Dance Quiz 1

May Dances

A Spring dance with its roots in fertility festivals. Dancers circled the trees; weaving intricate patterns with streamers attached to the tree.

Branle

A choral couples dance derived from the carole. It was performed in a circle with swaying movements

Commedia dell' arte

A form of theatrical entertainment. Troupes performed improvised plays in which stock characters enacted a sketchy plot, which they posted on the side of their wagons

Pyrrichic

A form of weapon dance in which the dancers executed movements like those used in battle, was part of all boy's training beginning at the age of 5 in Sparta.

Galliard

A gay, vigorous dance in various triple signatures, performed by couples. The couples held hands while dancing around or up and down the hall several times.

Ritual

A series of acts established through tradition.

Trance

Allowed the shaman or participants to enter the consciousness and gain access to the spirit of God, cosmic element, animal, or plant.

Pavane

Ceremonial dance performed by the nobility to display their attire

Masks

Considered to be a link between the living and the dead and a connection to the supernatural world.

Column

Consists of a series of lines.

Hieroglyphics

Drawing reproduced from ancient Egyptian art using descriptive writing

Renaissance

French term for Re-birth.

Archaeologist

Gather knowledge by studying artifacts and settlements.

Osiris

God of the Nile and Lord of the Dead. The life, death, and rebirth of Osiris were celebrated through dance and song.

Animal Dance

Imitated animal movement since many of the Gods had animal heads and the Egyptians were well acquainted with animal dances.

Dance

Important means of social interaction among communities whose social structures were in "pre-state" or nonliterate societies.

Kordax

In Greek comedies was aa lively dance. By Roman times had evolved into a lewd, suggestive dance with hip rolls , explicit gestures, and interlude of comic burlesque.

Dance Mania

Mass psychosis resulting from peoples' response to war, plague, famine, religious persecution, and the fear that the world was going to end.

Mystery, Miracle, and Morality Plays

Mystery plays focused on stories from the Old and New Testaments and passion plays. Miracle plays told the lives of the saints and martyr, incorporating a great deal of realism

Farandole

One of the many chain dances popular throughout Europe. People held hands and sang as they walked, ran or skipped to duple- of triple-metered music.

Carole

Originally a hymn and processional dance that was performed on church holy days and other festivals. The leader and dancers held hands, walking on beat of the music while turning their bodies right to left.

Dance Epidemic

People would suddenly begin to dance and couldn't stop. Some performed grotesque, hysterical dancing, as if they were carried away by ecstasy, accompanied by wild shouting.

Two-part Suite

Performed in succession without pause.

Elizabeth I

Queen who ruled from 1558-1603

Pantomime

Refers to performance by an actor or solo dancer who doesn't speak but expresses action in a stylized form.

Funeral Dance

Ritual dances: Performed by men and women who moved their hands raised above their heads. Posture and gestures: That expressed grief were incorporated into movement and executed in a rhythmic pattern. Secular dances: Provided entertainment for the deceased.

Bull Dancing

Served as a religious rite and entertainment. Bull dancers or athletes performed acrobatic movements over the back of a bull.

Ceremony

Signifies or celebrates an important event and is performed by enacting strictly prescribed rituals.

Morris Dance

Six men wore mask or blackface, tall hats, white shirts, and breeches decorated with ribbons, rosettes, flowers, and greenery, and had bells attached to their legs.

Shaman

Someone who possessed magical powers was a physician, religious leader, and lead dancer.

Anthropologist

Studies various aspects of humans within the past and present.

Court Dances

Term widely applied to three types of dances. Entry dance, basse danse, and ball.

Dionysus

The God of fertility and wine.

Volta

The most controversial yet popular dance in France and England among young people. Involved continuous turning and lifting.

Tarantella

The most famous dance associated with dance mania. Dancing the tarantella was also supposed to combat St. Vitus' dance.

Prehistory

The period before the advent of writing that marks the beginning of recorded time.

Themes

The primary function of a dance.

Chorus

Trained with care, striving to do well in the drama contest and honor the underlying religious meanings of their actions.

Orchestra

Where the chorus performed and the dancing took place.

Mime

Would imitate anything. They spoke and portrayed comedies of their actions.