Ballet Music News 155

Oh, darlings! It’s 2nd March, 2027, and you know what that means… it’s time to put on our dancing shoes, pop open a bottle of something bubbly, and dive headfirst into the intoxicating world of ballet music! Let’s sashay our way through the most beautiful and poignant sounds that have ever been composed for the elegant art form of ballet.

From the graceful and flowing melodies of Tchaikovsky to the dramatic and emotive scores of Stravinsky, the history of ballet music is a kaleidoscope of emotions and sonic artistry, reflecting the very heart of dance. This week, let's step onto the stage of this extraordinary art form, celebrate some truly magical musical creations and immerse ourselves in the world of those who choreograph and perform this iconic art form. It is an art that makes your heart beat faster and allows you to enter into an immersive world, filled with grace, beauty, and powerful emotional expression.

Ballet music is an essential part of the art form, its melody and rhythm providing the dancers with their heartbeat, their life force, as well as acting as a constant visual cue. Ballet and its music were born in Italy in the 15th century, but they really bloomed into something exquisite when they were swept off their feet by the French aristocracy in the 16th Century.

But the glorious art of ballet truly came alive, with its dazzling choreographies, its captivating drama, and its truly glorious, magnificent music, at the turn of the 19th century when ballet music started to adopt, then truly dominate, the use of the ‘classical’ sonata-allegro form - think Mozart. Ballet was suddenly given new and fresh legs. It was given music that was powerful and beautiful. The ballets we know and love – from Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, right through to modern pieces such as Sleeping Beauty, all developed during this time of musical flourishing, a time of composers pushing their boundaries. And the music was sublime, providing a powerful counterpoint and driving force to the dance. This period in ballet music’s evolution was nothing short of magical. But before we delve into our specific musical highlights this week, a little history first.

Historically, ballet was an incredibly opulent spectacle, almost always set within courts, palaces and theatres, an expression of power and status. And when it hit Paris, well… they went all out.

Just picture this: the stage illuminated by flickering candlelight. A grand audience in elegant attire, eagerly awaiting the first notes. Ladies in glittering ball gowns, their hands fanning the warm air with excitement, and men in richly embroidered coats. Then… the first notes of an exquisite ballet. The music is rich and vibrant; the dance steps are graceful, captivating, powerful, emotional.

The beauty and extravagance of these productions were made possible by the wealthy and influential patrons who would sponsor these dance performances, the powerful monarchs of Europe. From these grand productions, which helped to bring forth the art of ballet as we know it, to modern-day ballet performances, the role of music has remained vitally important and integral to the success of every performance.

Now, let's step back from the rich, illustrious history of the art of ballet, for just a little moment and look to its vibrant future, to see what exciting new dance experiences and choreographies are happening in the ballet world. This is where ballet becomes more than just beautiful, expressive choreography. It’s more than a series of movements executed flawlessly and a dazzling showcase of human physical ability. This is the realm of musical expression where musical styles are often given a ‘dance-me-out-of-my-shoes’ makeover.

One of the most significant events that’s making waves this week, and this is quite possibly just a taster for things to come, is the amazing world of crossover collaborations between classical composers, contemporary composers, choreographers, ballet dancers, and contemporary pop and rap artists, with dance acts even incorporating sounds from musicals and operas.

And what makes this whole scenario utterly electrifying and full of excitement for me is that many ballet companies have also embraced the latest dance trends and fashion. The look is ‘old-world meets new world’, but I really feel it’s that old-world grace and sophistication in an unexpected package that has everyone enthralled. For example, you can picture my heart racing with the excitement I feel when the costumes at these crossover events have a truly vintage vibe, almost Edwardian in their chic elegance. But then they have this completely new-world, 2027-cool, unexpected splash of vibrant colour. You wouldn’t be surprised if the dance-pop artist was wearing a sleek, modern take on a tuxedo and the principal dancers had modern ballet tutus made out of shimmering fabric. All those incredible vintage ballet themes are back – tutus, ribbons, leg warmers. And these amazing costume and fashion designers are totally smashing it!

I've put together a couple of my absolute style highlights this week from my ‘must-have’ fashion list:

• A stunning pink tutu, the perfect shade of fuchsia. You know you have to have one. It’s the statement piece every ballerina deserves in their wardrobe, if not to dance in then certainly for the sheer delight of trying it on!
• This fabulous little black leotard, perfectly matched to the pink tutu, and it comes in every colour too! The most delightful, and truly necessary item on your must-have fashion list!

A perfect way to round off your own unique fashion expression. We all need that quintessential wardrobe staple that looks effortlessly elegant. And this amazing little number, the black leotard, definitely delivers. Plus, there’s nothing sexier and more elegant than a well-cut black leotard!

This week's ballets are not only offering extraordinary dance moves but some really beautiful and exciting scores, and one in particular has been absolutely enchanting the crowds. Here are my highlights this week… and they really do bring joy to my soul. Music that really puts you in that romantic mood, and some music that gets the blood pumping. The latter, the pulsating beats of contemporary compositions, they can literally get you dancing in your seat, it’s just such exciting music! I had to find my absolute favourites for you. There are, of course, so many fantastic scores to choose from!

The score of Sleeping Beauty, for me, embodies everything that is romantic about the music that ballet can provide. For starters, we are taken right back to the era of traditional ballet – and that is truly charming in itself. This is about traditional values. About love that’s pure. This ballet makes me think about the kind of dance steps and moves that have created ballet’s unique style - its intricate steps and dramatic grace. In all honesty, you really can’t write a history of ballet music without Tchaikovsky. It’s this exquisite romanticism – the love theme that makes the score for this ballet such a musical highlight and I know many other music fans will agree.

But of course, with this composer there is that delicate balancing act that so often underpins the themes of romantic ballets and that is that contrast between ‘lightness of spirit and dramatic flourish’. This is Tchaikovsky at his most theatrical, you can’t fail to be mesmerized by the score and entranced by the dancing.

And what’s not to love about a bit of Tchaikovsky, right? It’s like going home to an evening of comfort and beauty. You can't help but be enchanted by this Christmas classic. Its exquisite score includes some of ballet’s most famous musical highlights like ‘The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ - the dreamy sounds and a delicate musical performance will literally make your spirit soar.

Ah! If I am being utterly honest here, it’s almost impossible to listen to the exquisite music that’s associated with ‘La Bayadère’ and not feel that incredible longing, a yearning that seems to run through so much romantic ballet music. This score and ballet are truly romantic, it’s pure artistry and a masterpiece that we're so fortunate to have enjoyed for over a century.

For something that combines those ‘feel-good, I want to float through the air’ emotions with drama, the ballet Giselle has it all and, to be perfectly honest, has it all in abundance.

And yet again, that delicate but masterful ability that Tchaikovsky possesses for perfectly fusing music and emotion is beautifully demonstrated in his ‘Swan Lake’ ballet. This masterpiece captures the beauty and grace of the swans, conveying a melancholic yet profoundly romantic emotion through sound. The melodies that emerge throughout the ballet are nothing short of iconic – a musical treasure for sure. The ‘Dance of the Little Swans’ has a very delicate and mesmerizing effect on its audiences - a sweet but also strangely intense sound, beautifully played, it really creates the perfect sound-stage for beautiful choreography.

To be truly immersed in the musical landscape of ballet is an adventure that never gets old. This year's most recent release from one of the top contemporary composers who are changing the face of dance and bringing out the full potential of ballet music for a whole new generation, well it’s absolutely fantastic. We’re seeing dance take the stage in all its splendour in its musical forms. And I feel that’s just the beginning of something really big and really great in the musical world of ballet. There’s some beautiful experimentation happening right now, where some composers, choreographers and directors, have embraced all things dance music in terms of their musical direction, but still maintain the essential principles of the musical expression and beauty associated with ballet. They have created an entire genre and I truly love that for ballet and all that is magical about it!

Now for the music… a ballet score by composer Michael Gordon. This is not just exciting contemporary music. This is really something else! You can hear it being performed by a wide range of contemporary artists who are all putting a fresh new spin on this modern approach to classical ballet, even pop and R&B acts. That tells me that the ballet music scene is now completely accessible for everyone, for fans of a myriad of musical styles. The music’s quite simply incredible! A real game-changer that’s breaking down the barriers, it truly transcends every genre.

Michael Gordon, a world-renowned composer, who is always redefining dance, ballet and music, has been truly inspired, as are we, by the phenomenal rise in global fame of one dance troupe, The New American Dance Company, or T.A.D. as its affectionately known. The world premiere of their ‘No Limits’ ballet, a collaboration with Michael, has taken the dance world by storm. There has been no shortage of critical acclaim. Even ballet purists have hailed this exciting dance company for “taking classical dance in an entirely new and daring direction". But when you actually hear the music you can immediately understand why! T.A.D have a wonderful connection with this score that has completely transformed the sound of ballet in 2027!

The most exciting aspect for me of all of this - from the modern, daring and inventive choreography right down to the music’s modern, cutting edge, yet ultimately romantic nature – it has certainly captured the imagination of dance fans the world over. It’s definitely creating a lot of buzz in the ballet music industry at the moment, it's something special that you have to see.

You just can’t escape the incredible allure of contemporary dance as the global ballet scene seems to be obsessed with reworking dance’s own ‘old favourites’, with a very ‘cool’ modern edge – if you can even think of what that might mean in the wonderful world of ballet. And you certainly can't escape the growing allure of those ballet score collaborations - composers and dancers truly are finding that unique alchemy and sparking some incredible new music for audiences to enjoy. And if that’s not enough to make the magic really take hold and transform your world this week then, do you know what? I’ve been keeping something very special to myself …

This one’s a musical event that takes place next week, so let's hold off for the time being on those full, lavish, detailed reviews. But let me say this much and this much only: ‘I Can’t Believe’ by one of the world’s biggest dance music DJs. It’s an electronic take on ballet. Get ready for some truly innovative ballet moves set to dance music - an amazing new era of ballet music and dance has just been created - this will be exciting! But we’ll save that story for the next time we all come together and celebrate ballet.

Ballet. It’s much more than simply just moving your body gracefully. I'd like to say it’s a transformative art form that not only captures the movement of the human body in its most powerful form - think a powerful ballet ‘pas de deux’ - but, what’s truly captivating about this art form is that the sound and beauty of ballet moves us, touches our soul, in an absolutely transformative way.

As I stand on the stage and get lost in a world of incredible sounds, incredible dances - and then reflect on that world. And that’s what’s incredible about ballet, and what its music makes you do - it opens your mind, opens your heart. Ballet gives you a new perspective on yourself and the world you live in. Ballet music does have this power, doesn’t it, to transport you to a different realm of possibilities. It allows your mind and body to become one in perfect harmony, to feel free and fully alive - like we all were meant to be, free to move through life gracefully, elegantly and confidently, and without constraint.

And it is because of that extraordinary transformation that we love it, dance and celebrate it. I hope you’ll dance on! Until we meet again, enjoy the journey. It’s an endless one!