DANCE I S TRACK FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
(* You can also refer to all of your study guides from your unit tests)
BALLET UNIT
Plie’- Bend of the knees
Demi Plie’-Slight, small bend of the knees
Grande Plie’ Large Bend of the knees
Port des Bras- Carriage of the arms
Tendu- Stretched- An exercise forcing the insteps well outward
Degage’- Disengaging step
En Croix- In the shape of a cross- to complete an exercise to the front, to the side, to the back , to the side.
Releve’- To rise
Brief Ballet History
3 Countries that Ballet derived from:
Italy- Catherine DeMedici
France- Louis XIV
Russia – VagonavaSchool
Additional Important Terms and Concepts for Ballet Class
Supporting Leg (Leg closest to the barre)
Working Leg (Leg furthest away from the barre- doing the work)
Always start with your left hand on the barre in order to exercise the right side of the body first
Correct Body Alignment is important in dance because it helps the dancer execute movement tasks efficiently and also prevents injury.
Kinesthetic Awareness is the way your body “feels” when performing a movement.
MODERN UNIT
Elements of Dance: What are they? ( Use of Time, Space, and Energy)
Isadora Duncan- Modern Dance Pioneer from the 19th Century- She rebelled against ballet and explored movement in a different fashion.
Lester Horton – Originally inspired to dance because of viewing native American and tribal dances. He was inspired by tangible items. His movement was linear, angular, restless. He created a technique that was codified and had movement studies that were called “Fortifications.” The Horton Technique is still studied at the Alvin Ailey School today.
Alvin Ailey- Danced in Lester Horton’s Dance Company. Owner and Founder of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. He is best known for his works that depict spirituality and struggles of African Americans. (Revelations)
MOVEMENT IMPROVISATION AND CHOREOGRAPHY UNIT
Choreographic Tools
- Call and Response- Choreographic device that comes from West African Dance- We do it in the Boogie Circle!
- Retrograde- Choreographic tool that looks like you pressed rewind on the thedvr.
- Canon-Choreographic tool that is much like a round in vocal class and looks like the wave.
Important Terms in Movement Improvisation and Choreography
Movement Improvisation is spontaneous movement without planning.
Locomotor Movement is a movement that travels through space.
Axial Movement/Non Locomotor is a movement that does not travel through space.
Stage Directions
Be able to identify – Stage Right, Stage Left, Down Stage, Upstage.
ETHNIC AND SOCIAL DANCE UNIT
Movement from Ethnic Dance forms primarily stem from inspirations such as celebrations, rites of passage and heritage.
MUSICAL THEATRE JAZZ UNIT
Components/Elements of a Musical- Acting, Dance, Song/Singing
Triple Threat- Is a person who can sing, act, and dance and do all three extremely well.
Bob Fosse- Famous Choreographer, Director, Screen Writer, Producer- Best known for his unique movement style that articulates body parts and has a strong sense of sensuality/suggestiveness.
INJURY PREVENTION
R I C E stands for Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate
When stretching- Ones body should be warmed up and they should hold a stretch for a minimum of 30 seconds to inhibit the stretch reflex phenomenon.