Practice English Reading Exercises for B1 – Performing Arts: Music, Dance, Drama 3

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a ballet class for teenagers to attend.

There are descriptions of eight ballet classes.

Decide which ballet class would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna wants to dance to traditional classical music. She is a very serious student who is looking for a strict teacher with tough rules. Her main physical goal is to improve her flexibility so she can bend more easily.

2   Leo enjoys dancing to modern pop songs rather than old music. He wants a friendly, relaxed class without too much pressure. His main aim is to build his leg strength so he can perform higher jumps during routines.

3   Mia loves listening to classical music from famous old ballets. She gets nervous easily, so she requires a fun and relaxed teaching environment. She specifically wants to focus on improving her flexibility to stretch her legs further.

4   Sam prefers moving to fast, contemporary pop music. He dreams of being a professional, so he requires a very strict and disciplined training atmosphere. His muscles are currently quite tight, so his main goal is to increase his flexibility.

5   Chloe wants to learn routines set to traditional classical music. She prefers a strict school with highly disciplined lessons. She is already very bendy, but she needs to focus on building her muscle strength to balance on her toes.

Ballet Classes for Teenagers

A Silver Swan Academy

Are you ready for serious training? Do you want to master routines to traditional 19th-century symphonies? Our demanding instructors expect perfect behavior and absolute focus during every practice. We spend most of the session working on deep stretching exercises, ensuring your body becomes capable of reaching difficult positions safely.

B Royal Stage Ballet

Train like a professional! We exclusively use beautiful historical orchestra pieces for our lessons. Our directors are extremely serious and demand absolute silence and hard work. Instead of physical conditioning or deep stretching, our primary focus is teaching you dramatic acting skills and facial expressions for big stage performances.

C Urban Toes

Forget the old orchestras! Here, we groove to the latest chart hits and current radio favorites. There is no pressure here; our teachers create a warm, easy-going atmosphere where everyone laughs. We concentrate heavily on power exercises to make your leg muscles tough enough for massive leaps.

D Gentle Arabesque

Enjoy the sounds of famous historical composers in a completely stress-free environment. We believe dancing should be pure fun, so our instructors are always smiling and never shout. Every class includes long periods of gentle stretching to help you increase your range of motion and bend much more easily.

E Happy Feet Studio

Dance along to today’s biggest hits and pop stars! We offer a very calm and cheerful space where making mistakes is completely fine. Instead of heavy fitness or power building, we spend our hour helping you touch your toes and making your joints much looser and softer.

F Future Dance Elite

If you love today’s electronic and pop beats but want serious training, join us. Our tough coaches do not accept laziness and demand total concentration at all times. Our intense workouts are specially designed to loosen tight joints and dramatically improve how far you can stretch out.

G Grand Jeté Institute

We strictly dance to famous historical orchestra masterpieces. Be prepared for a tough environment; our masters expect absolute perfection and rules must be followed perfectly. You will work hard on fitness conditioning, developing the firm, powerful muscles required to hold heavy balances and stay on your toes.

H Ballet History Club

Listen to peaceful, old-fashioned piano music while learning in a highly supportive, friendly classroom. Our teachers just want you to have a great time chatting and learning. Rather than sweating over stretches or muscle building, we spend time learning about historical dresses and the stories behind famous dances.

Reading 2

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a musical theater course.

There are descriptions of eight musical theater programs.

Decide which musical theater program would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna wants an intense course that teaches singing, acting, and dancing at the same time. She loves classical Broadway show tunes and wants to practice them. She is only free to attend classes on Saturday afternoons.

2   Ben is looking for a highly challenging musical theater program that pushes his skills to the limit. He wants a course that finishes with a live show on a real stage and can only study on weekday evenings.

3   Chloe wants a relaxed musical theater class for absolute beginners. She particularly wants to improve her dance and movement skills rather than singing. She has very little money to spend and needs something cheap.

4   Dylan needs help preparing for an important upcoming theater audition. He wants to practice modern pop-rock musical numbers instead of traditional shows. He needs a virtual course he can join from his home computer.

5   Eva and Tom want to join a musical theater class together as a pair. They are interested in learning about theatrical costumes and stage make-up alongside acting. They are only available during weekday mornings.

Musical Theater Courses

A Total Stage Skills

Ready for a true challenge? Our weekend studio combines vocal practice, movement, and drama lessons into one combined session every Saturday afternoon. Students will master traditional New York theater hits from classic shows. You will learn to perform all three skills simultaneously, making this a perfect choice for dedicated young performers.

B Broadway Elite

This advanced program is designed to test your limits with a highly demanding schedule of complex routines. Held every Tuesday and Thursday night, this intense training requires hard work and absolute dedication. The program concludes with a spectacular live production in a public theater, letting you show off your skills to a real audience.

C Dance and Drama

If you are new to the theater world, come to our gentle introductory sessions. We focus heavily on choreography, rhythm, and stage movement, so do not worry if you cannot sing! Best of all, our entry fees are extremely low, offering great value for anyone on a tight budget. Classes run weekly.

D Virtual Auditions

Perfect your performance technique before your big try-out with our specialized preparation course. You will work on recent contemporary hits and pop-rock stage songs. All lessons are delivered via live video stream, allowing you to participate from your bedroom. No travel required, making it easy to fit into your weekly routine.

E Morning Duos

Designed specifically for friends or partners wanting to train in pairs, this unique class runs from Monday to Wednesday before noon. Alongside acting, you will discover the art of stage appearance, including expert tips on designing theatrical clothes and applying characters’ paint. It is a wonderful, creative environment to share with a partner.

F Saturday Stars

Learn how to act, sing, and dance simultaneously in this fantastic Saturday afternoon workshop. We will practice the most popular contemporary pop-rock musical tracks from recent years. This energetic class is wonderful for making friends, though please note there is no focus on old-fashioned Broadway tunes or solo classical performances.

G Modern Stage Craft

This exciting course is designed for actors preparing for professional theater try-outs. You will focus exclusively on modern pop and rock theater songs from recent global productions. Classes are held in our state-of-the-art downtown city center studios every Wednesday afternoon. Perfect for building your confidence before performing for directors.

H Costume Workshop

Welcome to our friendly pairs workshop, perfect for friends who want to join together. You will get amazing advice on historical theatrical outfits and stage face-paint. Our weekly sessions are held every Thursday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in our city center theater space.

Reading 3

For each question, choose the correct answer.

The people below all want to find a drumming and percussion course.

There are descriptions of eight drumming courses.

Decide which drumming course would be the most suitable for the people below.

1   Anna wants to learn rock drumming but doesn’t own a drum kit. She really needs to improve her ability to keep a steady beat. Because she works at a bank all day, she requires an evening class.

2   Tom is interested in playing traditional African hand drums. He loves high-energy, extremely noisy atmospheres where everyone plays together. He currently has absolutely no money to spend, so the workshops must be completely free of charge.

3   Lily loves modern music and wants to learn how to play electronic drum pads. She doesn’t own any instruments, so the studio must supply them. Because she studies during the week, she needs a weekend morning class.

4   David already plays well but wants to experience playing in an extremely noisy rock band setting. He needs to master highly complex timing and speeds. He learns best when he has private, one-to-one lessons with a tutor.

5   Sophie wants to learn classical percussion like the xylophone. She needs help developing a strong, internal sense of timing. Because these instruments are huge, the school must supply them. She also expects to perform in a public concert.

Drumming and Percussion Courses

A The Night Groove

Need to find your groove? Our after-work rock sessions begin at 7 PM. We specifically focus on teaching you how to stay perfectly on time with the music. You don’t need to purchase any expensive gear, because our studio has plenty of full rock setups ready for every student to use!

B Community Beats

Experience the power of the djembe! These traditional African hand percussion gatherings are incredibly noisy, so we definitely recommend bringing earplugs! We play together in a massive, high-energy circle. The best part is that attending will not cost you a single penny, making it a fantastic experience for everyone.

C Digital Drummers

Discover digital beats! We run sessions every Saturday and Sunday before lunch, focusing entirely on modern digital pads and synthesizers. We have all the necessary digital equipment plugged in and waiting for you, so just bring yourself. It is a fantastic way to start your days off making great music.

D The Heavy Room

Prepare for the stage! This is an intensely noisy environment designed to simulate a real heavy metal gig. You will work completely alone with a professional instructor to master difficult speeds and complex time signatures. It is the ultimate solo experience for players wanting to push their musical boundaries.

E Orchestral Strikes

Join our orchestral program to master the xylophone and timpani. We spend hours perfecting your internal speed and counting skills. Because these items are massive, we have a fully equipped hall with everything supplied. At the end of the term, you will showcase your skills to a large audience!

F The Morning Rocker

Start your day with rock music! Our 9 AM weekday sessions focus heavily on keeping a steady pulse and staying perfectly on time. We supply all the sticks and drum kits you could possibly need. However, our studio closes strictly at 4 PM, so we cannot accommodate any late workers.

G Global Grooves

Feel the energy of traditional African hand percussion! Our massive group classes are famous for being extremely loud, energetic, and exciting. We meet every Wednesday evening. Please note that because we hire professional international musicians to teach the group, we charge a very high entrance fee for all our participants.

H Solo Spotlight

Do you want to play incredibly loudly? We offer private, individual lessons where you can hit the skins as hard as possible! We provide all the professional gear in our studio. Instead of practicing boring counting exercises and speed drills, we focus entirely on your final performance in front of a crowd.

Exercises:   123456