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. Petipa & Tchaikovsky - was not successful at the time it came out - no trace of sensible dramatic action






2. HIV - choreographed Still Here - organized survivor workshops






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






4. French for 'big dance for two' - Entrae - Adagio duet - Male solo - Female solo - Coda - plot structure of Petipa






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






6. 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.






7. 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






8. 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






9. French composer; uses harmony to reinforce stasis; Prelude to Afternoon of a Fawn (half man - half goat - simulated masturbation); concert work that became a ballet






10. A Colombian-American modern dance choreographer known for his politically-charged productions depicting the black experience - notable productions include Missa Luba in 1965 - Blues for the Jungle in 1966 (portraying life in Harlem) - Las Desenamorad






11. 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






12. Wrote 'The Art of Making Dances' in 1931 - Fall and Recovery - inspired by Bach and used his work in many piece - choreographed pieces without music - Passacaglia and fugue in C minor (showed fall and recovery)






13. Embraces conflict - polyrhythmic - pelvis off centered - high affect juxtaposition (intenseness of feeling) - ephebism (power - vitality) - cool (intensity) - improvisation






14. Important Russian composer whose works are noted for their expressive melodies (1840-1893); composed score for Nutcracker - Sleeping Beauty






15. The protection granted by a nation to someone who has left his native country as a political refugee.






16. From its very beginning the ballet was entirely dependent upon this individual; it was his ballet - under the direct supervision and guidance of a court minister appointed by this individual and answerable to him






17. St. Petersburg Ballet School 1738 - Director of Imperial Theater - Official Patronage 1766 & Moscow 1806; - first dancing master that was brought to russia - from france






18. Different styles: 1. hoofers: Gregory Hines - Savion Glover - intricate footwork 2. class acts: Fred Astaire - Ginger Rodgers - refined and elegant 3. flash acts: tap with acrobatics 4. soft shoe: skimming floor - producing soft & muted steps






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






20. Unsuccessful revival - Ballet Russes lose money






21. Waddling on their heels - legs straight - tap dance transition step - dances are about weight and being grounded - not defying gravity - jumps are about coming down - rather than going up - connection of Africanist dance & American modern dance






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






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






24. Based on Bill T. Jones' seminar workshops; swirling with arms out to side - spinning - stomping feet - flying






25. First book of choreography; published posthumously in 1959






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






27. (1931-1989) A New York City dancer who created an American Dance Theater which trains dancers and performs worldwide; most famous work was Revelations and piece named Cry - in honor of his mother; lost battle to AIDS in 1989






28. 1937 Founded by Ballet Russe's Mikhail Mordkin as Mordkin Ballet- Repertory company- features choreography of many artists such as Adolph Bolm - Michel Fokine - Leonide Massine - Bronislava Jijinska - Balanchine and Agnes de Mille






29. Major 20th C composer - Three famous ballets The Firebird - Petrushka - The Rite of Spring






30. Previous member of Denishawn (left late 1920's) - developed a comedic mime aesthetic - shared a school with Humphrey for years - pioneer of modern dance






31. 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






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






33. Ballet with music by Erik Satie and a one-act scenario by Jean Cocteau. The ballet was composed 1916-1917 for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. The ballet premiered on Friday - May 18th - 1917 at the Thaa






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






35. 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.






36. Capitals of Russia during various times of political influence; Leningrad during Bolsheviks and USSR - return to St. Petersburg pax-USSR






37. Choreographed by Filippino Taglioni and performed by one of the greatest ballerinas of the 19th century Marie Taglioni. One of the most famous Romantic Ballets. - First true romantic ballet






38. Dances have no linear development; no central focus on stage; a field of dancers where you can watch any dancer from any direction and decide for yourself where the focus of the dance is






39. Fokine - starred Nijinsky - about a sad puppet who wanted his soul to come to life - belonged to evil sorcerer






40. Choreographed by Fokine - star was Pavlova - composer was Camille Saint Saenz - two minutes long






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






42. St. Denis and Ted Shawn's company that helps spread the gospel of dance from the constraints of ballet - opened a school in Los Angeles - brought dance to the middle class by supporting good health and virginal spirituality






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






44. 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






45. Famous tennis player who took ballet (lover in Le Train Bleu)






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






47. 1st principal dancer with Royal Ballet - choreographer-in-residence during the second year (1941) of Ballet Theater






48. Most eligible bachelor - do a wiggle before putting in golf






49. Pilobolus - human jousting horses






50. Started in NYC by Robert Joffrey - small company - repertoire was eclectic and contemporary - reconstructed works from Diaghilev's Ballets Russes - Financially weak - often folded - moved to LA then chicago