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WorksheetsHistory of Ballet and Dance Quiz
Total questions: 79
Worksheet time: 40mins
Who is considered the mother of dance because of her love for it?
Catherine de Medici
Queen Louise of France
Lafontaine
Jean Baptiste Lully
What was the main source of funding for art during the Renaissance?
Rich people
The government
The church
Merchants
Who was one of the most well-known people associated with the word "ballet"?
Domenico da Piacenza
King Louis the 14th
Pierre Beauchamps
Balthasar de Beaujoyeulx
What was significant about the Ballet Comique de la Royne staged in 1581?
It included elements of speech and drama
It was the first ballet performed by women
It was performed in Italy
It was a solo performance
Which king was known as the Sun King and established the Académie Royale de Danse?
King Louis the 14th
King Henry the 8th
King Charles the 5th
King Francis the 1st
Who was given credit for the five feet positions in ballet?
Pierre Beauchamps
Jean Baptiste Lully
Domenico da Piacenza
Guglielmo Ebreo
What was the gender of the first ballet dancers?
Men
Women
Both men and women
Children
Why did Lully's seriousness towards the study of dance matter for ballet's development?
It led to the development of professional dancers
It made ballet more popular in Italy
It introduced new costumes
It shortened the length of performances
Lafontaine was hailed as the Queen of Dance because she was:
The first ballerina
A famous musician
A dance teacher
A queen of France
What is the significance of the dance academy established by Lully in 1672?
It is the world's oldest continuously running ballet company
It was the first ballet school in Italy
It was only for women
It was the first to use live music
Who published a choreography book for dance that influenced ballet in the early 1700s?
Raoul Feuillet
Pierre Rameau
John Weaver
Michel Blondy
Which of the following ballet movements was already in use by 1700?
Jeté
Moonwalk
Breakdance
Hip hop
What significant contribution did Pierre Rameau make to ballet in 1725?
He documented the five foot positions for the first time.
He created ballet d'action.
He established the Paris opera dance school.
He invented the pirouette.
Which dance form was recognized as separate from ballroom dance by the early 1700s?
Ballet
Jazz
Tap dance
Salsa
Who were two prominent male ballet dancers in the late 1600s and early 1700s?
Michel Blondy and Claude Balon
Pierre Rameau and John Weaver
Raoul Feuillet and Marie Sallé
Marie-Thérèse de Subligny and Françoise Prévost
What was the main focus of La Camargo's solo performances?
Jumps and "beating" steps (batterie)
Mime and pantomime
Storytelling through spoken words
Acrobatic lifts
How did La Camargo and Marie Sallé contribute to changes in ballet costumes?
They shortened the ballerina's dress to just above the ankle.
They introduced elaborate headpieces.
They added heavy jewelry to costumes.
They wore brightly colored tutus.
Which ballet academy, established in 1738, is the world's second oldest?
St. Petersburg school
Paris Opera Ballet School
Royal Ballet School
American Ballet Theatre
What innovation did John Weaver introduce to ballet after 1735?
Ballet d'action, where the story is told through dance and pantomime without spoken words
The use of pointe shoes
The first ballet competition
The introduction of jazz elements
Analyze how the separation of ballet and ballroom dance forms in the early 1700s might have influenced the development of ballet technique.
It allowed ballet to focus on specific techniques like turnout and jumps, leading to greater technical advancement.
It caused ballet to become less popular than ballroom dance.
It made ballet more similar to folk dances.
It resulted in the elimination of male dancers from ballet.
Who is credited as England's first ballerina?
Hester Santlow
Maria-Madeleine de Crespé
Geneviève Gosselin
Marie Taglioni
Which two individuals are mentioned as having pushed ballet d'action forward after Weaver?
Gaspero Angiollli and Jean Georges Noverre
Salvatore Viganò and Carlo Blasis
Louis Dupré and John Weaver
Adolphe Adam and Jean Dauberval
What significant change did Noverre introduce in 1763?
He staged Jason and Medea maskless
He wrote the first ballet score
He invented the Romantic tutu
He choreographed La Sylphide
Why is Maria-Madeleine de Crespé important in ballet history?
She and her husband staged one of the first ballets for middle class people
She invented the pointe shoe
She composed music for ballets
She was the first to dance en pointe
What was the main theme of Le Ballet de la Paille (The Ballet of the Straw)?
A mother trying to arrange a profitable marriage for her daughter
The invention of the tutu
The history of ballet costumes
The life of a famous ballerina
Which composer wrote the only ballet score for Salvatore Viganò?
Beethoven
Adolphe Adam
Jean Dauberval
Gaspero Angiollli
How did Viganò's wife’s costumes differ from earlier ballet costumes?
They were much lighter and had long flowing dresses
They were made of heavy velvet
They included elaborate masks
They were only black and white
What is Carlo Blasis known for in ballet history?
Naming the attitude and teaching advanced ballet techniques
Composing ballet music
Inventing the Romantic tutu
Staging the first ballet for middle class audiences
Who is traditionally credited as the first dancer to dance en pointe?
Marie Taglioni
Hester Santlow
Maria-Madeleine de Crespé
Geneviève Gosselin
What was significant about Marie Taglioni’s costume in La Sylphide?
It became the platform for the Romantic tutu
It was the first costume to use sequins
It was designed by Beethoven
It was made entirely of silk
How did the French Revolution influence ballet costumes according to the text?
Costumes became lighter and more similar to the French Empire line
Costumes became more elaborate and heavy
Costumes included more jewelry and accessories
Costumes were banned for a period
Why was the ballet La Sylphide important in ballet history?
It was one of the first major ballets still performed today and influenced the design of the Romantic tutu
It was the first ballet to use live animals on stage
It was the first ballet performed outside Europe
It was the first ballet to use electric lighting
Analyze how the contributions of Carlo Blasis and Marie Taglioni influenced the development of ballet technique and performance.
Blasis advanced technical training and named positions, while Taglioni popularized dancing en pointe and influenced costume design
Both focused only on composing music for ballets
Blasis invented the tutu, while Taglioni created new ballet stories
Both were known for their work in opera rather than ballet
Evaluate the impact of the Romantic era on ballet, using examples from the text.
The Romantic era introduced new ballets like Giselle and La Sylphide, lighter costumes, and the Romantic tutu, shaping modern ballet
The Romantic era ended ballet as an art form
The Romantic era focused only on male dancers
The Romantic era banned the use of music in ballet
Who played the role of Giselle in the ballet's premiere?
Carlotta Grisi
Maria Danilov
Lucille Grahn
Elena Andreyanova
Which skill allowed ladies to dominate the Romantic era of ballet?
Dancing en pointe
Singing
Playing violin
Acting
Who choreographed the ballet Pas de Quatre?
Jules Perrot
Auguste Bournonville
Marius Petipa
Arthur Saint Léon
Which country imported most of its ballet talent during the Romantic era?
Russia
France
Denmark
Italy
What was Auguste Bournonville known for after returning to Denmark?
Producing his own version of La Sylphide
Choreographing Giselle
Creating the ballet Don Quixote
Playing violin in ballets
Which dancer was remembered as "Russia's Taglioni" and died at the age of seventeen?
Maria Danilov
Carlotta Grisi
Lucille Grahn
Elena Andreyanova
What was the significance of Marius Petipa's ballet "The Pharoah's Daughter"?
It included Egyptian fantasy elements and led to other ballets considered Classical Ballet.
It was the first ballet performed in Paris.
It was a solo performance by Petipa.
It was based on Russian folklore.
In which year did Petipa create La Bayadère for the Bolshoi Theatre in St. Petersburg?
1877
1862
1810
1899
Explain how the role of men in ballet differed between Russia/Denmark and other countries during the Romantic era. (DoK Level 2)
In Russia and Denmark, men advanced alongside women, while in other countries, women dominated ballet.
In all countries, men dominated ballet.
Men were not allowed to perform in Russia and Denmark.
Men only performed as musicians in Russia and Denmark.
Analyze the impact of Marius Petipa's leadership on Russian ballet. (DoK Level 3)
He created many multi- and single-act ballets, influencing the development of Classical Ballet and expanding ballet's repertoire in Russia.
He stopped the import of foreign dancers.
He focused only on solo performances.
He eliminated the use of music in ballet.
Which ballet is considered the first of the "Big Three" of Russian Ballet, with music composed by Tchaikovsky?
Swan Lake
The Nutcracker
Raymonda
Coppélia
Who worked together to create music for the ballets during the late 19th century in Russia?
Petipa and Tchaikovsky
Ivanov and Glazunov
Reisinger and Hoffman
Brianz and Saint-Léon
Which ballet was originally set by Wenzel Reisinger and later reworked by Petipa in 1895?
Swan Lake
Giselle
Sleeping Beauty
Raymonda
What is the main reason Raymonda is considered difficult to follow?
It showcases an impressive variety of dancing more than it portrays its plot line.
It has no music.
It is only performed in Paris.
It is a one-act ballet.
Which of the following is NOT one of the "Big Three" Russian ballets?
Raymonda
Swan Lake
Sleeping Beauty
The Nutcracker
Explain how Petipa and Tchaikovsky contributed to the development of Russian ballet in the late 19th century. (DoK Level 2)
They collaborated to create music and choreography for major ballets, elevating Russian ballet to international fame.
They only performed in Paris and did not influence Russian ballet.
They focused on writing books about ballet rather than creating performances.
They worked separately and never collaborated on any ballets.
Analyze why the popularity of Petipa's ideas and principles began to decline as the new century began. (DoK Level 3)
People wanted fresh ideas and grew tired of the same principles.
Petipa stopped choreographing ballets.
Ballet was banned in Russia.
Tchaikovsky's music was no longer used.
Who was the most notable ballerina of the Russian ballet era, known for dancing "The Dying Swan"?
Anna Pavlova
Vaslav Nijinsky
Enrico Checchetti
Sergei Diaghilev
Which choreographer started to push the rules of costume in the imperial theatre by making it look like dancers were in bare feet and using serious music?
Mikhail Fokine
Sergei Diaghilev
Enrico Checchetti
George Balanchine
What was Sergei Diaghilev known for creating in 1909?
The Ballets Russes
The Sleeping Beauty
The Dying Swan
Le Sacre du Printemps
Which dancer was known as one of the better jumpers of all time and performed in Le Pavillon d’Armide?
Vaslav Nijinsky
Anna Pavlova
Enrico Checchetti
Mikhail Fokine
Why was the ballet "Les Sylphides" given its name?
Because the Paris audience had recently seen La Sylphide
Because it was based on Russian folklore
Because it was choreographed by Anna Pavlova
Because it used only Tchaikovsky’s music
Which of the following ballets was NOT performed by the Ballets Russes in the early 1900s?
Swan Lake
Scheherazade
Firebird
Petroucha
Who was Enrico Checchetti and what was he known for?
A performer in Petroucha and creator of a ballet teaching method
The founder of the Ballets Russes
The composer of The Rite of Spring
The first ballerina to dance The Dying Swan
What was significant about Nijinsky’s ballet "Le Sacre du Printemps" (The Rite of Spring)?
The audience fought because it was so dark in mood
It was the first ballet to use pointe shoes
It was based on a French fairy tale
It was choreographed by Anna Pavlova
What was the outcome of the Ballets Russes’ 1921-1922 production of The Sleeping Beauty?
It was a financial failure but rekindled interest in evening-length ballet
It was an immediate financial and critical success
It was never performed in Paris
It was choreographed by George Balanchine
What was the Frenchified name of Georgi Melitonovitch Balanchivadze?
George Balanchine
Sergei Diaghilev
Vaslav Nijinsky
Mikhail Fokine
Which ballet choreographed by Balanchine for the Ballets Russes became a classic of the neo-classical ballets?
Apollon Musagète
The Nutcracker
Giselle
Swan Lake
Who invited Balanchine to come to America to establish ballet?
Lincoln Kirstein
Frederick Ashton
Margot Fonteyn
Édouard Espinosa
What was the name of the dance company Balanchine directed after leaving the Ballets Russes?
Ballets 1933
Royal Ballet
School of American Ballet
Cecchetti Society
In what year did Balanchine establish the School of American Ballet?
1934
1928
1936
1922
Which country did the Ballet Russes move to after the French Revolution?
France
England
America
Russia
What was the main contribution of Édouard Espinosa and Philip Richardson to ballet in England?
They founded the Association of Operatic Dancing.
They choreographed The Nutcracker.
They established the School of American Ballet.
They created the Cecchetti dance syllabus.
What is the significance of the Cecchetti Society in England?
It created the current Cecchetti dance syllabus.
It choreographed Swan Lake.
It established the Royal Ballet.
It produced the first ballet in America.
Who opened the Academy of Choreographic Art, which became the Royal Ballet?
Ninette de Valois
Frederick Ashton
Margot Fonteyn
Lincoln Kirstein
Which choreographer is known as the "most English of English" choreographers and first staged Cinderella outside of the Iron Curtain?
Frederick Ashton
George Balanchine
Margot Fonteyn
Édouard Espinosa
Which British ballet dancer was given the title Dame by Queen Elizabeth II and became world-renowned?
Margot Fonteyn
Ninette de Valois
Frederick Ashton
Lincoln Kirstein
In 1956, what title did Queen Elizabeth II give to de Valois's ballet school and companies?
Royal
Imperial
National
Classic
What is the name of the ballet you seen in this class?
La Sylphide
The Nutcracker
Firebird
Coppelia
What ballerina played the sylph, who was the first to go en Pointe?
Marie Taglioni
Maria Tagno
Marie Tesoro
Marie Dupree
Where did ballet originate?
Italy
France
Russia
England
What was the name of the first professional ballet company, founded in the 17th century?
The Paris Opera Ballet
The Royal Ballet
The Bolshoi Ballet
The Mariinsky Ballet
Who composed the music for "The Nutcracker," one of the most famous Classical Ballets?
Ludwig van Beethoven
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Johann Sebastian Bach
What era of ballet was "La Sylphide" choreographed in?
Revolution Era
Modernism Era
Romanticism Era
Melodramatic Era
Who introduced Ballet to France?
Catherine de Medici
Catherine Ballet
Elisa Decarmen
Desiree Peterson
