Ballet Basics
From which language are ballet terms derived?
a. German
b. Latin
c. French
d. English
c. French
Which ballet step often comprises the first combination of class?(Hint: it means "to bend" in french)
a. Tendu
b. Battement
c. Pique
d. Plie
d. Plie
Which French King popularized ballet?
a. King Charles II
b. King Lois XIV
c. King Robert I
d. King Lois V
b. King Lois XIV
True or False: In general ballet dancers are paid less in America than they are in Europe.
True. In America, the art form is valued less in society than it is overseas, and dancers are paid less as a result. Many European ballet companies receive funding from the government, helping to pay their dancers a living wage.
Generally, where should a dancer’s ballet bun be placed on the head in a romantic era ballet?
a. Low bun at the nape of the neck
b. High bun on top of the head
c. Mid bun in the middle back of the head
d. On the top off to the right side of the head.
Low bun at the nape of the neck.
Which instrument traditionally accompanies a ballet class?
a. A Harp
b. A Piano
c. A Guitar
d. A Violin
b. A Piano
Does a dancer bend their knees before a releve?
Yes or No?
Yes. However a dancer would not plie before an eleve.
What is the name of London's top ballet company
a. The Royal Ballet
b. The Bolshoi Ballet
c. Paris Opera Ballet
d. The Australian Ballet
a. The Royal Ballet
True or false: most American ballet companies employ their dancers year-round.
False! Almost all American ballet companies have several periods of time off throughout a season because dancers’ bodies need time to rest and they often do not have enough funding to pay their dancers for a full year.
In The Nutcracker, how does Clara help to defeat the Mouse King?
a. She stabs the mouse king.
b. She throws her show at the mouse king, giving the nutcracker an opportunity to strike.
c. She acts as bait for the mouse king while the nutcracker attacks.
d. She finds his greatest weakness.
She throws her shoe at the Mouse King, giving the Nutcracker an opportunity to strike.
Which numerical ballet position is most often used in ballet?
a. Fifth Position
b. First Position
c. Fourth Position
d. Second Position
a. Fifth Position
What term describes the outward hip rotation ballet dancers use to achieve their positions?
a. Turnout
b. Straddle
c. Tuck
d. Twist
a. Turnout.
Who was the first Black principal dancer of a major ballet company?
a. Janet Collins
b. Virginia Johnson
c. Arthur Mitchell
d. Debra Austin
c. Arthur Mitchell
Many companies employ what type of specialist to help adjust dancers’ bodies and help them with injury prevention strategies?
a. A Chiropractor
b. A Doctor
c. A Massage Therapist
d. A Physical Therapist
d. A physical therapist.
Which famous ballet traditionally features one single female dancer playing two different principal roles? (Bonus: what are the roles?)
a. The sleeping beauty
b. The Nutcracker
c. Swan Lake
d. Romeo and Juliet
Swan Lake. Bonus: Odette, the white swan, and Odile, the black swan
True or false: Ballerinas have to sew their own ribbons and elastics onto each pointe shoe they wear?
True.
What clothing items comprise the standard class uniforms for dancers?
a. Sports bra and shorts
b. Leotards and pink tights
c. Tank top and leggings
d. Sports bra and leggings
Leotards and pink tights for women.
Tshirts and black tights for men.
Though the ballet industry is primarily made up of female dancers, the industry is still a male dominated one. Why is that?
a. People in power in the industry tend to be men.
b. Male dancers are more athletic than Women.
c. The system set up in the 1500's was Male based.
d. Female dancers have less overall accomplishments than male dancers.
a. Artistic directors, choreographers, and people in power in the industry tend to be men. Also since there are fewer men in the industry, a good male dancer is viewed as a rarity and men are treated as more valuable in many ballet-centric environments.
True or false: most ballet dancers get a college degree before becoming a professional.
False! Though some dancers attend college before their professional careers begin, it is not seen as necessary. Instead of education, companies often look for performance experience when seeking new dancers.
Is La Fille Mal Gardée a comic or dramatic ballet?
A comic ballet.
What special flooring material is often laid above a sprung wooden floor in a ballet studio to provide the proper texture for dancing en pointe?
a. Marble flooring
b. Marley flooring
c. Tile flooring
d. Gymnastics mats
b. Marley flooring.
What do you call he small half socks that many dancers wear in their pointe shoes?
a. footies
b. foot thongs
c. socks
d. toe pads
d. Toe pads
Who is often referred to as "The father of American ballet"?
a. Rudolf Nureyev
b. George Balanchine
c. Mikhail Baryshnikov
d. Ivan Vasiliev
b. George Balanchine.
Generally, what is the dancer age range in an average company?
a. 12-24
b. 20-30
c. 25-40
d. 18-40
18-40. Dancers are often hired into a company between the ages of 18-22. A long career can last into a dancer’s 40s, but many will opt to retire earlier due to injury, burnout, low pay, or poor working conditions.
What are the names of the two most notable fairies in The Sleeping Beauty? (Hint: they are different from the Disney movie!)
a. Flora and Carabosse
b. Meriweather, and Flora
c. Lilac Fairy and Carabosse
d. Meriweather and Lilac Fairy
Lilac Fairy and Carabosse.