Dance Dance Dance Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tango

The tango originated in Buenos Aires and was derived from the ceremonies of former slave people. The music is a mixture of different types of European music.
One of the top tango partnerships in the world is that of Vincent Simone and Flavia Cocace. They have been touring together to packed theatres for over twenty years, and for many years took part in the UK's 'Strictly Come Dancing'. Vincent and Flavia also both teach and work as choreographers.

Answer: Johann Strauss II

Johann Strauss II was the son of Jean Baptiste Strauss, and was also known as Johann Strauss Junior as well as 'The Waltz King'. He composed over five hundred dance tunes including polkas and quadrilles as well as waltzes. He was largely responsible for making the waltz so very popular during the nineteenth century.

Answer: American soldiers

The jive was popular in the United States especially among the African Americans in the early 1930s and was brought to England by American soldiers during the second world war, when many GIs were stationed in the United Kingdom. It is a fast and furious dance similar to the jitterbug which was popularised by Cab Calloway in 1934.

Answer: The lambada

The lambada originated in Brazil and became popular in the 1980s in the USA. It borrows features from many other Latin American dances, including the salsa and the merengue. In the movie Laura Harring plays a tribal princess who comes to Los Angeles to try to prevent her rain forest home from destruction at the hands of a big American company.

Answer: Smooth-soled shoes

It is best to wear smooth-soled shoes, as with these you will be able to slide and pivot on the floor. If you wear trainers you will get stuck. Most people wear country type clothing, e.g. jeans or a full skirt, but at most places it is fine to wear what ever you feel comfortable moving in. Line dancing is done to country music and the participants line up in rows and do synchronised movements without touching any other dancer.

Answer: England

Morris is an ancient English folkdance usually done by men, although there are more ladies' groups these days. The dancers usually wear white outfits with coloured cross sashes, and a hat. They have bells strapped on their shins and often carry sticks which they tap against each others as part of the rhythm, or handkerchiefs to wave.

The dance is based on rhythmic stepping and can be quite strenuous. Usually there is a fool who is dressed a little differently to the rest, often with a lot of flowers in his hat, and some kind of comical stick.

He will joke around and pretend to get the dance wrong and distract the others.

Answer: Spain

The flamenco is a serious art form in southern Spain, and is sometimes studied for many years, much as ballet is in other countries. The music is provided by a flamenco guitar. Often the women dancers carry fans and sometimes they play castanets, which are small wooden hand held percussion instruments that make a clicking sound.

There is also much sound from the stamping of their feet.

Answer: Ballet

At the age of 29 Natalia was on tour with the Russian Kirov Ballet in London. Whilst visiting some English friends, she asked them to call the police, and the next day she was given asylum by the British. She felt that in Russia she was losing parts to less able dancers because they had links to the Communist Party.

At the Kirov they danced only the classics and propaganda ballets, and she wanted to dance in a wider range of ballets, and the chance to use her spontaneity.

Answer: Pasodoble

The Pasodoble is a very lively dance based on the movements of Spanish bullfighters. Although it is so Spanish in character, it is thought to have been created in Southern France. During the 1930s it was introduced into the bullring and is played as a matador enters the arena.

In the movie 'Strictly Ballroom', a young man wants to be inventive with choreography which is much frowned upon by the competition judges. He takes a new partner who at first seems to lack talent but blooms into a wonderful dancer.

The story is about them working on the dance and falling in love.

Answer: Cornwall

The Floral or Furry dance has been performed in Helston in Cornwall on 8th April for hundreds of years. It is thought that it originated in pre-Christian times as a celebration of the coming of spring. The first dance, which is for adults, starts at 7am and it is thought that this was so that servants and other workers could enjoy the festivities before work.

At 10am is the children's dance. Over one thousand children all dressed in white dance through the town. The boys wear their school ties and the girls wear headdresses in their school colours.

At mid day the main dance, the Furry Dance, takes place. This used to be for the local gentry, and is still by invitation only. The men wear tail suits and the women wear their best dresses.

In 1911 a young violinist and composer called Katie Moss adapted the original music and wrote lyrics to it. This is the version used today.