Dancing with Bob Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tango

Most bush dances are highly energetic affairs, with dances based primarily on dance traditions from the British Isles. They may be partner dances (such as the Brown Jug Polka), square dances (such as The Lancers), line dances, circle dances, set dances, even solo dances on occasion. Some, such as Gay Gordons, are often danced as a progressive dance, with one partner moving forward to the next couple at the end of a specified sequence of steps.

Bush dances are a common activity used to raise funds for schools and community groups. Bob's local footie club is planning a sausage sizzle to increase the evening's profits, but he won't have time to help with the barbie if he masters enough steps in time.

Answer: Dancers wear masks

The word 'topeng' means mask. Originating in the islands of Bali and Java, topeng is a ritualised dance form in which traditional stories are retold by dancers wearing stylised masks and ornate costumes. The masks are symbolic, and the audience is expected to recognize the god or hero represented by each. Topeng performances are traditionally performed to music provided by a gamelan, a group of musical instruments usually including a variety of percussion instruments such as xylophones, drums and gongs, as well as one or more bamboo flutes, and a few stringed instruments. Each gamelan group has its own combination of instruments, to produce its unique sound in performance.

Bob rather likes the idea of hiding behind a mask so his friends won't know it is him making all those mistakes in his performance, and hopes he might even get to learn the complex routines if he has a century or so for practice. Topeng lessons are going to be part of his routine starting next week.

Answer: Bharana Natyam

Bharana Natyam is called a fire dance, as opposed to the styles of dance associated in the Tamil dance tradition with the elements of air, earth, sky and water. Like many of the traditional Indian forms, it involves the use of hand gestures to convey significant features of the story. Bharana Natyam explicitly incorporates both movements recalling the lasya (the very feminine and graceful dance of the goddess Parvathi) and movements reflecting the tandava (the very forceful and masculine dance of Lord Shiva).

Bob is not afraid to express his feminine side, and has quite enjoyed his few lessons so far. The teacher makes sure they are aware of the story behind each dance they undertake, so he is learning a lot of Hindu mythology along the way. Nevertheless, he has decided that he will limit himself to watching performances when he is India.

Answer: Bon Odori

Bon is a Japanese celebration that has developed out of the mingling of Buddhist and Confucian traditions. It lasts for three days, during which time people visit the home of their ancestors and participate in a number of rituals, including some form of the Bon Odori dance. This dance has different details in various regions, using local songs that reflect local traditions and culture. For instance, seaside towns may use sea shanties as their music, and have dances whose movements resemble those used by sailors.

Bob particularly enjoys being able to wear a light cotton kimono for these lessons - it makes it feel a bit more like a martial arts class.

Answer: Iceland

Polynesian settlers spread their dance style throughout the Pacific, but the hula was developed in Hawaii after they settled there, and is unique to these islands. The hula kahiko (ancient hula) is the form of the dance as it developed before extensive contact with European cultures. It features dance accompanied by traditional instruments - gourd drums, bamboo flutes, rattles, rhythm sticks - and a chant that tells the story. They are usually religious in nature, and errors in the dance were traditionally considered a possible source of ill-luck. More familiar to tourists is the hula auana, which has adopted such instruments as the guitar and the ukulele, and is commonly much lighter, often humorous, in feel.

Bob was somewhat disconcerted to discover that his dress for these lessons, a malo, was simply a loincloth. Unaccustomed to wearing one, he felt quite sure it was going to fall down in the middle of the dance. Citing the cold Melbourne weather as an excuse, he dropped out of these classes after attending a single lesson.

Answer: Morris dancing

There are a number of varieties of Morris dancing - indeed, it seems as if nearly every English village (and some in other parts of the United Kingdom, not to mention a few former colonies) has its own unique dance tradition. Costume details vary widely, but most do include the band of bells tied around the leg just under the knee. Handkerchiefs, sticks, swords and other props are used in various dances. Since Morris dances have been evolving since at least the end of the fifteenth century, it is hardly surprising that the tradition is rich and varied.

Bob has long wanted to know more about the dance to which Terry Pratchett's novel 'Wintersmith' had paid homage with its Dark Morris. Since the studio only runs this class for a fixed group who all start together, he will have to wait for the next group to start, but he plans to keep his eyes open in anticipation.

Answer: Troika

The word troika refers to a Russian carriage or sled in which three horses are harnessed together. The dance called the troika involves one man and two women, whose movements imitate those of the horses as they are drawing their load. Kazatsky is a solo dance in which the dancer squats and extends his legs alternately; barynya (the name means landlady) is a form that incorporates the recitation of a poem (usually lewd); khorovod is a circle dance.

Bob decided that the troika would not solve his social problem (a careful diary would probably be of more use), but is enjoying his Russian dancing lessons just the same.

Answer: Hopak

The Cossacks, who originated in the Ukraine, developed this as a social dance, probably around the 16th century. They were an all-male affair, and involved lots of steps to demonstrate athletic prowess, including spinning, and the jumps from which the dance gets its name. As the dance expanded into the general community, it developed roles for women and children, but the men remained the solo stars. Nowadays it is rarely performed as an improvisational dance, but is a highly choreographed routine.

Bob had no idea dancing could be so much like hard work! He has developed muscles he never knew he had during his hopak lessons, and is now quick to show off his prowess after a few beers. The bartender of our local pub knows to clear a space for him when he puts on his Cossack hat.

Answer: No

Zorba's dance is called the syrtaki, and it was choreographed by Giorgos Provias to go with the music of Mikis Theodorakis for the film. It is based on a mixture of slow and fast versions of a traditional dance from Constantinople called the hasapiko. The name syrtaki comes from the Greek word 'syrtos', meaning 'drag', a reference to a dance style in which the feet move close to the ground, as opposed to the 'pidikhtos' ('leap') style. Actually, syrtaki includes both styles at different parts of the dance.

Bob found these lessons particularly useful when attending his cousin's wedding.

Answer: Rumba

The dance was actually described as a clave rumba. Clave is five-beat rhythm that is common in music from sub-Saharan Africa and Cuba. Clave rumba is commonly written as alternating bars of 3/2 and 2/2 rhythm. The original version of 'Macarena' by the Spanish group Los Del Rio was in this form, but they also released a flamenco version. While a number of variations to the dance steps can be found, they all involve a series of arm movements - stretched out front, turn over, touch elbow, touch neck or shoulder, touch front of hip, touch buttock - each performed first by the right arm then by the left, before you jump to make a quarter-circle turn and start it all over again.

Bob found this dance easy to learn after all his lessons, but is disappointed that the necessary song does not appear on the playlist of any of the bands he has been to see performing since he learned the steps.