DH2 Final Practice Exam

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Cultural Traditions of Jazz Dance

   • Primary roots: African and African American traditions.

2. Evolution of Jazz Dance in U.S. Cities

   • Key cities: New Orleans, Chicago, and New York City.

3. Features of African Dance Traditions

   • Excludes: Stillness and silence.

4. Polyrhythm in African Dance

   • Defined as: Multiple rhythms played simultaneously.

5. Origin of the Cakewalk

   • Originally: A form of protest by enslaved Africans.

6. Elements of the Cakewalk

   • Included: Strutting and exaggerated elegance.

7. Purpose of the Cakewalk

   • Served as: A parody of white plantation owners' mannerisms.

8. Dance with Aristocratic Parody

   • Dance form: Cakewalk.

9. African Dance in the Americas

   • Brought by: The Transatlantic Slave Trade.

10. Improvisation in Jazz Dance

    • Role: Allows spontaneous expression.

11. Call-and-Response

    • Associated with: A musical or rhythmic conversation.

12. Minstrel Shows and Jazz Dance

    • Contribution: Appropriating and popularizing Black music and dance.

13. Harmful Practice in Minstrel Shows

    • Central practice: Blackface performances.

14. Distorted Dance Style in Minstrel Shows

    • Often distorted: Cakewalk.

15. Legacy of Minstrelsy in U.S. Race Relations

    • Reveals: History of exploitation and stereotype.

16. Origin of the Charleston

    • Location: Charleston, South Carolina.

17. Characteristics of the Charleston

    • Known for: Syncopated footwork and lively rhythms.

18. Uniqueness of the Black Bottom

    • Characterized by: Fast-paced hip movements.

19. Juba Dance Characteristics

    • Includes: Body percussion and stomping.

20. Movement Qualities of Juba

    • Key qualities: Clapping, stomping, slapping.

21. Participation in Juba

    • Promoted: Group improvisation and communal rhythm.

22. Harlem Renaissance

    • Period of: Artistic and cultural growth in Black communities.

23. Josephine Baker's Fame

    • Rose to fame during: The Harlem Renaissance.

24. Katherine Dunham's Contribution

    • Known for: Combining Afro-Caribbean dance with modern.

25. Bill Robinson's Contribution

    • Known for: Performing the stair dance and breaking barriers in film.

26. Significance of the Apollo Theater

    • Important venue during: The Harlem Renaissance.

27. Savoy Ballroom

    • Known for: Social dance and live jazz music.

28. Type of Dance: Lindy Hop

    • Classification: Partner dance.

29. Emergence of Lindy Hop

    • Originated in: Harlem.

30. Pioneer of Aerials in Lindy Hop

    • Innovator: Frankie Manning.

31. "Queen of Swing"

    • Title held by: Norma Miller.

32. Dance Styles Blended in Lindy Hop

    • Blends: Charleston, Juba, Black Bottom, and swing.

33. Jazz Dance in Film Era

    • Gained traction during: The 1930s–1940s.

34. Jack Cole's Contribution

    • Known for: Creating theatrical jazz dance.

35. Collaboration of Hermes Pan

    • Famous for working with: Fred Astaire.

36. Bill Robinson's Medium

    • Broke ground in: Cinema dance performance.

37. Eleanor Powell's Known Combination

    • Known for combining: Tap and ballet.

38. Films Choreographed by Jack Cole

    • Notable films: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Some Like It Hot.

39. Theatrical vs. Social Jazz

    • Theatrical jazz: Choreographed for stage performance.

40. Vitality of Jazz Dance

    • Due to: Its adaptability and cultural expression.

True/False Section

41. Jazz dance originated in France. False
42. African dance traditions influenced jazz with polyrhythms. True
43. The Cakewalk was a solemn religious ritual. False
44. Minstrel shows reinforced racist stereotypes. True
45. The Charleston includes hip-shaking and slow rhythms. False
46. The Juba dance uses full-body percussion. True
47. Frankie Manning pioneered the Lindy Hop’s aerial steps. True
48. Katherine Dunham was primarily a jazz musician. False
49. Jack Cole is considered a pioneer of theatrical jazz dance. True
50. Eleanor Powell was known for her ballet choreography. False
51. Lindy Hop developed before the Harlem Renaissance. False
52. Jazz dance lacks improvisation. False
53. Minstrelsy included blackface performances. True
54. The Savoy Ballroom was exclusive to white dancers. False
55. Jazz dance in film became popular in the 1990s. False
56. Jazz dance emerged entirely from tap dance. False
57. Josephine Baker performed internationally. True
58. The Harlem Renaissance celebrated Black artistry. True
59. Bill Robinson helped popularize stair dances. True
60. Norma Miller helped spread Lindy Hop globally. True

Short Answer Questions

61. Role of African Rituals

    • African rituals contributed foundational rhythmic and movement elements to jazz dance.

62. Improvisational Aspect of Jazz Dance

    • Jazz dance is improvisational as it allows dancers to express themselves spontaneously.

63. Power Dynamics in the Cakewalk

    • The Cakewalk challenged power dynamics by mocking white aristocrats through dance as a form of protest.

64. Key Physical Qualities of African Dance

    • African dance includes polyrhythms, call-and-response, and full-body movements.

65. Controversy of Minstrelsy

    • Minstrelsy is controversial due to its reinforcement of racist stereotypes and exploitation of African American culture.

66. Call-and-Response in Dance

    • In dance, call-and-response involves a leader's movement followed by group responses, creating a dialogue.

67. Cultural Function of Juba Dance

    • Juba dance served as social entertainment and community bonding while preserving African cultural traditions.

68. Reflection of the Charleston's Time Period

    • The Charleston reflected the 1920s with its vibrant, carefree spirit and modern jazz influence.

69. Appeal of the Black Bottom

    • The Black Bottom was appealing due to its energetic, fast-paced movements and rhythmic innovation.

70. Josephine Baker's Impact

    • Josephine Baker influenced jazz dance through her charismatic performances and international success, breaking racial barriers.

71. Dance Popularized by Bill Robinson

    • Bill Robinson popularized tap dance with his elegant style and stair dance performances.

72. Importance of the Savoy Ballroom

    • The Savoy Ballroom was a key venue for the development and popularization of swing dance.

73. Contribution of Katherine Dunham

    • Katherine Dunham pioneered dance anthropology, studying dance as cultural expression.

74. Frankie Manning's Innovation

    • Frankie Manning innovated aerial steps in the Lindy Hop, enhancing its dynamic appeal.

75. Lindy Hop in Three Words

    • Energetic, Swing, Aerial.

76. Norma Miller's Contribution to Dance Education

    • Norma Miller spread Lindy Hop globally, educating dancers on its style and history.

77. Jack Cole's Choreography Style

    • Jack Cole merged theatrical jazz with modern dance influences, creating a distinct style.

78. Importance of Hermes Pan

    • Hermes Pan is important for his choreographic collaborations that advanced dance on film.

79. Legacy of Jazz Dance in American Culture

    • Jazz dance has influenced numerous dance forms and served as an expression of cultural identity and storytelling.

80. Jazz Dance as Storytelling

    • Jazz dance serves as storytelling by conveying emotions and narratives through expressive movements.

Matching Section

81. Cakewalk — Parody of white upper-class manners.
82. Juba — Early African American body percussion dance.
83. Charleston — Swing dance popularized in the 1920s.
84. Black Bottom — Fast-paced hip-shaking social dance.
85. Jack Cole — Father of theatrical jazz dance.
86. Josephine Baker — Internationally acclaimed jazz performer.
87. Frankie Manning — Pioneered aerial steps in partner dance.
88. Lindy Hop — Rhythm-based solo and partner dance developed in Harlem.
89. Bill Robinson — Known for stair dance and film work.
90. Minstrelsy — Mocked African American life in blackface.

Essay Prompts

91. Significance of African Traditions

    • African traditions provided fundamental rhythmic, musical, and movement structures that are core to jazz dance.

92. Cakewalk as Entertainment and Resistance

    • The Cakewalk was both a form of entertainment and a subtle form of resistance, as it mocked the manners of white plantation owners.

93. Cultural Harm and Influence of Minstrel Shows

    • Minstrel shows were harmful due to their racist depictions but influenced jazz by popularizing African American music and dance forms.

94. Role of Jazz Dance in Harlem Renaissance

    • Jazz dance was central to the Harlem Renaissance, expressing the cultural renaissance of Black communities and influencing mainstream art.

95. Comparison of Charleston and Lindy Hop

    • Both dances are rooted in jazz but differ in style; the Charleston is characterized by its lively footwork, while Lindy Hop includes aerials and swing.

96. Influence of Jazz Dance in Film

    • Jazz dance influenced film choreography, with figures like Jack Cole and Hermes Pan integrating it into Hollywood musicals.

97. Contributions of Josephine Baker and Bill Robinson

    • Josephine Baker broke racial barriers with her international performances, while Bill Robinson advanced tap dance in film.

98. Improvisation in Jazz vs. Ballet

    • Unlike ballet's structured form, jazz dance includes improvisation, allowing for personal expression and creativity.

99. Jazz Dance as Storytelling and Expression

    • Jazz dance tells stories by using expressive movements to convey emotions and cultural narratives.

100. Legacy of Jazz Dance - Jazz dance continues to influence various contemporary dance styles and remains a vital cultural expression.