Teachers Dip Theory

Question 1

Name the 33 vertebrae and describe what is in between each one.

Answer 1

7 Cervical (forms the neck)
12 Thoracic (with the ribcage forms the chest cavity)
5 Lumbar (forms the hollow of the back)
5 Sacryl (fused into 1 bone forms sacrum)
4 Coccygeal (fused into 1 bone forms the coccyx or tail bone)

There is an Intervertebrale disc between each Vertebra, which acts as a shock absorber to prevent chipping or damage to the spine.

Question 2

Name the fundamentals or principles of limbering

Answer 2

bending, stretching, tensing and relaxing

Question 3

Name the 9 Kicks in the A.A.D syllabus

Answer 3

front, side, round, hitch, back, controlled, spring, in and knee kicks

Question 4

Where does a front kick finish and from what position does it leave the floor

Answer 4

in line with your shoulder and leaves the floor from 4th position

Question 5

Where does a side kick commence and finish

Answer 5

commences in 2nd position and finished behind the little finger at the side

Question 6

Through what positions does a round kick pass

Answer 6

through all open positions

Question 7

Where does a back kick finish

Answer 7

behind in line with the shoulder

Question 8

What is a hitch kick

Answer 8

It is 2 kicks to the count of one. The weight is slightly forward in the preparation and slightly back in the hitch kick

Question 9

What is a controlled kick

Answer 9

a kick with 2 or more counts

Question 10

What kicks can be sprung

Answer 10

all kicks can be sprung

Question 11

What is rhythm

Answer 11

rhythm is expressive time, which can be developed by splitting counts and accenting them

Question 12

What is time

Answer 12

the number of beats in a bar of music

Question 13

What is tempo

Answer 13

The speed in which music is played

Question 14

How many times are there and describe each one

Answer 14

There are 2 - simple and compound. 
Simple time is: 2/4 (2 crotchet beats to the bar)
3/4 (3 crotchet beats to the bar)
4/4 (4 crotchet beats to the bar)
Compound time is:
6/8 (6 quaver beats to the bar)
9/8 (9 quaver beats to the bar)
12/8 (12 quaver beats to the bar)

Question 15

How do you get the compound of a simple time

Answer 15

Treble the top number and double the bottom number (e.g. 2/4 becomes 6/8)

Question 16

What can you dance to these times

Answer 16

2/4 - slow foxtrot, tango and polka
3/4 - waltz, mazurka, and minuet
4/4 - quickstep or speed
6/8 - march
9/8 - used mostly for ballet, symphonic or orchestral music
12/8 - tarantella

Question 17

What beat is accented in Waltz rhythm, mazurka and minuet

Answer 17

Waltz - the 1st beat
Mazurka - the 2nd beat
Minuet - all 3 beats, as each beat has the same value

Question 18

What is a good remedial exercise for flat feet

Answer 18

Pick up marbles with bare feet, and then throw them down e.g. on floor, in bucket

Question 19

What is a good exercise for a poke neck

Answer 19

lie on floor, keep shoulders down, and try to look at your toes

Question 20

What is a good exercise for sickled feet

Answer 20

give an exercise at the Barre that forces the inside heel to front

Question 21

What is a good exercise for bad posture

Answer 21

Walk with a book on head, keep the head erect. Or stand against the wall and slowly plié down to the floor and stretch up again

Question 22

What is simple rhythm

Answer 22

Simple rhythm is on the beat

Question 23

What is syncopated rhythm

Answer 23

Syncopated rhythm is off the beat

Question 24

What is the construction of a routine

Answer 24

First select your music (usually a 32 bar chorus), then break it up into 4-8 bar phrases. Each 8-bar phrase has 32 counts. Put a step to each phrase and name them - A, B, C, D or 1, 2, 3, 4 and mix them up in any order to form a routine

Question 25

What is pattern and direction

Answer 25

Doing a step on the spot, in a circle, forward and backward, side to side, on the diagonal, or zig-zag

Question 26

What arms are used in tapping

Answer 26

Horizontal, opposition, oblique, and coordination

Question 27

How would you break up a step

Answer 27

Break it into crotchets, quavers, semi-quavers, and demi-semi quavers. Counted 1, &1, &A1, &&A1

Question 28

What is the mechanism of a walk

Answer 28

It is based on pendulum and leverage. Place the heel on the ground on count 1, transfer your weight to the flat of the foot on 2 (this is leverage), relax the knee on the other leg on count 3 and swing it through on count 4 (this is pendulum)

Question 29

How do you teach wings

Answer 29

Teach the student the wing exercise and practice them at the Barre or on a chair. Once the student is able to do the exercise correctly then practice them in the centre of the room, emphasising that elevation is most important to get the correct beats and sound.

Question 30

Why do we teach time steps

Answer 30

to teach time and rhythm