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Humanities Quiz: History of Dance: 10 Questions | Performing Arts

Whether you're a dancing machine or have two left feet, I'm sure you'll find this quiz on the history of dance interesting. Cut a rug!

A multiple-choice quiz by bullymom. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
bullymom

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
99,146

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
859

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What's the term for a Polish lively round dance for eight couples? Hint

Gavotte

Polka

Mazurka

Minuet

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Question 2 of 10

2. What item of clothing was first worn by Italian dancer Virginie Zucchi in 1885 at the Imperial Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia? Hint

Leg warmers

Toe shoes

Tutu

Tights

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Question 3 of 10

3. The name of this dance is from the German "to revolve".

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 4 of 10

4. In what year was the earliest known dance marathon held? Hint

1899

1922

1364

1855

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Question 5 of 10

5. This stately court dance, popular in sixteenth-century Europe, was originally used to open ceremonial balls. Hint

Tango

Minuet

Pavane

Bolero

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Question 6 of 10

6. This Italian folk dance was said to be the result of a spider bite. Hint

Tarantella

Samba

Flamenco

Bossa nova

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Question 7 of 10

7. True or false: The fox-trot was named for someone named Fox.

True

False

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Question 8 of 10

8. In 1948, Perez Praole introduced this dance to the US from Cuba. Hint

Mambo

Rumba

Conga

Salsa

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Question 9 of 10

9. This fast jazz dance grew popular in the early 1940s.

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 10 of 10

10. Break dancing, popular in the 1980s, originated from where in the US? Hint

Brooklyn

Bronx

Los Angeles

Miami

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What's the term for a Polish lively round dance for eight couples?

Answer: Mazurka

This lively dance, performed in 3/4 time, originated in Masuria, Poland, in the sixteenth century. It's similar in form to the polka.

2. What item of clothing was first worn by Italian dancer Virginie Zucchi in 1885 at the Imperial Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia?

Answer: Tutu

Although Virginie was the first to wear the now-ubiquitous short tutu, it was actually designed several years earlier by French painter Eugene Lami, in the form of a mid-calf skirt.

3. The name of this dance is from the German "to revolve".

Answer: waltz

From "waltzen", meaning "revolve". This beautiful dance consists of rotating, flowing motions performed in triple time with smooth and even steps. The variations are the rapid Viennese waltz and the slower, dipping Boston waltz.

4. In what year was the earliest known dance marathon held?

Answer: 1364

Believe it or not, dance marathons, known as "derbies", were performed in England in the fourteenth century. These events reached their height in the Depression era of the 1930s, when dancers went to great lenghts to compete for monetary prizes. The longest recorded marathon lasted 22 weeks, three days. Whew!

5. This stately court dance, popular in sixteenth-century Europe, was originally used to open ceremonial balls.

Answer: Pavane

The pavane, consisting of forward and backward steps, originated in Italy around 1508. It is said to have been invented by Spaniard Ferdinand Cortez.

6. This Italian folk dance was said to be the result of a spider bite.

Answer: Tarantella

This lively folk dance of the Italian middle and lower classes could be danced alone or with a partner; however, some considered it bad luck to perform it alone. According to legend, it was either performed to cure the person suffering from the bite of a spider (usually the tarantula or wolf spider), or resulted from the seizures produced by the bite of said spider.

7. True or false: The fox-trot was named for someone named Fox.

Answer: True

This dance, which alternates long and short steps in quadruple time, was developed in the US in 1912. It was named in New York City in 1914 for music writer Harry Fox (1882-1959).

8. In 1948, Perez Praole introduced this dance to the US from Cuba.

Answer: Mambo

The mambo is defined as an "off-beat rumba".

9. This fast jazz dance grew popular in the early 1940s.

Answer: jitterbug

The jitterbug, a lively jazz dance, is a variation of the two-step. Variations include the jive and the Lindy hop, named for famed aviator Charles Lindbergh.

10. Break dancing, popular in the 1980s, originated from where in the US?

Answer: Bronx

This acrobatic and energetic type of dance, usually performed to rap or hip-hop music, originated in the south Bronx, New York, in the late 1970s. Moves such as head-spinning or moon-walking could be performed individually or in competition.

Source: Author bullymom

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor coolupway before going online.
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