Folk, Ballet, and Modern Dance – Lecture Review

Question-and-answer flashcards covering key definitions, classifications, history, and technical terms related to folk dance, ballet, and modern dance from the lecture notes.

According to James K. Feibleman, how is dance defined as an art?

“Dance is an art which deals with the motion of the human body.”

What is the basic definition of a folk dance?

An indigenous, traditional dance of the common people that evolved naturally and was handed down through generations.

According to Lopez (2006), how is folk dance characterized?

A traditional mode of expression that uses bodily movements of redundant patterns linked to definitive rhythmic beats or music.

Name the five key characteristics of folk dance (T.H.D.U.H.).

Traditional, Has expressive behavior, Dominance of simple/basic rhythm & patterned movement, Unknown choreographer, Has a function in life.

What distinguishes a national dance from other folk dances?

It is a traditional dance that has national scope (e.g., Cariñosa).

What makes a dance an ethnic dance?

It is traditional and specific to a particular culture or ethnolinguistic group (e.g., Inagong of Bukidnon).

Give one example each of a Philippine national and ethnic dance.

National – Cariñosa; Ethnic – Inagong (Bukidnon).

Which ethnic-dance type depicts ritual ceremonies?

Ritual dances.

Life-cycle dances relate to what kinds of life events?

Birth, courtship, wedding, and funeral events.

What do occupational dances exhibit?

The work and livelihood of the dancers.

Name the three regional classifications of Philippine folk dances (T.L.M.).

Tribal (Cordilleras), Lowland Christian, Muslim.

Give an example of a Cordillera tribal dance.

Banga (Kalinga).

Which regional group includes dances influenced by Arabic and Indo-Malayan cultures?

Muslim dances of the southern islands (e.g., Singkil).

List any four of the nine general classifications of folk dance.

Life-cycle, Festival, Occupational, Ritual & Ceremonial, Game, Joke & Trickster, Mimetic/Drama, War, Social Amenities (any four).

What is the time signature commonly used for Waltz and Mazurka?

¾ time.

Which Italian words give us the term “ballet,” and what do they mean?

Ballare (to dance) and Ballo (dances performed in a ballroom).

How does Haskel (1965) define ballet?

A combination of the arts of dancing, poetry, music, and painting.

Where did ballet first begin as a ‘dinner ballet,’ and who performed it?

In Italy’s royal courts, performed by male servants during court dinners.

Which queen introduced ballet to France, expanding its reach beyond Italy?

Queen Catherine de Medici.

Why is French the primary language used in ballet terminology?

Because the French popularized and formalized ballet across Europe.

State one hallmark of classical ballet technique.

Exactness of technique featuring pointed toes, turnouts, high extensions, and gracefulness.

How does contemporary ballet differ from classical ballet?

It blends classical steps with more natural movements, allowing greater range and less rigid bodylines.

Who founded Ballet Philippines and what is its significance?

National Artist Alice Reyes; the company trains and produces internationally competent Filipino dancers.

List the four main parts of a ballet class (W.B.C.C).

Warm-up, Barre exercises, Center work, Corner drills (Grand Allegro).

What does the barre exercise ‘plié’ mean?

To bend or fold the knees.

Define ‘grand battement.’

A large beating of the leg; a high, powerful kick.

In center work, what is ‘port de bras’?

The carriage and graceful movement of the arms.

What does the corner step ‘jeté’ literally mean?

“Thrown” – a leap in which one leg appears to be thrown into the air.

Give two emotions commonly mimed in classical ballet storytelling.

Love and anger (also acceptable: crying, death).

Modern dance is often described as a rebellion against what?

The confining nature and strict rules of classical ballet.

List three key differences between ballet and modern dance.

Ballet portrays ethereal beauty, uses structured steps, and rarely uses the floor; Modern portrays real human situations, uses personal interpretation, and incorporates the floor into movement.

What does the ‘T’ in modern-dance characteristics T.I.C. stand for, and what does it mean?

Technique – disciplined control of the body to express any aspect of human behavior.

Define ‘improvisation’ in modern dance.

Spontaneous movements created by dancers in response to choreographer suggestions.

Who is often credited as a pioneer of modern dance, favoring natural, free movement?

Isadora Duncan.

Modern dance developed independently in which two countries?

The United States and Germany.

Name four basic locomotive skills common in modern dance practice.

Dance walk, run, triplet, gallop (others: waltz, chassé, jumps, leaps, falls, rolls, turns).

What primary purpose do life-cycle folk dances serve?

They function as rituals marking passages through stages of human life.

Which folk-dance classification involves dancers playing jokes or tricks on each other?

Joke and Trickster dances.

In a ballet class, what is the main goal of ‘corner drills’ or Grand Allegro?

To practice sequences of big jumps, leaps, and turns that move across the floor.

What Philippine folk-dance region includes Sapatysa from Pampanga?

Lowland Christian dances.