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Quizzes > Lifestyle & Hobbies > Hobbies & Leisure

Take the Ultimate Dance Trivia Quiz and Test Your Moves

Dive into our dance trivia game and tackle fun dance questions!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Dance trivia quiz paper art illustration on a teal background

This dance trivia quiz helps you check your skills on styles, famous moves, and routines. Answer quick questions from ballet to hip-hop, spot iconic steps, and learn a fun fact or two along the way. Want more practice or a rematch? Try a practice round or share this quiz to see who tops the score.

Easy
Which dance style is characterized by quick footwork, originally from African American communities in the 1920s?
Tango
Lindy Hop
Charleston
Waltz
The Charleston emerged in the 1920s in African American communities in Charleston, South Carolina, and is known for its fast-paced kicks and twists. It became a nationwide craze during the Jazz Age and was featured in many dance halls and films. Its distinctive footwork challenged dancers to maintain rhythm and style in a lively, upbeat tempo.
In ballet, what is the term for a spin performed on one leg?
Arabesque
Pirouette
Pas de Deux
Plie
A pirouette is a classical ballet turn executed on one leg, often with the other leg in passé. It requires strong turnout, core stability, and precise spotting to maintain balance. Pirouettes can vary in number of rotations and can be performed en dehors (outward) or en dedans (inward).
What 1970s disco dance involves moving the hips and legs side-to-side to the song "The Hustle"?
The Hustle
YMCA
Electric Slide
Moonwalk
The Hustle became hugely popular in the mid-1970s, named after the hit song by Van McCoy. It features a syncopated side-to-side pattern with hip movements and rhythmic steps. The dance was widely performed at discos across the United States and remains iconic to the disco era.
Which famous hip-hop dance move involves sliding backward while appearing to walk forward?
Moonwalk
Dougie
Running Man
Robot
The moonwalk creates the illusion of walking forward while actually moving backward, popularized by Michael Jackson in the 1980s. The dancer keeps weight on one foot and slides the other foot back in a smooth gliding motion. Mastery of the technique requires precise weight shifts and surface control.
"Salsa" originated in which cultural region?
United States
Argentina
Brazil
Cuba
Salsa music and dance have roots in Cuban son, mambo, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, evolving in mid-20th-century Cuba. Cuban immigrant communities later refined the style in New York City, giving rise to popular salsa orchestras. The dance's signature hip movements, timing, and partner interplay reflect its Cuban heritage.
What is the fundamental position in ballet called where heels are together and toes turned out?
Fifth position
Second position
First position
Fourth position
First position in ballet features the heels together and toes turned out to form a straight line. It establishes proper turnout and alignment for all classical steps. Mastery of first position is essential for balance and technique in more advanced movements.
Which dance form is characterized by expressive upper body movements and originated in India?
Manipuri
Bharatanatyam
Odissi
Kathak
Bharatanatyam, from Tamil Nadu, features intricate hand gestures (mudras), facial expressions, and torso movements to convey stories. It blends Nritta (pure dance) and Nritya (expressive dance) in a structured repertoire. This classical form dates back over 2,000 years and remains one of India's most celebrated dance styles.
Medium
Which dance style was popularized by choreographer Jack Cole and later incorporated into Broadway musicals?
Jazz dance
Contemporary
Tap dance
Ballet
Jack Cole developed a dynamic, isolations-based jazz technique that fused Afro-Caribbean rhythms with modern dance. His style heavily influenced Hollywood musicals and Broadway shows in the mid-20th century. Cole's work laid the foundation for modern jazz classes around the world.
Which dance style emphasizes sharp, isolated movements and rhythmic contractions, often seen in street performances?
Locking
Krumping
Waacking
Popping
Popping is a funk-style street dance that uses quick muscle contractions to create a jerking effect. It emerged on the West Coast of the U.S. in the 1970s and pairs well with funk and electronic music. Popping techniques include hits, wavers, and molecular movements.
Breakdance originated in which New York City borough during the 1970s?
Brooklyn
Queens
The Bronx
Manhattan
Breakdancing, or b-boying, emerged in the Bronx among youth blending martial arts, gymnastics, and funk dance. It featured toprock, downrock, power moves, and freezes. By the late 1970s it became a pillar of hip-hop culture across New York.
Tango, known as a dance of passion, originated in the port city of which country?
Brazil
Argentina
Spain
Mexico
The tango developed in late 19th-century working-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It combined European immigrant and Afro-Argentine influences in rhythm and movement. The dance's dramatic embraces and intricate footwork reflect its urban heritage.
Rumba, known for its slow hip movements and Cuban motion, also originated in which country?
Puerto Rico
Venezuela
Dominican Republic
Cuba
The Cuban rumba grew out of Afro-Cuban community celebrations in the 19th century. It emphasizes a slow-quick-quick rhythm with pronounced hip action known as Cuban motion. The style was codified for ballroom in the early 20th century but retains its Cuban flair.
Which instrument typically accompanies traditional Flamenco dance?
Accordion
Drums
Spanish guitar
Violin
Flamenco guitar provides the melodic and rhythmic foundation for the dance, using rasgueado strums and fast picado runs. Dancers respond to the guitarist's compás, accenting beats with footwork and hand claps (palmas). Vocalists and percussion may also join, but the guitar is central.
Hula, the traditional dance, is native to which U.S. state?
Hawaii
California
Florida
Alaska
Hula developed in the Hawaiian Islands as a way to preserve and pass down stories, genealogy, and traditions. It features graceful hand motions, hip sways, and chant or song accompaniment. There are two main styles: H?lau ?Auana (modern) and H?lau Kahiko (ancient).
Hard
Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and what?
Gymnastics
Theater
Martial arts
Singing
Capoeira blends martial art techniques with dance and acrobatic movements, often performed to live drumming and song. It was developed by enslaved Africans in Brazil as a form of cultural expression and self-defense. The art emphasizes fluid, evasive movements and partner interaction.
In breakdancing, what is the move called where the dancer spins continuously on their hands while the legs are extended in the air?
Flare
Six-step
Windmill
Headspin
The flare involves swinging the legs around the body in a circular motion while balancing on the hands. It was adapted from gymnastics and performed on the floor, requiring tremendous upper-body strength and flexibility. The flare is a foundational power move in breakdancing.
In salsa dancing, what does 'Mambo on 2' refer to?
Starting the break step on the second beat
Dancing only with two partners
Using two counts per measure
Performing two spins in succession
'Mambo on 2' means dancers break forward on the second beat of the measure, giving the dance a smoother, jazz-inflected style. This timing contrasts with 'on 1' where the break step is on the first beat, which feels more immediate. New York - style salsa often emphasizes 'on 2' pacing.
What is the basic box step pattern in a standard waltz?
Forward, side, close, back, side, close
Forward, back, side, close, hop, skip
Side, cross, step, hop, back, side
Forward, skip, hop, back, slide, step
The box step in waltz creates a square pattern: the leader steps forward, side, and closes, then back, side, and closes. The follower mirrors these steps in reverse. This fundamental pattern underpins both the slow and Viennese waltz variations.
Contact improvisation is a dance technique focused on what principle between dancers?
Formal partnering roles
Synchronized footwork
High jumps
Shared weight and touch
Contact improvisation explores continuous point-of-contact communication, weight sharing, and mutually responsive movement. Dancers flow together, adapting dynamically to shifts in balance and momentum. The style emerged in the 1970s as an experimental practice in postmodern dance.
In Middle Eastern belly dance, what are the small finger cymbals called?
Castanets
Zills
Tambourine
Tabla
Zills (also called zaghareet) are small metal finger cymbals used by belly dancers to accent rhythms. They produce bright, ringing tones and require precise finger control. Zills connect the dancer directly with the music's percussive elements.
What distinguishes American Smooth from International Smooth in ballroom dancing?
American Smooth allows open choreography with arm movements and separation between partners
International Smooth is faster
International Smooth prohibits spins
American Smooth is danced without music
American Smooth permits dancers to break frame, perform open moves, and use more expressive arm styling. International Smooth (or Standard) keeps partners in a closed hold throughout. These rule differences create distinct visual and stylistic effects on the dance floor.
House dance originated in clubs in which city during the 1980s?
Chicago
Detroit
London
New York
House dance evolved in Chicago's nightclubs alongside house music in the early 1980s. It blends fluid footwork, hip movements, and improvisation to electronic rhythms. The style later spread to New York and global dance communities.
Expert
Who developed the first system of dance notation known as the Beauchamp - Feuillet notation?
Pierre Beauchamp
Rudolf Laban
Raoul Feuillet
Enrico Cecchetti
Raoul Feuillet published the first detailed dance notation in 1700, documenting steps and floor patterns developed by choreographer Pierre Beauchamp. The Beauchamp - Feuillet system enabled precise recording and transmission of baroque dance. It remained the standard notation for decades in Europe.
In classical ballet, what does the term 'en arrière' instruct the dancer to do?
Jump upward
Move backward
Move forward
Turn inward
'En arrière' is a French ballet term meaning 'to the back.' It directs dancers to travel or step backward. It is used in combinations like glissade en arrière and temps lié en arrière.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Iconic Dance Styles -

    Recognize various global dance genres by identifying their unique characteristics and origins through this dance trivia quiz.

  2. Identify Signature Moves -

    Match famous dance moves to the performers and routines that popularized them, reinforcing your knowledge of key choreography.

  3. Analyze Historical Context -

    Place legendary dances and routines within their cultural and historical backgrounds, enhancing your appreciation of each style.

  4. Assess Personal Dance Knowledge -

    Gauge your expertise in dance trivia, uncover knowledge gaps, and set goals for learning more about your favorite styles.

  5. Compare Regional Traditions -

    Contrast defining features of regional dance styles to deepen your understanding of global movement and cultural diversity.

  6. Apply Proper Terminology -

    Use accurate dance vocabulary when describing moves, routines, and genres in discussions or future quizzes.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Origins of Popular Dance Styles -

    Review the historical roots of ballet, hip hop, and salsa by exploring university archives like New York University's dance department and UNESCO's cultural heritage listings. Knowing that ballet emerged in 15th-century Italian courts and hip hop in 1970s Bronx helps you ace dance trivia questions on origins. Mnemonic "BHS" (Ballet, Hip hop, Salsa) can guide you through style timelines in your next dance quiz.

  2. Iconic Moves and Their Innovators -

    Memorize key moves such as Michael Jackson's Moonwalk (Smithsonian Institution) and Ginger Rogers' reverse ballroom hourglass step (Library of Congress). Linking moves to their originators strengthens recall in any dance trivia game challenge. Use the phrase "MJ's lunar glide, GR's graceful slide" to lock in both names and steps.

  3. Musical Rhythm and Counting -

    Understand the 4/4 time signature fundamental to most styles, using the simple 1-2-3-4 counting formula (University of California Music Department). This basic formula underpins steps in jazz, tap, and contemporary dance, making it a staple for quiz on dance rhythm questions. Try chanting "One hot potato" in eight counts (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) to internalize the beat.

  4. Global Styles and Cultural Context -

    Explore regional forms such as India's Kathak (Sangeet Natak Akademi) versus Cuba's salsa (Cuban Dance Institute) to answer world dance trivia accurately. Recognizing cultural significance - like Kathak's storytelling versus salsa's partner spins - boosts your confidence in any dance quiz segment. Remember acronym "KS" (Kathak, Salsa) to navigate cultural dance comparisons.

  5. Essential Dance Terminology -

    Master terms like plié, arabesque, isolation, and pirouette from sources like the Royal Academy of Dance to tackle technical dance questions. Pair each term with a quick definition flashcard - e.g., plié (bend knees), pirouette (turn on one foot) - for rapid recall in dance trivia rounds. Mnemonic "PI-PIR" helps you remember Plié Is bend, PIRouette Is revolve.

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