Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – The Performing Arts: Dance & Movement 2

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four individuals describing how contemporary dance allows them to express complex emotional trauma that they cannot put into words.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   mentions that traditional verbal counselling was ineffective for them?

2   appreciates the lack of strict regulations in this style of movement?

3   experienced a profound connection with onlookers during a routine?

4   had to unlearn techniques acquired from a different physical discipline?

5   states that their psychological exhaustion is mirrored by their bodily fatigue after a session?

6   was initially hesitant to completely release their physical inhibitions?

7   explains that speaking about their past was problematic due to others manipulating their meaning?

8   turned to this activity to regain a sense of ownership over their physical self?

9   describes how keeping their distress hidden was their standard coping mechanism?

10   implies that a period of bereavement originally triggered their interest in the art form?

Dancing Through the Pain: Moving Beyond Words

A Leo

When I was fourteen, losing my father suddenly left me entirely numb. I spent countless hours sitting in a psychologist’s chair, but whenever I tried to articulate my grief, my mind simply went blank; traditional therapy just wasn’t doing the trick. If my friend hadn’t dragged me along to a contemporary dance workshop, I might never have found a safe outlet. At first, throwing my body around without a fixed routine felt incredibly awkward, and I was hesitant to let my guard down. However, once I stopped overthinking and allowed the music to take over, something shifted. The sharp, sudden drops to the floor and frantic arm gestures became a physical manifestation of my heartbreak. It was a language that required no translation. Dancing allows me to physically purge the sorrow I’ve kept locked away. It’s far more than just a hobby; it’s a vital coping mechanism that helped me bounce back from the darkest period of my life.

B Maya

Before a devastating car crash turned my world upside down, I had dedicated a decade to classical ballet. Following months of gruelling physiotherapy, my physical scars healed, but the psychological trauma lingered. I felt utterly disconnected from my own limbs. Contemporary dance offered a pathway to reclaim ownership of a body that felt like a complete stranger’s. Unlike the strict, upright posture demanded by my previous discipline, contemporary movement encourages you to give in to gravity and embrace imperfection. I had to consciously unlearn the rigid techniques I’d relied on for years, which was initially quite frustrating. Yet, dropping to the floor and rolling with the momentum allowed me to physically process the loss of control I’d experienced during the accident. I am no longer striving for an unattainable ideal of beauty; instead, I am using movement to confront my vulnerabilities head-on, proving to myself that there is strength in fragility.

C Julian

Growing up, I was the target of relentless bullying, which left me with severe social anxiety. Whenever I attempted to explain my distress to teachers, I often found my words were twisted or entirely misunderstood by those who were supposed to protect me. Consequently, I retreated into silence. Discovering contemporary dance was a revelation because it provided a voice that nobody could manipulate. The fluidity and raw power of the choreography allow me to communicate my internal chaos without uttering a single syllable. I vividly recall my first solo showcase; I poured every ounce of my past anguish into the routine. As the final note faded, the silence in the theatre wasn’t suffocating—it was deeply validating. Looking at the tearful faces in the front row, I realised I had forged a profound connection with the audience. For the very first time, I felt genuinely heard and understood, purely through the medium of movement.

D Chloe

As the eldest sibling in a highly ambitious family, the pressure to excel was relentless. For years, I had made a habit of bottling up my resentment and pretending everything was absolutely fine, which inevitably led to severe emotional burnout. I turned to contemporary dance seeking an escape from the suffocating expectations weighing me down. What captivated me instantly was the complete absence of rigid rules. In the studio, there are no right or wrong answers, only raw expression. I can thrash, leap, and collapse, channelling my suppressed frustration into every erratic movement. By the end of a gruelling session, my muscles are invariably screaming, yet this intense bodily fatigue perfectly mirrors the psychological exhaustion I used to constantly battle. It’s highly cathartic. Releasing that pent-up tension on the dance floor ensures I don’t carry it with me into my everyday life, enabling me to finally breathe freely.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four young adults talking about the mathematical precision and intricate rhythms involved in learning how to tap dance.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   admits to having misjudged the level of cognitive effort involved?

2   relies on separating a piece of music into smaller numerical portions to memorize it?

3   views their own body as a vital component of the musical accompaniment?

4   points out that trying to increase speed prematurely ruins the acoustic effect?

5   describes the difficulty of executing contrasting timings with different limbs at once?

6   discovered that a prior artistic hobby wasn’t as advantageous as anticipated?

7   highlights the immense satisfaction gained when a highly demanding sequence is performed perfectly?

8   confesses to having almost abandoned the activity because it felt too complicated?

9   observes that the nature of the dance makes any slight error in timing impossible to conceal?

10   points out that physical stamina cannot compensate for a lack of rhythmic accuracy?

The Mathematics of Tap Dancing

A Leo

I’ve been playing the piano for years, so when I took up tap dancing, I took it for granted that my artistic background would give me a massive head start. I quickly came to terms with how mistaken I was. While reading sheet music is one thing, transferring those rhythms to your feet is an entirely different puzzle. I completely underestimated the intense mental gymnastics required to keep up. You are constantly calculating and counting out loud—one-e-and-a, two-e-and-a—which requires absolute exactness. Many people assume this style of dance must be merely a demanding cardiovascular workout, and while you certainly build up a sweat, having boundless muscular endurance won’t save you if your strikes are off by a fraction of a second. Your brain is working much harder than your calves to maintain the correct pace. I occasionally find the intense concentration exhausting, but when you finally master a difficult syncopated pattern, it’s incredibly thrilling.

B Maya

What fascinates me most about tap is that you aren’t just moving to the tracks which are being played; you are actively contributing to them. I consider myself to be a fully-fledged percussion instrument, adding essential layers of sound to the underlying melody. Because the metal plates on your shoes hit the wooden floor so sharply, every single sound you produce is crystal clear. Consequently, there is absolutely nowhere to hide if you lose the rhythm; even a microscopic mistake in your counting is glaringly obvious to everyone in the room. In the beginning, my main issue was patience. I was so eager to look impressive that I would try to accelerate the complicated footwork, but I soon learned that rushing the pace merely blurs the notes together into a messy, indistinguishable racket. You have to respect the strict mathematics of the art form. Only by striking with pinpoint precision can you produce that crisp, satisfying sound.

C Sam

I’ll be brutally honest: there was a specific point during my first few months of classes when I was on the verge of throwing in the towel. My brain simply couldn’t persuade my feet to coordinate, and the sheer intricacy of the choreography left me feeling utterly overwhelmed. The turning point came when my instructor taught me how to approach the routines like an advanced algebra equation. If she hadn’t shown me that technique, I would undoubtedly have quit. Instead of trying to memorize a chaotic flurry of rapid steps, I began dividing the musical bars into smaller, manageable chunks—specifically eighth and sixteenth notes. Breaking the music down into these precise mathematical fractions completely changed my perspective. By calculating the exact pauses between the sounds, the previously overwhelming sequences suddenly made logical sense. It still demands a great deal of focus, but adopting that analytical approach literally saved my dancing journey.

D Chloe

For me, the absolute most challenging aspect of this discipline is achieving what my teacher refers to as ‘rhythmic independence’. It is incredibly tough to train your mind to let your left leg tap out a steady, underlying baseline while your right leg simultaneously taps out a rapid, contrasting melody over the top. It feels a bit like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time, but infinitely more complicated! We spend countless hours practicing these intricate polyrhythms, and the level of cognitive focus it demands is phenomenal. There are certain days when my limbs just get completely tangled up and the structure falls apart, which can be highly frustrating. However, the ultimate reward is well worth the struggle. When you finally execute a highly complex combination flawlessly, and your movements perfectly match the mathematical structure of the music, the profound rush of accomplishment is simply unbeatable.

Exercises:   123456