dance - an American dancer - choreographer and teacher who created more than 150 works on a wide range of subjects from ancient Greek to modern American; contraction and release






9. Peter the Great wants respect from the west and imports fashion and dance from France






10. Massine - parable about freedom - Picasso - aesthetic unity






11. Pilobolus - human jousting horses






12. Human Immunodeficiency Virus - the virus that causes AIDS






13. Star male dancer of Ballets Russes; became chief choreographer for one year - 1913 - Afternoon of a Faun - Rite of Spring - and Jeux. Rite caused a riot






14. Russian ballet impresario who founded the Russian ballet and later introduced it to the West (1872-1929)






15. Child actress could dance and sing very well - was able to keep up with Bill Robinson in tap dancing - was seen as the hope during the Great Depression.






16. A diversion or amusement; a short ballet or other entertainment performed between the acts of a play






17. Unsuccessful revival - Ballet Russes lose money






18. Writer of Giselle - Dance Critic - Wrote against male dancers - Praised ballerinas for their sensuality and beauty - in love with Carlotta Grisi






19. Means 'The Wedding' - arranged Russian Stravinsky wedding






20. Dance class at Dartmouth taught by Alison Chase - stunts - contortions - balance and leverage - men signed up for the class on a dare






21. Created the role of Swanilda at age 16 - she died from a fever @ age 17






22. Danced in - - raw emotion - stark - harsh - disturbing - medieval themes - dance with masks - really started working with time - space - and energy - taught Hanya Holm






23. HIV - choreographed Still Here - organized survivor workshops






24. The revolution that overthrew Russian Czar Nicholas I in 1917. Later established the Bolshevik government under Vladimir Lenin.






25. A jerky American dance that was popular in the 1940s






26. United States dancer and choreographer (born in Russia) noted for his abstract and formal works (1904-1983); Apollo and Agon






27. Outstanding for the way he combined expressive movements with dance steps; - choreographed the ballet Giselle






28. Student of Mary Wigman. Opened a Wigman school in NYC in 1931 - brought German modern to U.S. but Americanized her technique. Choreographed Broadway musicals- 'Kiss Me Kate' based on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew






29. Choreographed by Paul Taylor; Modern dance work in one act with choreography by Taylor - music by Handel - and lighting by T. Skelton. Premiered 4 Aug. 1962 at Connecticut College - New London - by the Paul Taylor Dance Company with Taylor - Elizabet






30. Designer. Influenced by Greek and Asian art. Costumes and sets full of bold colors. Decorative motifs that employed perspective painting. Successful with ballet. 'sophisticated eclecticism'. Teacher.






31. Choreographer of Robert le Diable (1831) father of marie - Marie was a dancer and always looked like She was floating when dancing






32. Nijinsky choreographed - means 'games' - about a trio (2 women - 1 man) - relief sexual tension through tennis






33. In 1989 - became the first African American to lead a major national political party when He was elected chairman of the Democratic Party.






34. Russian dancer and choreographer; considered one of greatest male ballet dancers; became artistic director of American Ballet Theatre






35. Taglioni's rival -Her dancing was 'warm and passionate' -Dance was earthy - temperamental - fiery - vuluptuous -Labeled Pagan -Danced folk dances - most famous was Cachucha - Spanish using castanet - twists and turns; Known for her flair and theatric






36. Music that combines spoken street dialect with cuts (samples) from older records and bears the influences of social politics - male boasting - and comic lyrics carried forward from blues - R&b - soul and rock and roll






37. Inspired by Gautier's novel The Story of the Mummy - very complicated - spectacular - successful ballet - Aspica is the daughter - English Lord in sand storm goes into tomb & gets put into an opium dream where he becomes Tahor and saves Aspico from a






38. Classical - Character - Demi-Character - Mime






39. Associated with Danish-style ballet; equal roles for male and female dancers






40. A serious (often fatal) disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles






41. United States choreographer (1930-1988) - reconstructed pieces of ballet russes in America died of aids






42. Considered one of the greatest of African American choreographers - and also bears the titles dancer - educator - and dance company director. After studying under Katherine Dunham and Martha Graham - went on to do solo work and choreograph his own wo






43. Born in NY - raised in Boston - first exposure to dance in 1920 - witness Diaghilev funeral - worked with Balanchine - established NYC ballet - passion for Japenese culture






44. Arthur Mitchell founder and artistic director -1st black dancer to break color barrier for classical ballet -America's 1st outstanding ballet company of black dancers -started school with Karel Shook -shaped by Balanchine -Dancers known for warmth an






45. Called the most poetical of ballets of the 20th century. Premiered during first ballet russes season (1909)






46. Fokine - starred Nijinsky - about a woman who comes home from a ball and puts a rose on a table - falls asleep and dances with the spirit of the rose - the rose jumps out the window; most famous jump in dance history






47. This is a dynamic way to use the space of the dance floor to a fuller extent






48. Inspired by afro-carribean movement and anthropolgy - dancer - choreographer - anthropologist - teacher - and writer; founded Ballet Negro; 20th century






49. Comedy - has sport movements - about a train taken to the beach where a plane flies over - spoof about Frenchman who wants to be very shallow American






50. Composer of Le Train Bleu - influenced by jazz