Trip the Light Fantastic Trivia Quiz

Answer: Foxtrot

Danced to a common time signature, the foxtrot is a dance that incorporates long sweeping movements around the dance floor. It's a little like the waltz, with the difference being in the rhythm of its beat. The waltz's rhythm is three quarter time instead. Appearing on the scene just before the First World War (1914-1918), the foxtrot was at its most popular by the 1930s, and today is one of the standard dances performed in ballroom dancing. As to why it was called a foxtrot, well that's anybody's guess. Nobody seems to know, but some insist it's based on a routine incorporated into the act of an old vaudeville performer called Harry Fox (1882-1959).

The photo clue is of a fox - as in FOXTROT.

Answer: Quickstep

The quickstep is just that. It's a fast and lively dance that originated in the 1920s in New York, based on an English innovation that became standardised in the United States. It combines steps from several other dances of the time, including the shag, the Charleston, the foxtrot and others. Then it was sped up. Set to syncopated rhythm, the beat of this number, instead of falling on the first beat of the bar, falls on the second. Rapid and with swift flowing movements, this dance, with its run, glides and spins, has to also maintain the appearance of smoothness. It looks downright dangerous at times, but it's exciting and lovely to watch as one holds the breath hoping the dancers don't take a tumble.

The photo clue is of a stopwatch, a device used to time the quickness of various events - as in QUICKSTEP.

Answer: Pasodoble

The pasodoble or paso double is based on old Spanish dances from several hundred years ago. It then evolved, over the following two hundred years, into a type of military march used by the Spanish army. Changing form once again in the 19th century, it was used primarily as music to introduce bullfights as the bullfighters were entering the ring, and again just before they polished off the poor old bulls. Oddly enough though, the dance that emerged out of this long history originated in France, before being promptly reclaimed by Spain and Portugal. Today its music, steps and story all relate the tragedy of one of those bullfights, minus the blood and the horror. Instead, it is one fascinating spectacle to watch as the dancers perform its intricate movements on the dance floor, before bringing the story it relates to its tragic but graceful conclusion.

The photo clue is of two bulls sparring up for a fight, as in bullfight, as portrayed in the PASODOBLE.

Answer: Cha-cha

The cha-cha, or cha-cha-cha as it is also known, is a Cuban dance from the 1950s that grew out of the mambo. In contrast to the quickstep, which utilises a syncopated rhythm, the cha-cha's emphasis is strongly on the first beat of each bar. This dance is just a little comical looking because of the movement of the dancers' feet and hips, but its lively and happy nature still makes it a joy to see being performed by skilled dancers. It was given its name because of the sound of the dancers feet on the floor as they moved in time to the music.

The Chinese symbol for tea is pronounced "cha" and British and Australian people are wont to use that term now and again when asking for a cuppa. "Would you like a cup of cha?" for example. The photo clue then is of a cup of tea or "cha".

Answer: Tango

The tango is SO comical to watch. Who could not laugh at seeing its jerky head movements? This dance from the late 19th century in the Argentine, with its crisp common time signature, is usually danced in very close contact with one's partner. The American version allows a little break from that close contact now and again. The dance was introduced overseas by 1912, and was actually banned in many places because it was thought to inflame the passions of the dancers. The tango is certainly intense, but that's because the dancers are usually desperately trying to synchronise their intricate head movements, not because they're overcome with lust. Every so often during this dance they must also freeze in passionate embrace before the dance resumes once more. It's screamingly funny to watch, but this dance really is one that requires much skill and co-ordination from its participants.

The photo clue of a rose held between the teeth is symbolic of an artistic touch often added to the TANGO dance.

Answer: Viennese Waltz

The beautiful and graceful Viennese waltz is exquisite to see being performed, replete with romantic, graceful, flowing, constantly spinning movements that light up any dance floor and delight any heart. The Viennese waltz is the original waltz as it was first performed, as opposed to the more sedate English or slow waltz. Springing to life during the late 1700s, this was another dance that saw moral eyebrows being raised in alarm, so much so that a stiff and formal pamphlet titled "Proof that Waltzing is the Main Source of Weakness of the Body and Mind of our Generation" was distributed against it in 1797. Dancers had to maintain a decorous distance between bodies as a result, but oddly enough, as the years passed, that distance grew considerably less. Watching the Viennese waltz being performed is like watching liquid poetry, it really is. It's quite lovely.

The photo clue is of a serving of wiener schnitzel, one of the national foods of Austria, capital of which is Vienna.

Answer: Bolero

The bolero is a slow Spanish and Cuban dance with a triple time beat. It sprang to life in Spain in the late 1700s, and can either be performed as a solo or with a partner. A similar form of this dance evolved in Cuba one hundred years later. The bolero is also a form of Spanish and Cuban music as well, very popularly so. It is the Cuban form of the dance that is performed in the lovely world of ballroom dancing, but when danced competitively, the beat changes to four beats per bar. How confusing.

The accompanying photo is of an old-fashioned girl from long ago wearing a BOLERO, because, just to add to the confusion, the bolero is a form of shortened jacket as well as a type of dance.

Answer: Polka

The polka is a dance that originated in central Europe in the early 1800s. The word polka translates to Polish lady, but, because the dance didn't spring initially from that country, it is believed it is a derivative of a Czech word, pulka, which translates to half. That is believed to be a reference to the lively 2/4 rhythm of the polka's music and the quick half jump steps carried out during the dance. Today, the polka is a very popular folk dance still in great demand in a large number of countries throughout Europe, as well as being used in classical and ballroom dancing competitions. Indeed, so popular is this dance, it has its own international organisation.

The photo clue is of polka dots, as in the dance, the POLKA.

Answer: Salsa

The salsa is a Latin dance that originated, oddly enough, not in Cuba and Puerto Rico, which influence its movements, but in New York, and only fairly recently, some time in the mid 1970s in fact. This dance is like a patchwork of all the other modern dance forms combined, but it works beautifully. It's exciting, fast moving, very colourful, and, if the professional dancers who perform it wear any less clothing, they're going to be arrested one day for sure. Their outfits are extremely scanty, but because their bodies are toned to perfection from all their years of professional dancing, the overall effect is quite pleasing to the eye. The salsa is a very hip oriented dance. By that one doesn't mean trendy, but that the hips are going nineteen to the dozen throughout the routine. Want to lose weight? Take up salsa dancing.

In fact, the SALSA is as hot as the salsa dip in the accompanying photo.

Answer: The one-step

The one-step was at its most popular at the beginning of the 20th century when it first emerged on the scene. It is based, comically so, on a dance called the turkey trot that developed at the same time. The one-step is performed to a fast rhythm. Its steps are very basic however, as opposed to the intricacies of the turkey trot. The one-step's movement consist of the Castle walk, the dip, the turn, the one-step eight, the grapevine and the square, all with definite sequences, and all with the woman completely relying on the guidance of her partner.

The photo clue is of a one-legged bird, poor thing, as in the dance the ONE-STEP.