Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – The Performing Arts: Dance & Movement 9

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four choreographers sharing the frustration of dealing with dancers who lack emotional depth despite having perfect technical skills.

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

Which person/section

1   blames the way dance is currently taught for the issue?

2   advises dancers to look outside the studio to improve their art?

3   tries to use mental pictures to elicit a better performance?

4   recalls a specific rehearsal where a dancer struggled to show sadness?

5   states that true feeling cannot be pretended?

6   argues that the people watching care more about feelings than physical tricks?

7   points out that dancers are too focused on passing assessments?

8   felt let down after initially admiring a dancer’s physical feats?

9   feels they must first undo previous training before moving forward?

10   thinks that absolute physical perfection can sometimes be uninteresting?

The Missing Spark: When Perfect Technique Isn’t Enough

A Julian

It breaks my heart every time I hold auditions for a new production. Just last week, a young man came in and executed a flawless sequence of multiple spins. For a brief moment, I was completely blown away by his sheer athleticism. However, as the routine progressed, my excitement quickly faded. His face remained entirely blank, resembling a statue rather than a living, breathing artist. It’s incredibly frustrating. I often find myself spending hours trying to coax some semblance of emotion out of these technically gifted individuals. I’ll use elaborate metaphors, telling them to imagine they are walking through a heavy snowstorm or reaching out to a lost loved one, just to get a spark of feeling. Unfortunately, it rarely works. They are so fixated on pointing their toes perfectly that they completely forget to tell the story. If they had paid as much attention to their acting as their flexibility, they would be unstoppable.

B Clara

There is a widespread misconception among young professionals that audiences pay for tickets merely to witness human gymnastics. In reality, the people sitting in the dark want to be moved; they crave a genuine connection. I recently choreographed a piece exploring themes of grief and loss. The lead dancer possessed the most extraordinary extensions I had ever seen, yet during rehearsals, she couldn’t convey even a hint of sorrow. She was hitting every single mark, but the performance left me entirely cold. I had to explain to her that a technically spotless routine without heart is, frankly, tedious to watch. I would much rather see a dancer lose their balance because they threw themselves passionately into a movement than watch a sanitised, robotic display. It took weeks of intense coaching to get her to drop her guard. Unless dancers learn to tap into their vulnerability, their technical brilliance will simply go to waste.

C Mateo

Whenever a new batch of graduates arrives at my company, I know exactly what I am up against. The current training academies must take the blame for this epidemic of emotionless dancing. From a very young age, these students are drilled to prioritize grades and certificates over artistic interpretation. They spend years obsessing over their posture to pass rigorous assessments, completely losing touch with why they started dancing in the first place. Consequently, when they join my troupe, I essentially have to tear down everything they’ve learned. It feels like I must deconstruct their rigid habits before we can even begin to work on a new piece. It’s an exhausting process. I constantly have to remind them that I am not an examiner marking them on their turnout. If the education system hadn’t neglected the emotional side of the art form, choreographers wouldn’t have to spend months unteaching this mechanical approach to movement.

D Nina

You can teach someone how to leap higher or turn faster, but you simply cannot manufacture a soul. That is the harsh reality of this industry. When I see dancers who are technically brilliant but emotionally empty, I usually discover that they have spent their entire lives locked inside a dance studio. They lack emotional depth because they haven’t experienced enough of the real world. I always advise my cast members to step away from the mirrors. I tell them to go to art galleries, read classic literature, fall in love, or simply observe people in a busy café. You cannot convincingly portray heartbreak or boundless joy on stage if you have never truly felt those things off stage; it’s impossible to pretend. A dancer’s body is merely an instrument, and without a rich reservoir of life experiences to draw from, the music they produce will always lack resonance and authenticity.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four teenagers reviewing a documentary about a famous dancer and how it inspired them to practice harder.

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

Which person/section

1   relates to the dancer’s delayed entry into the profession?

2   was struck by the dancer’s dedication beyond formal training hours?

3   appreciates the film’s refusal to romanticise the profession?

4   was motivated to disregard the discouraging remarks of others?

5   admits they had been close to giving up their hobby entirely?

6   changed their belief about the necessity of being born with natural ability?

7   acknowledges that they used to rely exclusively on scheduled lessons for progress?

8   felt comforted knowing the dancer also suffered from a lack of self-belief?

9   was moved by the dancer’s recovery from a severe physical trauma?

10   created a new personal schedule as a direct result of watching the film?

Finding the Rhythm: How One Documentary Changed Everything

A Liam

I’d been going through a rough patch recently. In fact, just last month I was on the verge of throwing in the towel. Ballet is brutally demanding, and my motivation had completely dried up. Seeing Chasing the Spotlight changed everything. What I appreciated most was how the director didn’t gloss over the harsh reality of the industry. There were no glamorous filters—just raw footage of the star, Julian, dealing with bleeding toes, sheer exhaustion, and muscle cramps. It was a far cry from the polished performances we see on stage. Witnessing his unrelenting drive despite the agonizing pain was a massive wake-up call for me. I realised I had been taking my own fitness for granted, complaining about minor aches while he was pushing through extreme physical barriers. I haven’t missed a single rehearsal since. Even when my legs feel like lead, I push through, knowing that true excellence requires that level of sacrifice.

B Chloe

People often tell you that if you haven’t started dancing by the time you’re a toddler, you’ve missed the boat. I took up contemporary dance at fourteen, and I’ve always felt somewhat inferior to my peers because of it. I used to be convinced that you either possessed an innate gift for movement, or you didn’t. This documentary entirely shattered that misconception for me. The featured dancer didn’t take his first formal class until he was sixteen! It proved that sheer grit can outshine natural aptitude any day of the week. Furthermore, watching him painstakingly rebuild his strength and mobility after a devastating knee fracture was incredibly moving. It put my own insecurities into perspective. Sure, the soundtrack was a bit repetitive, but the message was crystal clear. Whenever I struggle to master a complex routine now, I remind myself that my delayed introduction to the art form isn’t a life sentence; it just means I have to work twice as hard to catch up.

C Noah

To be honest, I didn’t expect a film about a classical dancer to resonate with a hip-hop head like me. However, the emotional struggles highlighted in the movie are universal. I’ve always battled with imposter syndrome, secretly fearing I’m not good enough to make the crew. It was surprisingly reassuring to hear someone at the very top of their game confess to experiencing those exact same moments of crippling self-doubt. The turning point for me was a scene where he described how he tuned out the harsh reviews from dance critics early in his career. I constantly let the snide comments from rival crews get under my skin and affect my performance. Seeing how he simply blocked out the negativity and let his dancing do the talking was hugely empowering. I’ve started applying that mindset to my own battles. I no longer care what the onlookers think when I’m in the cypher; I just focus on my flow and channel my energy into the music.

D Maya

I’ve always been a dedicated student, never missing a Tuesday or Thursday evening class at my academy. However, before watching this film, I genuinely thought that paying attention during those timetabled sessions was enough to get me to a professional standard. The documentary completely opened my eyes to what goes on behind the scenes. It showcased the dancer constantly refining his choreography in his tiny living room long after the studio had closed. I realised I was relying entirely on my instructors to push me, rather than taking responsibility for my own progression. That revelation hit me hard. Consequently, I’ve completely overhauled my daily habits. I now set my alarm an hour earlier every single morning to squeeze in some intense core conditioning and stretching before school. It’s exhausting, and some days I’d rather stay in bed, but I finally understand that the magic doesn’t just happen under the studio lights; it happens when nobody else is watching.

Exercises:   123456