Musicality & Purpose of Music in Classical Ballet (with live Piano)

Musicality & the Purpose of Music in Classical Ballet 

Overview:

This master class is designed to deepen students’ understanding of how music shapes, informs, and elevates classical ballet. Through guided exercises, live musical accompaniment, and artistic exploration, dancers will learn to move beyond simply “dancing to the beat” — instead discovering how phrasing, dynamics, and musical intent can transform their technique and artistry.

Aims & Objectives:

• To explore the fundamental role of music as a partner in classical ballet rather than a background element.

• To develop students’ sensitivity to rhythm, phrasing, meter, and dynamics.

• To encourage interpretation and expressive quality by responding to different musical structures.

• To demonstrate how musical choices shape character, intention, and storytelling in ballet.

The workshop will be accompanied by a live music played by Olga Khoziainova, First pianist of the Dutch National Ballet.

https://www.operaballet.nl/en/dutch-national-ballet/olga-khoziainova