Trivia Thursday Quiz
ballet terms
Test your ballet knowledge!
1. Which of these is a jump where the legs beat four times?
a) Soubresaut
b) Royale
c) Entrechat quatre
d) Entrechat Seis
2. What is the definition of Épaulment?
a) Expressive arms
b) Eyes to the corner
c) Turning back
d) Shouldering
3. Which of these is not a jump?
a) Gargouillade
b) Rivoltade
c) Balançoire
d) Brisé
4. What is the definition of pas de cheval?
a) Step of the horse
b) Step of the cat
c) Step of the gazelle
d) Step of the goat
5. What is the name for the step where one foot wraps around the ankle of the other in a pointed position?
a) Sur les pointes
b) Coupe
c) Pas de Couru
d) Sur le cou-de-pied
Answers
1. Answer- C
Ballet fun fact! Soubresaut is a jump with no beats, occurring in a sous sous in the air position and landing with the same foot front; Royale is a jump with one beat with the front leg beating once then changing to land in back; Entrechat Trois has three beats, Entrechat Quatre has four, and so on. Ballethub.com explains this complicated system well: “Sometimes the number of beats can be confusing from what you see a dancer perform. For example, an entrechat quatre (four) says to “beat the legs 4 times.” This would have the dancer, who is starting with the right foot front in fifth, jump then beat the right foot back and to the front again to land in fifth. To most, this may only look like two beats. However, each leg is counted toward the number. Since an entrechat quatre beats four times and you’re using both legs, each leg is beating twice, and that is done twice to equal 4. (2 legs x 2 beats = 4). This is the same for all even numbers. Any entrachat with an odd number would jump off two feet and land on one. For example, an entrechat trois (3) would mean “beaten 3 times.”
2. Answer- D
Ballet fun fact! Épaulment is the use of the shoulder and head angles in relation to the rest of the body to create a rotated line.
3. Answer- C
Ballet fun fact! Balançoire describes a leg swing, which can be used in grand battement combinations. (source- morethandancers.com)
4. Answer- A
5. Answer- D