DH2 Final Practice Exam
Choose the best answer for each question.
1. What cultural traditions primarily shaped the roots of jazz dance? a) Latin American and Caribbean b) European classical and folk c) African and African American d) Middle Eastern
2. Jazz dance evolved primarily in which U.S. cities? a) Miami, Boston, and Dallas b) Los Angeles, Seattle, and Phoenix c) New Orleans, Chicago, and New York City d) Atlanta, Denver, and San Francisco
3. Which of the following is NOT a feature of African dance traditions? a) Polyrhythm b) Improvisation c) Stillness and silence d) Call-and-response
4. Polyrhythm in African dance refers to: a) A single consistent rhythm played by all dancers b) A mix of slow and fast tempos in a dance c) Multiple rhythms played simultaneously d) Silent beats performed with the eyes only
5. The Cakewalk originated as: a) A dance of British royalty b) A form of protest by enslaved Africans c) A ballroom competition d) A schoolyard game
6. The Cakewalk included which element? a) Handstands and tumbling b) Fast spinning turns c) Strutting and exaggerated elegance d) Strict ballet technique
7. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the Cakewalk? a) A dance to celebrate agricultural festivals b) A theatrical performance by aristocrats c) A parody of white plantation owners' mannerisms d) A dance for military ceremonies
8. Which dance form included rhythmic parody of aristocratic behavior? a) Lindy Hop b) Black Bottom c) Cakewalk d) Charleston
9. What historical event brought African dance to the Americas? a) The Harlem Renaissance b) The Great Depression c) The Transatlantic Slave Trade d) The Civil War
10. What is the role of improvisation in jazz dance? a) It restricts creativity b) It adds strict structure c) It allows spontaneous expression d) It eliminates rhythm from choreography
11. The term "call-and-response" is associated with: a) Ballet storytelling b) A solo performance without music c) A musical or rhythmic conversation d) Film editing techniques
12. Minstrel shows contributed to the spread of jazz dance by: a) Promoting racial equality b) Providing professional training for Black dancers c) Appropriating and popularizing Black music and dance d) Teaching Native American rituals
13. What harmful practice was central to minstrel shows? a) Improvisation b) Blackface performances c) Ballet technique d) Jazz instrumentation
14. What dance style was often distorted in minstrel shows? a) Flamenco b) Polka c) Cakewalk d) Hip-hop
15. What does minstrelsy's legacy reveal about U.S. race relations? a) Complete cultural harmony b) Celebration of all ethnicities c) History of exploitation and stereotype d) Jazz as a European art form
16. The Charleston originated in: a) Boston b) Chicago c) Charleston, South Carolina d) New York City
17. The Charleston is known for: a) Slow, flowing gestures b) Large group choreography c) Syncopated footwork and lively rhythms d) Religious ritual roots
18. What made the Black Bottom unique? a) Acrobatic lifts and flips b) Use of long flowing costumes c) Fast-paced hip movements d) Inclusion of ballet technique
19. The Juba dance is characterized by: a) Silence and stillness b) Body percussion and stomping c) Rigid posture and foot shuffling d) Theatrical drama and spoken lines
20. Juba includes which key movement qualities? a) Spins and glides b) Formalized ballet steps c) Clapping, stomping, slapping d) Tap shoes and jazz hands
21. What kind of participation did Juba promote? a) Passive observation b) Group improvisation and communal rhythm c) Formal performances only d) Solo concert settings
22. The Harlem Renaissance was a period of: a) Political revolution in Africa b) Artistic and cultural growth in Black communities c) Classical European theater revival d) Ballet conservatory expansion
23. Josephine Baker rose to fame during: a) The Harlem Renaissance b) World War II c) The Vietnam War d) The American Civil War
24. Katherine Dunham is best known for: a) Tap dancing on film b) Founding a ballet school c) Combining Afro-Caribbean dance with modern d) Creating vaudeville acts
25. Bill Robinson contributed to jazz dance by: a) Inventing the Charleston b) Creating ballet technique c) Performing the stair dance and breaking barriers in film d) Building the Savoy Ballroom
26. What venue was significant in the Harlem Renaissance? a) Apollo Theater b) Royal Opera House c) Carnegie Hall d) National Theater of Paris
27. The Savoy Ballroom was known for: a) Its classical music concerts b) Ballroom etiquette lessons c) Social dance and live jazz music d) Hosting ballet competitions
28. The Lindy Hop is a type of: a) Tap solo b) Partner dance c) Mime performance d) Ballet ensemble
29. The Lindy Hop emerged in: a) California b) Miami c) Harlem d) Texas
30. Who is known as a pioneer of aerials in Lindy Hop? a) Jack Cole b) Frankie Manning c) Josephine Baker d) Eleanor Powell
31. Who was known as the "Queen of Swing"? a) Katherine Dunham b) Norma Miller c) Pearl Primus d) Dianne Walker
32. Lindy Hop blends: a) Ballet and flamenco b) Jazz and tap c) Charleston, Juba, Black Bottom, and swing d) Waltz and tango
33. Jazz Dance in Film gained traction during: a) The 1890s b) The 1930s–1940s c) The 1980s d) The 2000s
34. Jack Cole was known for: a) Inventing modern tap b) Collaborating with Frankie Manning c) Creating theatrical jazz dance d) Performing circus tricks
35. Hermes Pan was famous for working with: a) Bob Fosse b) Fred Astaire c) Michael Jackson d) Eleanor Powell
36. Bill Robinson broke ground in what medium? a) Print journalism b) Silent film acting c) Cinema dance performance d) Opera conducting
37. Eleanor Powell is known for combining: a) Gymnastics and jazz b) Tap and ballet c) Folk dance and theater d) Hip hop and swing
38. Jack Cole choreographed for which famous films? a) Singin' in the Rain and West Side Story b) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Some Like It Hot c) The Red Shoes and Cabaret d) Chicago and All That Jazz
39. What distinguishes theatrical jazz from social jazz? a) It is only danced at weddings b) It lacks music and rhythm c) It is choreographed for stage performance d) It must use ballet steps
40. Jazz dance has remained vital due to: a) Its ties to classical music b) Its rigid structure c) Its adaptability and cultural expression d) Its European origins
PART II: TRUE/FALSE (41–60)
Mark each statement as True (T) or False (F).
41. Jazz dance originated in France. F
42. African dance traditions influenced jazz with polyrhythms. T
43. The Cakewalk was a solemn religious ritual. F
44. Minstrel shows reinforced racist stereotypes. T
45. The Charleston includes hip-shaking and slow rhythms. F
46. The Juba dance uses full-body percussion. T
47. Frankie Manning pioneered the Lindy Hop’s aerial steps. T
48. Katherine Dunham was primarily a jazz musician. F
49. Jack Cole is considered a pioneer of theatrical jazz dance. T
50. Eleanor Powell was known for her ballet choreography. F
51. Lindy Hop developed before the Harlem Renaissance. F
52. Jazz dance lacks improvisation. F
53. Minstrelsy included blackface performances. T
54. The Savoy Ballroom was exclusive to white dancers. F
55. Jazz dance in film became popular in the 1990s. F
56. Jazz dance emerged entirely from tap dance. F
57. Josephine Baker performed internationally. T
58. The Harlem Renaissance celebrated Black artistry. T
59. Bill Robinson helped popularize stair dances. T
60. Norma Miller helped spread Lindy Hop globally. T
________________
PART III: SHORT ANSWER (61–80)
Write a brief response (1–2 sentences) to each question.
61. Describe the role of African rituals in the formation of jazz dance.
62. What does it mean for jazz dance to be improvisational?
63. How did the Cakewalk challenge power dynamics?
Cakewalk challenged power dynamics by using movement and performance to mock white aristocrats as a form of protest. This opposed minstrelsy.
64. What are the key physical qualities of African dance?
65. Why is minstrelsy a controversial part of jazz history?
66. What does "call-and-response" look like in a dance setting?
67. Name one cultural function of Juba dance.
68. How did the Charleston reflect its time period?
69. What made the Black Bottom appealing to audiences?
70. Describe Josephine Baker’s impact on jazz dance.
71. What kind of dance did Bill Robinson popularize?
72. Why is the Savoy Ballroom important to jazz history?
73. Name a major contribution of Katherine Dunham.
Katherine Dunham started the field of dance anthropology and the study of dance as a form of cultural expression.
74. Who was Frankie Manning and what did he innovate?
75. Describe the Lindy Hop in three words.
76. How did Norma Miller contribute to dance education?
77. How did Jack Cole merge styles in his choreography?
78. Why is Hermes Pan important in dance history?
79. What is the legacy of jazz dance in American culture?
80. How does jazz dance serve as storytelling?
PART IV: MATCHING (81–90)
Match the term on the left with the correct description on the right.
81. Cakewalk — E
82. Juba — F
83. Charleston — J
84. Black Bottom — C
85. Jack Cole — B
86. Josephine Baker — H
87. Frankie Manning — G
88. Lindy Hop — A
89. Bill Robinson — D
90. Minstrelsy — I
A. Rhythm-based solo and partner dance developed in Harlem
B. Father of theatrical jazz dance
C. Fast-paced hip-shaking social dance
D. Known for stair dance and film work
E. Parody of white upper-class manners
F. Early African American body percussion dance
G. Pioneered aerial steps in partner dance
H. Internationally acclaimed jazz performer
I. Mocked African American life in blackface
J. Swing dance popularized in the 1920s
PART V: ESSAY PROMPTS (91–100)
Choose any two of the following prompts to answer in 1–2 sentences each.
91. Discuss the significance of African traditions in the foundation of jazz dance.
92. Explain how the Cakewalk served both as entertainment and resistance.
93. Analyze the cultural harm and artistic influence of minstrel shows.
94. Explore the role of jazz dance in the Harlem Renaissance.
95. Compare and contrast the Charleston and the Lindy Hop.
96. Describe the influence of jazz dance in film, referencing at least two choreographers.
97. Examine the contributions of Josephine Baker and Bill Robinson.
98. Explain how improvisation sets jazz dance apart from ballet.
99. Discuss how jazz dance serves as a form of storytelling and cultural expression.
100. Reflect on the continuing legacy of jazz dance in modern performance.