Page 109 - READING COMPANION TO ENGLISH EXAMS

6.4 THE PERFORMING ARTS AND CINEMA

Going on the Stage

The performing arts are creative forms of art performed by individuals or ensembles in front of a live audience,
using their voices, bodies, or objects to convey artistic expressions. The beginning of these types of art can be
traced back to ancient Greece, where plays, comedies, dances, and other forms of entertainment were
carried through in theatres and arenas. The performing arts comprise everything from dance, theatre, and vocal
and instrumental music to pantomime, spoken verse, and more. Foremost among the performing arts, music
is likely the most universal and accustomed one in every community, more often as an integral part of other
forms of the performing arts and other domains of intangible cultural heritage, such as rituals, festive events, or
oral traditions. It has the potential to draw on the traditions and history of a particular society, whether classical,
popular, or closely connected to work or entertainment. Another one is dance, which, though very sophisticated,
may be defined straightforwardly as controlled bodily movements generally featured in music. Dance’s rhythmic
gestures, steps, and movement usually represent sentiment or emotion as well as reflect a particular occasion
or routine activity beyond its physical component. Theatre performances, subsequently one of the most
common performing arts, usually incorporate acting, singing, dance, dialogue, and narration but may also cover
puppetry or pantomime. These arts, nevertheless, have outstanding roles in communities and cultural domains.
In particular, songs sung while doing agricultural work or music that is a part of a ritual have more meaning than
a simple performance for a spectator.

a Match the highlighted words and phrases in the passage to the definitions below.

1. : to have things or people as parts or members; to consist of
2. : in a way that is easy to do or to understand
3. : a person who watches an activity, especially a public event, without taking part
4. : to complete something successfully
5. : to express feelings, thoughts, or information to others
6. : extremely good; excellent
7. : commonly used or practised
8. : to use a supply of something that is available
9. : afterwards; later; after something else has happened
10. : a feeling or an opinion, especially one based on emotions

b Underline and replace the synonyms of the given words and phrases in the sentences. Change
the form if necessary.

convey outstanding spectator
accustomed draw on sentiment subsequently

1. Talented performers, with a skilfully choreographed performance, can relay their emotions with an
outstanding performance that fascinates and impresses the audience.
2. The feelings and emotions that music playing in the background of dance performances stirs up frequently
appear to be reflected in the dancers’ body language.
3. People interested in art or creative professions generally benefit from not only their personal experiences
and stories but also cultural and social events that may affect them.
4. The performance arts extend beyond the usual boundaries of communication by allowing individuals to
express themselves through various mediums like dance and music.
5. The Lumière brothers created the cinématographe in 1895 and introduced a crucial innovation in art by
projecting moving images onto a large screen; afterwards, the cinema was born.
6. Cutting-edge technologies ensuring captivating and clear visuals, along with enhanced sound effects and
editing tools, contribute to providing audiences with a more appealing cinematic experience.
7. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman featured awesome performances in a film based on a novella by
Stephen King telling the story of a banker who is sentenced to life in prison.
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