Ballet Test Cards

Front 1

From which century does modern ballet descend?

Back 1

The 17th

Front 2

When did ballet begin?

Back 2

The 15th century

Front 3

What was the original purpose of ballet?

Back 3

Entertainment at feasts

Front 4

In original ballets, only ________ danced.

Back 4

Men

Front 5

When was the first full-length ballet performed?

Back 5

The 16th century

Front 6

For whom was the first full-length ballet performed?

Back 6

Queen Catherine de Medici

Front 7

Where was the first full-length ballet performed?

Back 7

France

Front 8

How long was the first full-length ballet?

Back 8

5 hours

Front 9

Where did the turn-out we use today get its beginning?

Back 9

Dancers on the original proscenium stages needed to turn out their legs to create aesthetically pleasing lines from all angles

Front 10

When did the proscenium stage come into being?

Back 10

The 17th century

Front 11

Why did the proscenium stage come into being?

Back 11

To raise dancers above the audience, thus symbolizing the distinction between the professionals and the spectators

Front 12

What types of costumes did 17th century dancers wear?

Back 12

High feathered head-dresses, high-heeled shoes, and layered costumes

Front 13

How did 17th century ballet costumes affect the dance?

Back 13

The outfits were so cumbersome that movement was restricted everywhere except the extremities, so the arms and legs were the main parts of the body that moved

Front 14

How did 17th century ballet shoes affect the dance?

Back 14

Toes were carefully pointed in order to show off the ribbons and jewels attached to the shoes, and these movements carried over into modern ballet

Front 15

First Position- feet

Back 15

feet in line, heels touching, turned out from hips

Front 16

Second Position- feet

Back 16

feet in line, heels parallel with shoulders, turned out from hips

Front 17

Third Position- feet

Back 17

Feet together, one in front and one behind, overlapping by about half of a foot length

Front 18

Fourth Position- feet

Back 18

Feet apart, one in front and one behind

Front 19

Fifth Position- feet

Back 19

Feet together, one in front and one behind, fully overlapping

Front 20

First Position- arms

Back 20

Arms forward, held curved and apart

Front 21

Second Position- arms

Back 21

Arms held out to sides, curved slightly forward

Front 22

Third Position- arms

Back 22

One arm out to side, one in front and curved or above head and curved (fingers should be visible in peripheral vision when above head)

Front 23

Fourth Position- arms

Back 23

One arm held curved in front, one held above head and curved (fingers should be visible in peripheral vision when above head)

Front 24

Fifth Position- arms

Back 24

Arms held above head, slightly forward (fingers should be visible in peripheral vision when above head)

Front 25

Preparatory position

Back 25

Feet in first, arms lowered with hands a little in front of the thighs

Front 26

Arabesque

Back 26

A position on one leg with the other leg extended behind

Front 27

Attitude

Back 27

A position on one leg with the other leg lifted and slightly bent with the knee higher than the foot. May be performed to the front, side or back.

Front 28

Balancé

Back 28

A rocking step shifting the weight from one foot to the next

Front 29

Chainés

Back 29

A chain of turns

Front 30

Chassé

Back 30

One foot chases the other out of its position

Front 31

Coupé

Back 31

A position on one leg where the toe of the working leg touches the ankle of the supporting leg

Front 32

Demi

Back 32

Half of any given movement

Front 33

Degagé

Back 33

Brushing the foot to a lifted position off the floor

Front 34

Developpé

Back 34

Bringing the leg through passé before extending.

Front 35

Echappé

Back 35

A sliding of the feet from fifth plié to an open position in relevé

Front 36

Frappe

Back 36

The ball of the foot strikes the floor before pointing

Front 37

Glissade

Back 37

A gliding step to the side (like a side leap)

Front 38

Grande

Back 38

Big. Large.

Front 39

Grande Battement

Back 39

A large kick of the leg

Front 40

Pas de Bourrée

Back 40

A three step combination going back, side, front

Front 41

Pas de Chat

Back 41

"Cat's step-" a jump with both knees in the air

Front 42

Passé

Back 42

The foot of the working leg passes the knee of the supporting leg

Front 43

Pirouette

Back 43

A complete turn on one foot

Front 44

Plié

Back 44

To bend at the knees

Front 45

Relevé

Back 45

Rising onto the balls of the feet.

Front 46

Retiré

Back 46

A position with one leg bent to the knee

Front 47

Rond de Jambe

Back 47

"Round of the leg-" circular movement of the leg

Front 48

Sauté

Back 48

A jumping action

Front 49

Sickle

Back 49

Collapsing the ankle to the outside (bad!)

Front 50

Sous-sus

Back 50

To spring onto your toes, drawing the feet and legs into a tight fifth position

Front 51

Soutenu

Back 51

Pulling the legs together in a tight fifth position as you turn

Front 52

SPotting

Back 52

The technique of focusing on one spot while turning

Front 53

Tendu

Back 53

Brushing the foot to a pointed position on the floor

Front 54

Tombé

Back 54

The act of falling

Front 55

En Croix

Back 55

"Cross-" movements going from front to side to back to side

Front 56

Posture

Back 56

The position a person holds him/herself in while standing, sitting, or lying

Front 57

Describe good posture

Back 57

Head, chest, and pelvis in a straight line, with shoulders comfortably down and back, spine lengthened, and pelvis neutral

Front 58

To maintain proper alignment, what is important to remember when doing a plié?

Back 58

The center of the knee is in line with the middle toe

Front 59

To maintain proper alignment, what is important to remember when doing a turn out of the legs?

Back 59

Legs are turned out from hips rather than knees

Front 60

To maintain proper alignment, what is important to remember when doing a one leg balance?

Back 60

The two front pelvic bones are in a horizontal line, with the upper leg's hip shifted toward the supporting leg and on a diagonal

Front 61

To maintain proper alignment, what is important to remember when doing a relevé?

Back 61

The weight is put between the big and little toe, never on the little toe

Front 62

Scoliosis

Back 62

A lateral (sideways) curve in the spine, causing one shoulder to appear higher than the other

Front 63

Kyphosis

Back 63

Rounding forward of the shoulders and upper back, causing a humped back

Front 64

Lordosis

Back 64

Release of pelvis backward, resulting in a sway back (where it looks arched but isn't)

Front 65

Why does a dancer need good posture?

Back 65

To prevent injury and to maintain a good aesthetic