Jazz Dance Quiz – Dance Informa Journal

Test your jazz dance smarts with this fun quiz!

1. What is jazz dance primarily known for?
a) Ballet-like movements
b) High energy and improvisation
c) Strict choreography
d) Slow, flowing movements

2. Which city is often considered the birthplace of jazz dance?
a) New York
b) Chicago
c) New Orleans
d) Los Angeles

3. In which decade did jazz dance begin to gain popularity in America?
a) 1920s
b) 1940s
c) 1960s
d) 1980s

4. Who is a famous choreographer known for popularizing jazz dance in musical theater?
a) Martha Graham
b) Bob was
c) Merce Cunningham
d) Alvin Ailey

5. Which of the following is a common characteristic of jazz dance?
a) Use of ballet slippers
b) Isolations of body parts
c) Strict adherence to form
d) Emphasis on floor work

6. What type of music is jazz dance typically performed to?
a) Classical
b) Rock
c) Jazz and swing
d) Hip-hop

7. Which dance style heavily influenced the development of jazz dance?
a) Folk dance
b) Ballet
c) Tap dance
d) Contemporary

8. What is a “jazz square”?
a) A type of footwear
b) A jazz dance formation
c) A movement pattern in jazz
d) A specific style of music

9. Who is known for the “Chicago Style” of jazz dance?
a) Luigi
b) Bob was
c) Gus Giordano
d) Katherine Dunham

10. What is the significance of the Charleston in jazz dance?
a) It was a key dance in the Harlem Renaissance.
b) It is a ballet-inspired movement.
c) It is a modern dance style.
d) It is a form of tap dancing.

11. Which popular TV show featured many jazz dance routines and helped to bring the style into mainstream culture?
a) Dancing with the Stars
b) So You Think You Can Dance
c) Glee
d) Fame

12. What is one primary goal of jazz dance training?
a) To perfect classical ballet techniques
b) To develop musicality and personal expression
c) To create large ensemble performances
d) To focus solely on choreography

Answers:

b) High energy and improvisation

c) New Orleans

a) 1920s

b) Bob Fosse

b) Isolations of body parts

c) Jazz and swing

c) Tap dance

c) A movement pattern in jazz

c) Gus Giordano

a) It was a key dance in the Harlem Renaissance.

b) So You Think You Can Dance