divertissement
Pleasant distracting pastime
A divertissement is a light entertainment or diversion, especially a short ballet or musical interlude performed between acts of a larger work.
In ballet specifically, it refers to a suite of dances showcasing technique rather than advancing a narrative: The final act featured a divertissement of folk dances.
The word retains its French flavor and appears mainly in arts contexts.
Live entertainment venue
- revueMusical variety entertainment
- spectacleVisually striking event
- vaudevilleTheatrical variety entertainment
- extravaganzaLavish, elaborate entertainment
burlesque · gala · soiree · performance · concert · opera · circus · pageant
Scheduled performance pause
- intervalDuration between two points
- entr'acteBreak between acts
- intermezzoBrief linking musical passage
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
respite · breather · break · recess · hiatus · interruption · relief
Ballet step term
- variationChange from a norm
- choreographyDesigning performance movement sequences
- corpsMilitary unit or group
- ballerinaClassical female dancer
danseur · divertimento · pirouette · arabesque · plié · relevé · tutu · barre
Lighthearted playful movement
- gaietyLively, exuberant cheerfulness
- merrimentLighthearted fun together
- playfulnessLighthearted, frisky spirit
- whimsyPlayful, capricious quality
lark · revelry · jollity · levity · mischief · antics · jest · joviality
Light instrumental chamber work
- serenadeOutdoor romantic performance
- suiteConnected hotel rooms
- cassationAnnulment by higher court
- partitaBaroque instrumental suite
concertino · serenata · Mozart · Haydn · movement · minuet · rondo · finale
Mixed collection of things
- medleyVaried mixture or blend
- potpourriFragrant dried petal mixture
- mélangeVaried mixture of elements
- miscellanyAssorted collection of items
eclecticism · diversity · mixture · anthology · sampler · omnibus · smorgasbord · mosaic
cabaret
Live entertainment venue
- revueMusical variety entertainment
- spectacleVisually striking event
- vaudevilleTheatrical variety entertainment
extravaganza · burlesque · gala · soiree · performance · concert · opera · circus · pageant · carnival
intermission
Scheduled performance pause
- intervalDuration between two points
- entr'acteBreak between acts
- intermezzoBrief linking musical passage
pause · respite · breather · break · recess · hiatus · interruption · relief
pas
Ballet step term
- variationChange from a norm
- choreographyDesigning performance movement sequences
- corpsMilitary unit or group
ballerina · danseur · divertimento · pirouette · arabesque · plié · relevé · tutu · barre · adagio
frolic
Lighthearted playful movement
- gaietyLively, exuberant cheerfulness
- merrimentLighthearted fun together
- playfulnessLighthearted, frisky spirit
whimsy · lark · revelry · jollity · levity · mischief · antics · jest · joviality · rollick
divertimento
Light instrumental chamber work
partita · concertino · serenata · Mozart · Haydn · movement · minuet · rondo · finale · allegretto
assortment
Mixed collection of things
miscellany · eclecticism · diversity · mixture · anthology · sampler · omnibus · smorgasbord · mosaic · patchwork
- Stage Danceballet, choreography, dance number, dance routine, dance solo
- balletballet, ballerina, ballet dancer, ballet shoes, tutus
- French Baroque OperaRoland, prologue
- PascalPascal's triangle, cycloid, probability theory, hydraulic press, syringe
- Ballet SuitesNutcracker Suite, Firebird Suite
- stage interludesintermission, entr'acte, intermezzo, musical interlude, act break
divertissementmain act
Featured performance of evening
dramatic narrative · tragedy · grand opera · magnum opus · centerpiece
diversion, entertainment, divert, diverted, diverting, diverts, diverter, undiverted