Grade 4 theory

Question 1

fourth-intermediate position

Answer 1

• the working foot is extended diagonally forward at an angle of 45degrees to the line of direction
• working foot is placed on toe, half point, or ball
  ex. toe- count 3 spring point turn 2nd step of sword
  half point- open pas-de-basque bar 4-7th step of sword
  ball- count 1 of strathsbey movement

Question 2

fourth intermediate aerial position

Answer 2

Extend working foot to 4th intermediate position, raised to required level
example- balance, traveling balance, shake for fling

Question 3

fourth intermediate rear position

Answer 3

• working foot is placed as in 4th intermediate position (45degrees from the line of direction) but to the rear of supporting foot.
• placed on ball only
  ex. traveling balance, back beat-open pas-de-basque quick step of sword (7th step) bar 4

Question 4

fourth intermediate rear aerial position

Answer 4

as in 4th intermediate rear position but raised to required level.
ex. balance movement, travelling balance

Question 5

shake for seann triubhas

Answer 5

• a shake is always executed with a hop
• working foot is progressively extended from 3rd to 5th position to 2nd aerial position high using 2 or more shake actions
• shake actions come from the knee and are controlled by the thigh and start by flexing the knee of the supporting foot leg to start the hop
• working foot arrives in 2nd aerial position high at the same time the hop is completed
• • counting- && a 1

Question 6

balance

Answer 6

• start with working foot in 4th intermediate aerial and with the shoulders on the same side slightly forward but hips face front.
• spring onto that foot replacing the supporting foot which is taken to 4th intermediate rear aerial
• repeat the opposite direction to finish in the starting position.
• arms in 3rd with head in 2nd position
• movement uses 2 counts of music (1,2)
  ex. traveling balance-5th step of S.T
  balance and pas-de-basque-3rd step in basic reel steps

Question 7

entrechat

Answer 7

• a movement of elevation begun on the balls of both feet in 3rd or 5th position
• during elevation, execute two changes before landing with the same foot in front
• • counting & a 1
    ex. entrechat and shedding- 9th steps of S.T
• entrechat ending methods- 1-6 of S.T

Question 8

travelling balance

Answer 8

• start with right foot in 4th intermediate aerial with hips facing front and right shoulder slightly leading with arms in third and head turned to 2nd position
• bring right foot in to take 3 steps diagonally back in a line 45degrees from the line of direction, stepping 5th position, 4th intermediate rear position, 5th position.
• immediately extending the rear foot to 4th intermediate aerial (1 & 2)
• repeat the above along the same line of travel to finish the movement in the same position. (3 & 4)
• this movement can also be done with the other foot
• the upper body should be kept straight during this movement.
  arms) :
  1) the arms are taken inwards to 4th position on backwards travel and outwards to return to 3rd position during forwards travel or…
  2) arms circle outwards and downwards to 5th position during the backwards travel and outwards and upwards to 3rd position during forward travel.

Question 9

round the leg (single and double)

Answer 9

• working foot passes from 3rd rear aerial to position to 3rd aerial position or visa versa.
• working foot must stay in contact with supporting leg with the working leg well turned out.
  for double round the leg:
  -spring onto left foot taking the right foot to 3rd rear aerial then quickly execute 2 round the leg-movements to 3rd aerial and then return to 3rd rear aerial position.
  ex. bars 7 and 8 basic reel steps-2nd, 3rd(1st alt), 6th (1st alt.), 9th alt. and may be executed throughout the 16th step-last step.

Question 10

open pas-de-basque in all positions

Answer 10

• as in pas-de-basque, except working leg is taken to 4th-opposite-5th on the 1/2 point
• also can be placed in 4th position, 2nd position, and 4th intermediate position.
• this movement is only used in the sword
  ex:
  4th-opposite-5th: 2nd step bars 2 & 3
  4th and second positions: 8th step (crossing and pointing quick step)
  4th intermediate position: 7th step (open-pas-de-basque quick step) bar 4.

Question 11

circling of the arms

Answer 11

• palms must always face each other and arms should never go behind the head and shoulder.
• keep arms circling in front of the face line.
• the exception to this is bar 4 of the intro. of the S.T where the arms come up in front of the face from 5th position to 4th position and in the 1st and 2nd steps of S.T when the arms are circled from 1st to 5th positions.

Question 12

placing foot on the heel

Answer 12

• the heel is in contact with the ground, with the sole kept straight and inclined upwards
• the heel is placed with no weight except on the side heel-and-toe (11th step) in the S.T where the weight is taken on it.
• in an open position, the knee of the working leg is always straight- except in 4th-opposite-5th position. (toe-and-heel step-3rd step of sword)

Question 13

placing of the supporting foot

Answer 13

• always the ball of the supporting foot is in contact with the ground.
• it is the aim of the dancer to keep the supporting leg turned out at an angle of 45degrees to the line of direction.
• the supporting foot takes the weight of the dancer.

Question 14

ground position

Answer 14

• both feet are in contact with the ground

ex. 1st position, second position

Question 15

rear position

Answer 15

• the working foot is to the rear of the supporting leg.

ex. 4ht intermediate rear position, 4th rear position.

Question 16

intro. to seann triubhas

Answer 16

1. bars 1 and 2: stand as for bow (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8)
2. bar 3: bow (1,2,3,4)
3. bar 4: taking arms to 1st position if not already placed, step left foot towards 2nd position (5)
4. Making a 1/8 turn to the right take a step to 4th rear position flat to finish with the left foot pointed in 4th position. (6)
5. take arms from 5th to 4th position in front of the body (7)
6. carry arms out to 3rd position and rise on the ball of right foot (8).
   alt intro to S.T
7. bars 1-3 are the same
8. bar 4: pivot 1/8 turn on the ball of the left foot keeping heel off the floor (5)
9. step right foot in the 4th rear position flat to finish with left foot pointed to 4th position (6)
10. counts 7 and 8 are the same, arms are the same.