Ballet Terms Quiz

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Instructions: Test your knowledge of the elegant French terminology used in ballet!

1.
In ballet, what is a 'plié'?
A
A leap across the stage
B
A jump into the air
C
A bending of the knees
D
A spin on one foot
2.
What is a 'pirouette' in ballet?
A
A high kick
B
A graceful bow
C
A controlled spin on one foot
D
A series of small steps
3.
In ballet, what does 'en pointe' mean?
A
Pointing at the audience
B
Dancing on the tips of the toes in special shoes
C
Standing at the point of the stage
D
Dancing in a pointed direction
4.
What is an 'arabesque' in ballet?
A
A position where the dancer stands on one leg with the other extended behind
B
A deep curtsy
C
A costume decoration
D
A quick series of turns
5.
In ballet, what is a 'grand jeté'?
A
A large water fountain on stage
B
A large stage prop
C
A grand entrance by the lead dancer
D
A big, spectacular leap through the air with legs extended in a split
6.
What does 'pas de deux' mean in ballet?
A
A dance for two people
B
A second attempt at a step
C
Two steps backward
D
A step to the left
7.
In ballet, what is a 'barre'?
A
A type of ballet shoe
B
A horizontal handrail used for balance during exercises
C
A musical term for tempo
D
A bar of chocolate given as a reward
8.
What is a 'relevé' in ballet?
A
Rising from a flat foot to the ball of the foot or onto pointe
B
A reverent bow
C
A release of the arms
D
A relaxation pose
9.
In ballet, what does 'tendu' mean?
A
Tender or soft
B
Turned or twisted
C
Tense or stretched
D
Tempo or speed
10.
What is a 'tutu' in ballet?
A
A musical instrument in the orchestra pit
B
A warm-up exercise
C
A type of ballet step
D
A skirt worn by a ballerina
11.
In ballet, what is a 'chassé'?
A
A chase scene in the story
B
A quick change of costume
C
A gliding step where one foot chases and displaces the other
D
A bow to the conductor
12.
What does 'adagio' refer to in ballet?
A
Slow, controlled movements that emphasize balance and extension
B
The opening act of a ballet
C
Fast, lively dancing
D
Jumping and turning combinations
13.
In ballet, what are the five basic 'positions' referring to?
A
Five specific placements of the feet
B
Five stage locations
C
Five types of jumps
D
Five levels of difficulty
14.
What is a 'fouetté' in ballet?
A
A knee bend with arms overhead
B
A type of whipping turn where the working leg extends and retracts
C
A jump from two feet to one foot
D
A slow promenade around the stage
15.
In ballet, what does 'corps de ballet' mean?
A
The physical fitness requirements for dancers
B
The group of dancers who perform together as an ensemble
C
The body of the dancer
D
The ballet master's notes

Answer Key

Question 1

C. A bending of the knees

A plié is a fundamental ballet movement involving bending the knees while maintaining a straight back. The word comes from the French 'plier,' meaning to bend.

Question 2

C. A controlled spin on one foot

A pirouette is a controlled turn on one foot, typically on the ball of the foot or on pointe, using spotting technique to maintain balance and orientation.

Question 3

B. Dancing on the tips of the toes in special shoes

En pointe means dancing on the very tips of the toes using specially reinforced pointe shoes, a technique that requires years of training and strong foot and ankle muscles.

Question 4

A. A position where the dancer stands on one leg with the other extended behind

An arabesque is a position in which the dancer stands on one leg with the other leg extended straight behind the body, often with arms extended for line and balance.

Question 5

D. A big, spectacular leap through the air with legs extended in a split

A grand jeté is a dramatic leap in which the dancer springs from one foot, extends both legs in a split position in the air, and lands on the other foot.

Question 6

A. A dance for two people

Pas de deux literally means 'step of two' in French and refers to a dance for two performers, typically a ballerina and a male partner, often the centerpiece of a ballet.

Question 7

B. A horizontal handrail used for balance during exercises

The barre is a horizontal handrail, usually mounted on the wall of a dance studio, used by dancers for balance and support during warm-up exercises.

Question 8

A. Rising from a flat foot to the ball of the foot or onto pointe

A relevé is a movement in which the dancer rises from a flat foot position to standing on the balls of the feet (demi-pointe) or on the tips of the toes (full pointe).

Question 9

C. Tense or stretched

Tendu means 'stretched' in French. A battement tendu involves sliding the foot along the floor until only the tip of the toe remains in contact, fully stretching the leg and foot.

Question 10

D. A skirt worn by a ballerina

A tutu is the iconic skirt worn by ballerinas, which can be a short, stiff 'classical' tutu or a longer, flowing 'romantic' tutu reaching mid-calf.

Question 11

C. A gliding step where one foot chases and displaces the other

A chassé (from the French 'to chase') is a sliding step where one foot chases the other, displacing it from its position, commonly used as a traveling step.

Question 12

A. Slow, controlled movements that emphasize balance and extension

Adagio in ballet refers to slow, sustained movements that showcase a dancer's control, balance, line, and grace, often featuring leg extensions and fluid port de bras.

Question 13

A. Five specific placements of the feet

The five basic positions of ballet refer to five fundamental foot placements that form the foundation of all ballet technique, established in the 17th century.

Question 14

B. A type of whipping turn where the working leg extends and retracts

A fouetté (meaning 'whipped' in French) is a turning step where the dancer whips the working leg around to generate momentum, often performed in a series of continuous turns.

Question 15

B. The group of dancers who perform together as an ensemble

The corps de ballet ('body of the ballet') is the ensemble of dancers who perform as a group, providing the backdrop and support for the principal and soloist dancers.

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