Ballet & Dance
Instructions: Put on your dancing shoes and test your knowledge of ballet and the world of dance!
- 1.
Which country is considered the birthplace of classical ballet?
AItalyBFranceCRussiaDEngland - 2.
Which Tchaikovsky ballet tells the story of a princess cursed to sleep by a wicked fairy?
AThe Sleeping BeautyBThe NutcrackerCGiselleDSwan Lake - 3.
What is a 'pas de deux' in ballet?
AA dance for two performersBA curtain callCA solo performanceDA group formation - 4.
Which ballet by Stravinsky caused a riot at its 1913 premiere in Paris?
APetrushkaBFirebirdCThe Rite of SpringDApollo - 5.
What is the term for dancing on the tips of the toes in ballet?
APliéBArabesqueCEn pointeDRelevé - 6.
Which Russian-born choreographer is considered the father of American ballet?
ARudolf NureyevBMikhail BaryshnikovCSergei DiaghilevDGeorge Balanchine - 7.
In 'The Nutcracker,' what gift does Clara receive on Christmas Eve?
AA nutcracker dollBA music boxCA snow globeDA pair of ballet slippers - 8.
Which legendary Russian dancer defected from the Soviet Union in 1961 while touring with the Kirov Ballet?
AVaslav NijinskyBMikhail BaryshnikovCAlexander GodunovDRudolf Nureyev - 9.
What does 'plié' mean in ballet terminology?
ATo bendBTo turnCTo jumpDTo stretch - 10.
Which ballet tells the story of a prince who falls in love with a swan maiden named Odette?
ALa SylphideBSwan LakeCCoppéliaDGiselle - 11.
Martha Graham is a pioneering figure in which dance form?
AClassical balletBTap danceCModern danceDBallroom dance - 12.
What is a 'tutu' in ballet?
AA hair ornamentBA skirt worn by ballerinasCA choreographic formationDA type of ballet shoe - 13.
Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes was famous for collaborating with which visual artist?
AHenri MatisseBSalvador DalíCPablo PicassoDClaude Monet - 14.
What is an 'arabesque' in ballet?
AA series of quick jumpsBA bow to the audienceCA position with one leg extended behind the bodyDA spinning turn on one foot - 15.
Which American dancer and choreographer combined ballet with African American dance traditions?
AJerome RobbinsBBob FosseCAlvin AileyDIsadora Duncan
Answer Key
While ballet originated in Italian Renaissance courts, it was formalized and developed as an art form in France under King Louis XIV in the 17th century. The French terminology used in ballet reflects these origins.
'The Sleeping Beauty' premiered in 1890 at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. Based on the fairy tale by Charles Perrault, it features some of Tchaikovsky's most beloved music.
A pas de deux (French for 'step of two') is a duet in which two dancers perform together. The grand pas de deux typically includes an adagio, two solos, and a coda.
'The Rite of Spring' shocked audiences with its dissonant music and Vaslav Nijinsky's unconventional choreography depicting pagan rituals. The premiere at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées erupted into near-chaos.
Dancing 'en pointe' involves supporting the body's weight on the tips of fully extended feet, using specially reinforced pointe shoes. It became standard for female dancers in the early 19th century.
George Balanchine co-founded the New York City Ballet in 1948 and created over 400 works. His neoclassical style emphasized musicality and athleticism, transforming American ballet.
Clara receives a nutcracker doll from her godfather Drosselmeyer. The doll comes to life and leads her on a magical journey to the Land of Sweets. The ballet premiered in 1892.
Rudolf Nureyev made his dramatic defection at Le Bourget airport in Paris. He became one of the most celebrated dancers of the 20th century and frequently partnered with Margot Fonteyn.
A plié (French for 'bent') involves bending the knees while keeping the back straight. It is one of the most fundamental ballet movements and the basis of many steps and jumps.
'Swan Lake' by Tchaikovsky premiered in 1877. The lead ballerina typically dances dual roles: the pure white swan Odette and the seductive black swan Odile.
Martha Graham revolutionized modern dance with her technique based on contraction and release of the torso. She performed and choreographed for over 70 years, creating 181 works.
A tutu is the iconic skirt worn by ballerinas. The classical tutu is short and stiff, projecting horizontally, while the romantic tutu is longer, reaching below the knee.
Pablo Picasso designed sets and costumes for several Ballets Russes productions, including 'Parade' (1917). Diaghilev also collaborated with Coco Chanel, Henri Matisse, and other leading artists.
In an arabesque, the dancer stands on one leg with the other leg extended straight behind, creating a long, elegant line. It is one of ballet's most iconic and beautiful positions.
Alvin Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958. His signature work 'Revelations' (1960), set to African American spirituals, is one of the most popular dance works ever created.