Unit Two: ‘Early Ballet History’

Ready to twirl and leap in your ballet class? 🩰 Let's dive into some dance history! The term 'plié' is a graceful move, but do you know which language the fancy footwork terms come from originally?

• French

• Italian

• Russian

Answer explanation

Basic ballet steps are described using the French language, making French the correct choice.

Step into the past! At our historical themed event, which spectacular performance would best bring to life the elegant ‘court dance’?

• a dance performed at the grand opening of our event, mimicking the start of court sessions during the enchanting Renaissance period

• a mesmerizing dance by performers adorned as nobility, showcasing romantic courtship or demonstrating majestic power, typical of the upper classes

• a lively general dance for all our esteemed attendees, reflecting the social dances that once filled the halls of the Renaissance period

Answer explanation

The correct choice describes 'court dance' as a dance of the upper classes that functioned as courtship or demonstration of power.

Time travel alert! 🚀 In which century did the Renaissance, a period of art, culture, and rebirth, kick off?

• 14th Century

• 15th Century

• 16th Century

Answer explanation

The 15th century occurred between 1400-1500, making the correct answer choice 1400-1500.

Ready to twirl and leap through history? Where did the elegant art of Ballet pirouette into existence?

• Italian court dances

• French countryside

• Kings and Queens private parties

Answer explanation

Ballet has its origins in Italian court dances, making it the correct choice among the options provided.

Get ready to twirl back in time! Can you guess during which era the fancy footwork and elegant moves of court dances, the very dances that twirled into what we now know as modern ballet, were first performed?

• Renaissance Period

• Baroque Era

• Golden Age

Answer explanation

The court dances were performed during the Baroque Era in ballet history.

Ready to leap into the world of classical ballet? Who masterfully created the five iconic positions of the feet, a cornerstone in the ballet universe?

• Pierre Beauchamp

• Mikail Barishnikov

• George Balanchine

Answer explanation

Pierre Beauchamp was the creator of the five positions of the feet, making him the correct choice among the options provided.

Ready to leap into the magical world of ballet? Guess what technique makes dancers look like they're popping right off the stage in 3D!

• Stretch

• Plie

• Turn-out

Answer explanation

Ballet uses the technique of turn-out to make dancers appear three dimensional on stage by rotating their legs outward from the hips.

Imagine you're at the magnificent Paris Opera Ballet, surrounded by elegance and grace. What type of music fills the air, setting the scene for the breathtaking performances?

• French Folk Music

• Classical Music

• Baroque Music

Answer explanation

The primary genre for Ballet is Classical Music, as it is commonly used in ballet performances to accompany the dancers and set the mood for the choreography.

Ready to twirl and leap? Guess which shoes women typically slip into for a ballet class!

• Soft heeled shoes

• Ballet slippers

• Pointe shoes

Answer explanation

Women wear ballet slippers and pointe shoes to perform ballet, as they provide the necessary support and flexibility for dancing.

Guess what Catherine de Medici brought to France that became all the rage?

• Her unparalleled fashion sense

• Her lively court dances

• Her exquisite language

Answer explanation

Catherine de Medici brought her language with her to France, not her fashion or court dances.