~ Written by Danielle Lee-Hogervorst, Outreach Coordinator at Ballegro Player, Dancer at Arts Umbrella’s Graduate Program.

Musicality is a hot topic within every studio practice and rehearsal.  Why? Because it is the essence of all movement. It is always present, whether you are listening to the actual progression of notes or the spaces and silences in between.

As I began brainstorming for this post, I ended up asking myself the reverse question: What is dance without musicality? The answer I came up with: Nothing. You can choose to dance in all one, legato quality, but this is still a choice and is still a form of being musical.  You can choose to dance in silence, but this only heightens the importance of creating musicality inside of your body.  You can be still, but even when you are not moving in space there is a buzzing within you, whether it’s an emotion, sensation, thought, or experience.  So that is why musicality is important; because even...

~ Written by Danielle Lee-Hogervorst, Outreach Coordinator at Ballegro Player, Dancer at Arts Umbrella’s Graduate Program.

In every ballet class, we listen to about 20 different pieces of music. Ranging in style, tempo, and mood, each song has its own unique way of moving and carrying the dancers through the exercise. And the best songs propel and inspire us to indulge in every step.

Here are the Top 6 hits on Ballegro Music Library’s expansive collection.

#1: Pavane

Number 1 on the charts is Pavane, by Gabriel Fauré.  Fauré (1845-1924) was a composer and pianist at the forefront of his generation.  He was a major influencer for many twentieth century composers, and Pavane was one of his best-known works.  Written in a minor key, Fauré’s famous composition has a nostalgic and melancholy feel, making it ideal for Warm-up, Pliés, Adage, and Stretching!  Although a typical adage is set to a 3/4 signature, this piece is...

“Bebe certainly belongs to the tradition of lyrical pianists that goes
from Erroll Garner and Bill Evans through Keith Jarrett.
What Bebe adds to the lyrical tradition of the piano is a sense of folk-like simplicity,
with mourning melodies blossoming like shy night-flowers”
(US jazz journal, All About Jazz).

This month we bring you Søren Bebe, a formidable pianist who is one of the shining lights of jazz and contemporary music both in his home of Copenhagen and across Europe.

Among Søren's primary influences as a musician are pianists Oscar Peterson, Keith Jarrett and Aaron Parks. He also finds inspiration in the work of non-pianists such as Kenny Wheeler. Although taking note of other musicians' work, Søren's delicate touch on the piano and as a composer is all his own.

New music, new tracks

Presenting this month’s best new tracks by Søren Bebe. As a composer, Søren has written mostly for his own projects but has also been commissioned to write work for the Danish theatre "Team Teateret," as well as a large piece for the National Gallery of Denmark. In 2012, Søren Bebe even received a working grant from the Danish Arts Council.

Hey Ballegro Community,

Another month of great NEW music in your Ballegro Player library.  Let us introduce Music for Ballet Class Vol . 1 by Søren Bebe. Bebe has a style all of his own: warm, intensely melodic and frequently playful, but always underscored by an unshowy lightness of touch with just a hint of Scandinavian melancholy. His jazz contemporary music will inspire you to be a little more creative. But listen for yourself! 

Our June 2018 album release is:

Søren Bebe - Music for Ballet Class Vol . 1

Music for Ballet Class Vol . 1 with  33 original solo piano pieces for ballet class by jazz pianist Søren Bebe.  All songs composed, arranged and played by Søren Bebe. Recorded at Studio B, Copenhagen, on a Shigeru Kawai SK6 Grand Piano. Mixed and mastered by John Fomsgaard at Karmacrew.  It brings out the expression in each dancer, no matter what level you are at. 

Click here to get a...

          "Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore." ~ Dorothy in Wizard of Oz.

That's what Dorothy said after she and her dog Toto landed in the Land of Oz, after their strange yet amazing journey swirling UP in the Big Tornado.

I grew up in Taiwan where there are regular Typhoon visits.  Typhoons can be violent and devastating, but at the centre of the Typhoon, there is the Typhoon Eye - the moment of stillness - where all the sudden all the movement stops and time feels suspended.

Today we will talk about Grand Jeté En Tourant  in dance and I will show you how to make the musical tornado work for you.  Once you understand and master how this internal energy works, you can ride on the power of this musical tornado, swirling UPWARD, hitting that movement accent UP in the air on the musical DOWNBEAT. 

Hold the Tension of the Opposites:  In order to go WAY UP, you need to go WAY DOWN. Have fun with your...

Hey Ballegro Community,

We have some exciting news for you! We're delighted to welcome the latest  addition to the Ballegro library, the fabulous pianist Søren Bebe. You will love his refined, emotional and subtle play. 

Søren is a graduate of the Royal Danish Conservatory in Aarhus, Denmark, and has an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Music. Søren Bebe is a leading pianist and composer in the European jazz and contemporary music scene. He is also a freelance accompanist for dance and has worked at, among other places, The Royal Danish Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet School, Danish Dance Theatre, The Danish National School of Performing Arts, Dansehallerne and The Pantomime Theatre in Tivoli, Copenhagen.

Søren has released several jazz records as well as more than 10 albums with music for ballet class. Most of them contain his own original works, but he has also released albums with arrangements of pop...

I've got you under my skin
I've got you deep in the heart of me
So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me
I've got you under my skin

"I've Got You Under My Skin" is an oldie made famous by the legendary Frank Sinatra around 1956. 

Today we'd like to talk about How To: Play Music That Goes Under Your Skin that can help you move better, more musical.  There are so many new innovative possibilities that we call music especially in this contemporary era, but in the context of ballet, we just need to know but 3 basic elements. There are 3 distinct music elements in ballet music: rhythm, melody, texture (harmony/fills, etc.).

As a pianist playing for dancers, your job is to be the one man orchestra with your 10 fingers, fuelling your dancers with motivating rhythm, guiding them with a clear melody, and inspiring them with uplifting sparks!

Movement to music is innate and unquestioned. The actual and possible relationships between music and dance are multifarious.

Dance does not require music, as movement can be expressed in silence or with a simple and abstract sound design. But — especially in ballet — choreography, dance, and music work together. Therefore, music can play a huge role in dance.

                               “Music is audible movement. Dance is kinesthetic music.”

In this episode, we will talk about your awareness of music and which three kinds of relationship with music exist. Take a moment to examine where you are in this relationship, whether you are a dancer or a musician. Being aware is the first step.  

Awareness begins with knowing about all the possibilities that the music gives you and using that to apply changes to your dancing or playing.  We all have musicality, and it is up...