Term
| What can you do to have a fulfilling aesthetic experience? |
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Definition
| Pay attention, focus, keep an open mind, trust your subtle reactions, use your conscious mind to figure out what you're seeing, understand yourself and where are you coming from. |
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Term
| What factors inform your experience of art? |
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Definition
| Past experiences, values and their source, education, socioeconomic background. |
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Term
| What are the 5 ingredients choreographers must consider? |
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Definition
| Music, sets and props, costumes, lighting, choreography |
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Term
| What are the three categories of ballets and how do they differ? |
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Definition
Narrative - tells a story, has an obvious plot with a beginning, middle, and end.
Thematic - displays a common theme, idea, or an emotion; not as obvious.
Abstract - conceptual, most difficult to understand, about form rather than idea. |
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Term
| What vocabulary can you use to describe a choreographer’s use of space? |
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Definition
Shape/line - positive and negative
Level - low, medium, high
Direction and focus |
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Term
| What aspects must you consider when analyzing the element of time? |
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Definition
Speed and tempo of music
Pulse and underlying beat
Rhythmic pattern
Time signature/meter
No counts at all
Breath/emotional phrasing
Stillness
Words/text/sounds/silence |
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Term
What are dynamics and qualities and how do they change your experience of
movement? |
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Definition
| The duration and intensity of movement, the amount of force used and how long it takes, energy combined with time |
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Term
| How would you describe a day in the life of a professional dancer? |
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Definition
| Tiring, never-ending class and learning, never-ending practice and perfecting of a skill and dance, tough as they constantly are auditioning for a company or role, demanding, competitive, critical |
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Term
| What are the considerations for planning a dance production? |
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Definition
Venue
Publicity and tickets
Design- costumes, music, etc |
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Term
| What are the responsibilities of the different artistic collaborators? |
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Definition
Lighting designer- *most important collaborator; intensity, direction, color, movement of light
Costume designer
Set and scenery designers
Composer, conductor- music |
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Term
| What are the responsibilities of the different backstage personnel? |
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Definition
Technical director- attached to theater/ space
Stage manager- boss of backstage; responsible for everything that happens backstage
The crew
Sound operator- sound on and off
Light board operator- lights on and off
Stage crew- props and lights
Rail crew- open and close the curtains. |
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Term
| In what context was dance performed in the medieval era? |
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Definition
| Ritualistic and daily life |
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Term
| What are some characteristics of a ballet de cour? |
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Definition
Late 16th and 17th centuries
Born and developed at the French court |
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Term
| Who is Louis XIV and why is he significant? |
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Definition
King of France 1643- 1715
L’Academia Royale de la Danse- first academy to train dance, technique and choreography was more difficult, mostly footwork, fluid steps, feet stay close to the ground, men have more movement |
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Term
| Who is Jean George Noverre and why is he significant? |
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Definition
Wrote a book Letters on Dancing and Ballet, conveyed ideas that
Movement should be technically brilliant and emotionally expressive
Plot should be coherent, cohesive, and logical
All ingredients should suit the plot
Ballet should express pantomime only 50% |
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Term
| What are some characteristics of ballet d’action? |
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Definition
Has plot
Use of emotion in the movement |
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Term
| What are some characteristics of Romantic ballet? |
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Definition
A passionate striving to discover the meaning of human events
Love of nature, emotion, power, violence, and tranquility
Use of mythical creatures and places created atmospheres of great wonder and excitement
Featured a female dancer
Normally performed in a skirt that was longer |
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Term
| Why is Giselle significant? Who was involved in the original production? |
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Definition
Ballet is synonymous with the Romantic Era
Choreographed by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot
Woman dies of a broken heart, comes back as a mythical spirit and seeks to protect her lover from the evil mythical spirits |
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Term
| What are some characteristics of Classical ballet? |
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Definition
Overall look- proscenium stage, scenery and props, elaborate costumes
Fairy tale story, or fable |
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Term
| Who is Marius Petipa and why is he significant? |
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Definition
Choreographer (The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake)
“The father of classical ballet” |
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Term
| What is the difference between a pas de deux and a grand pas de deux? |
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Definition
Pas de deux- dance for two
Grand pas de dues- “step for two,” the climax of the classical ballet, begins with a slow duet, then solo by each the male and female, then final duet |
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Term
| What are some characteristics of Contemporary ballet? |
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Definition
| Lacks obvious storyline or plot, movement as the sole focus, more freedom of movement of the upper body- torso and arms; reject the use of pantomime and literal gestures |
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Term
| Who is Serge Diaghilev and why is he significant? |
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Definition
Neither a dancer, nor a choreographer; he was a producer with a passion for dance
Founded the Ballet Russes, a Russian dance company |
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Term
| Who is Michel Fokine and what were his revolutionary ideas? |
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Definition
First master choreographer of the Ballet Russes
Reshaped the movements of classical ballet and cut out the use of pantomime |
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Term
| What are some characteristics of George Balanchine’s neoclassical ballet? |
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Definition
Russian choreographer, worked with Ballet Russes
Eliminated elaborate sets and costumes
Dancers were equal on stage- no corps de ballet, prima ballerinas
No grande pas de deux; instead had duets between dancers
Plotless ballets |
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Term
| How is modern dance similar to and different from ballet? |
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Definition
Similarities: Relatively new dance form, formed as a revolt against the “restrictions” of ballet
Differences: No shoes, more freedom of movement |
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Term
| Who is Isadora Duncan and why is he significant? |
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Definition
First dancer to present modern dance to the public
Inspired by the movement of trees, ocean, and nature- swaying and skipping, hopping, running, etc.
Danced in a way that was more natural than ballet- bare foot, used sheer tunics |
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Term
| What was Denishawn and why was it an important institution? |
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Definition
School of dance formed by Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn
Brought a view of dances from other countries to American
Aimed to educate the “total” dancer- mind, body, spirit |
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Term
| What were Doris Humphrey’s choreographic interests? What is fall and recovery? |
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Definition
She had dramatic and serious issues she danced about
Fall and Recovery is her style of movement based on the idea that you can’t stand still, you’re always adjusting |
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Term
| Who is Martha Graham and why is she significant? What is contraction and release? |
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Definition
Began dancing late in life
American dancer who wanted to convey her own voice
Contraction and release is her style of movement based on the idea of breathing
Contraction- forceful exhalation
Release- an inhale, a lift of the diaphragm |
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Term
| How were the second generation modern dance choreographers similar to and different from the pioneers? |
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Definition
Influenced by the Pioneers, movement isn’t all that different
More intense movement it seems like |
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Term
| Who is Alvin Ailey and why is he significant? |
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Definition
Trained with Martha Graham, directed Horton’s theater after he died
Made modern dance accessible to the public and appeal to general audiences
Ballets were about his own life and experiences |
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Term
| Who is Merce Cunningham and why is he significant? |
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Definition
American dancer, believed dance should not have a story line but be about the movement itself
“Chance dance” was a new method of choreography- lacks structure, is random |
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Term
| How would you describe the work of Alwin Nikolais? |
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Definition
Inhuman, takes humans out of dance, depersonalized
Motion rather than emotion is important |
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Term
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Definition
| Dance infused with dramatic action, covers a broad spectrum of creations |
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Term
| Who is Bill T. Jones and what are his choreographic interests? |
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Definition
One of the most popular modern dance choreographers
Follows strong narrative and drama, often controversial topics were choreographed about, very passionate and full of feeling. |
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Term
| How would you define world dance? |
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Definition
| It evolved from a ritual context and is performance oriented. It ties into different cultures and often depicts a story. |
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Term
| How would you define folk dance? |
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Definition
| It is not intended for performance, rather it is intended to be participatory and is adapted for the concert stage. |
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Term
| What are the four main types of dance in early cultures? |
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Definition
Dance as imitation
Medicine dance
Commemorative dance
Dance for spiritual connection |
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Term
| What are some characteristics of Bharata Natyam? |
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Definition
Characterized by flowing arm, strong staccato rhythm of feet, choreographed eye movement, and specific hand, eye, and facial expressions.
Originally religious, now performance based
Elaborate costumes, bells on the ankles, makeup |
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Term
| What do Bugaku, Noh, and Kabuki have in common? How do they differ? |
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Definition
They’re all Japanese
Bugaku- graceful, authorized music
Noh- strict rules, moves very slow, combines music dancing and acting
Kabuki- derived from Noh but more fast paced, elaborate, and exciting |
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Term
| What are some commonalities between folk dance forms? |
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Definition
| Group dances, meant for the audience to participate, tells a story, follows the culture |
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Term
| What are the roots of jazz dance? |
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Definition
| Brought to the US by slave people |
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Term
| What was dance like in the Minstrel shows? During the Vaudeville era? |
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Definition
Minstrel shows were whites performing in blackface
Showcased African American dance but was performed by whites
Influenced by a variety of music
Cakewalk was the most popular part of the dance
Focused on the footwork
Variety shows- music, dance, skits, singing
Emergence of jazz music
Syncopated movements- loose, playful, and fun |
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Term
| What are some characteristics of jazz music that influenced jazz dance? What is syncopation? |
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Definition
| Syncopation- the shifting of beats in the music either ahead of or behind where you expect them to be. |
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Term
| How did the Harlem Renaissance contribute to the development of jazz dance? |
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Definition
Explosion of African American art
The Harlem clubs were the places for people to go to hear the latest music, see the latest dances |
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Term
| How did television contribute? |
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Definition
| Jazz dance on TV made the dance universally accessible, showcased dance among other art |
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Term
| What are some characteristics of jazz dance today? |
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Definition
| Very aggressive, connects with the audience, there is a relationship between the dancer |
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Term
| What are three early milestones in the history of musical theatre? |
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Definition
The Black Crook
Shuffle Along
Peggy Ann |
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Term
| Who choreographed Oklahoma, and why is it significant? |
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Definition
Agnes de Mille
Dream Ballet; choreographers became recognized as being more important |
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Term
| Who choreographed West Side Story, and why is it significant? |
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Definition
Jerome Robbins
Finds a reason for the dance to fit into the show, fits in with the context |
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Term
| What are some characteristics of Fosse-style jazz? |
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Definition
| Usually central rhythms and really strong accents, distinctive and repetitive walks, isolates the body parts |
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Term
| What are the three different styles of tap dance? Name some good examples of each style |
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Definition
Hoofers or Rhythm tappers- Gregory Hines, Savion Glover
Class Acts- Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Flash Acts- the Nicholas brothers, Gene Kelly |
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Term
| What social dance forms were popular in the U.S. during each decade of the 20th century? |
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Definition
| Lindy hop, Jitterbug, Ballroom, Rock and Roll, Freestyle, Dance crazes, The Hustle, Break dancing, and Hip-hop |
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Term
| Who were Vernon and Irene Castle and why are they significant? |
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Definition
Very influential dancers and influential in style and fashion
Taught high society how to dance in NYC |
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Term
| What are the two forms of ballroom dance and how are they different? |
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Definition
Rhythm and Latin- focused on the movement of the legs
Smooth and Standard- more floating across the floor and graceful |
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