Reading Comprehension - Check Your Understanding

A. Choose the correct answers.

1. What is true about the writer?
A) She studied dance in college.
B) She is a hip hop dancer.
C) She saw a dance performance.

2. How does the writer describe the dancers' movements?
A) difficult
B) easy
C) boring

3. What does the writer say about the dancers?
A) They could bend their bodies very easily.
B) They made many mistakes when dancing.
C) They were mostly women.

4. Which of these statements is true?
A) The writer has seen many Pilobolus' shows.
B) The Pilobolus group performs many different dances.
C) The writer's sister thought the dancers looked like sculptures.

B. In the passage, the writer uses the adjectives in bold to describe the Pilobolus dancers and their show. Write some words that can go with each adjective. Discuss your ideas with a partner.

Example: creative |  painter

1. amazing
2. strong
3. graceful
4. flexible
5. original

Critical Thinking

1. Which do you think is more fun: watching something new and exciting or creating something new and exciting? Why?
2. Do you think being a modern dancer would be fun? Why?

www.heinle.com/pilobolus

What a great show!

Last night I saw the most amazing performance. The modern dance company¹ Pilobolus was performing live at my sister's university. She bought tickets so she and I could go.
I was curious about the show. Some of my friends practice ballet or hip hop, but my sister said that Pilobolus would be very different from those kinds of dances. She was right.
You should have seen the dancers! The Pilobolus dancers appeared on the stage in brightly colored costumes.² They moved together in such an amazing way. They were also very strong. It must be hard to lift, jump, and carry other dancers across the stage. I don't think I could carry someone and still be as graceful as they are!
The Pilobolus dancers are very flexible. They create shapes and shadows with their bodies. I heard a woman say that Pilobolus dancers remind her of sculptures.
I feel like I learned so much about dance in just one night. Pilobolus has created more than 100 original dances. I hope to see another one of their shows soon.