Dance Lessons Dance Terminology 5 â Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'level change' in dance choreography?
- Switching from one dance style to another mid-performance
- Moving between high (standing), middle (crouching), and low (floor) planes of space (Correct answer)
- Adjusting the volume of the music
- Changing from one formation to another
Correct answer: Moving between high (standing), middle (crouching), and low (floor) planes of space
Level changes involve transitioning between the high, medium, and low planes of the performance space, adding visual variety and dynamic interest to choreography.
Question 2: In swing dance, what is the 'triple step'?
- Three consecutive hops on the same foot
- A step-ball-change pattern that fits three weight changes into two beats (Correct answer)
- Turning three times before a dip
- A step taken only on the third count of music
Correct answer: A step-ball-change pattern that fits three weight changes into two beats
The triple step (step-ball-change) fits three weight transfers into two beats of music, giving East Coast Swing its characteristic bouncy, rhythmic feel.
Question 3: What does 'Ă©paulement' contribute to in ballet?
- The height of a jump
- The angle of the shoulders and head relative to the hips, adding depth and artistry (Correct answer)
- The speed of footwork combinations
- The strength required for partnering
Correct answer: The angle of the shoulders and head relative to the hips, adding depth and artistry
Ăpaulement is the subtle angling of the shoulders and head in opposition to the hips, giving classical ballet its characteristic three-dimensional, expressive quality.
Question 4: What is 'improvisation' in a dance class or performance context?
- Forgetting choreography and making up steps
- Spontaneous, unplanned movement created in the moment (Correct answer)
- Rehearsing without music
- Copying movements from another dancer
Correct answer: Spontaneous, unplanned movement created in the moment
Improvisation is the art of creating movement spontaneously without pre-planned choreography, often used as a creative tool and performance practice in modern and contemporary dance.
Question 5: What is a 'développé' in ballet?
- A jump where both legs extend to the side
- A slow unfolding of the leg from a passé position to a full extension (Correct answer)
- A turn with the leg held at 45 degrees
- A traveling step across the floor
Correct answer: A slow unfolding of the leg from a passé position to a full extension
A dĂ©veloppĂ© is the gradual unfolding of the working legâdrawing through passĂ© and then extending outward to a full, controlled extension at 90 degrees or higher.
Question 6: In dance, what does the term 'dynamics' refer to?
- The number of dancers in a company
- The variation in speed, force, energy, and quality of movement (Correct answer)
- The acoustic sound level in a studio
- The physical fitness level of a performer
Correct answer: The variation in speed, force, energy, and quality of movement
Dynamics in dance describe the qualities of movement, including variations in speed (sudden vs. sustained), weight (strong vs. light), and flow (free vs. bound).
Question 7: What is 'promenade' in ballroom or ballet?
- A slow walk taken before a performance begins
- A movement where the couple or dancer rotates while maintaining a held position (Correct answer)
- A traveling combination across the floor
- The finale of a dance recital
Correct answer: A movement where the couple or dancer rotates while maintaining a held position
In promenade, a dancer or couple pivots or rotates while a pose or shape is maintained, as seen in ballet's arabesque promenade or ballroom's promenade position walks.
Dance Lessons Dance Terminology 5
What is 'level change' in dance choreography?