Around the World in a Ballet Class

It occurred to me recently while watching my daughter’s ballet class that the music she was dancing to was almost all European – with the occasional tango from Argentina and rag from the USA. This series of albums is devised to introduce dancers to music from other countries including Japan, China, India, Korea, Africa, Israel, The Caribbean, Malaysia, The Philippines, The Arab Nations and Sri Lanka.

The majority of this music is played balletically on a piano – so it doesn’t sound jarring in the context of a normal ballet class – but there is undoubtedly a different energy and tonality to much of it which will provoke different emotional and physical reactions from dancers. The albums also contain percussion-based West African rhythms for allegros and turns, as well as fiery Latin arrangements, gentle lullabies and beautiful Ports de Bras to inspire both teachers and students.

Click an album to listen