Piano Music for the Ballet Technique Class

Centre 2 - Tendu in the Centre

Description of elements of a typical combination:

The tendu in the centre combination can serve a variety of purposes in the dance class. Often, this is when ballet students learn positions of the body (croisé, en face, effacé, écarté, à la seconde) and begin preparations for pirouettes.
Typical steps in this combination include

Tendu

Pas de bourée
Chassé
Plié
Pirouette

Meter

duple (2/4 or 4/4)

Tempo

moderate: 63 bpm per "count"

Accentuations

Pointed articulation
Clear “and” for tendus that happen in one count
Ability to add tenutos where there is a plié or other more lyrical movement

Example of Teacher Demonstrating a Tendu in the Centre Combination:

Cues from teacher's demonstration:

In the video, the teacher seems to be demonstrating this combination in a triple meter. But, in the class, she clearly wants it in a duple meter. Always ask the teacher if you are unsure.
For this specific tendu combination, emphasis needs to be strong on the beats rather than the “&”.

Music Selected: Edvard Grieg, Norwegian Dance, Op. 35, No. 2

PDF of Original

C02_Original_Norwegian Dance Op. 35 No 2_Grieg.pdf

PDF of Arranged Score

Centre02_Tendu in the Centre_Norwegian Dance35no2_Grieg10.22.22.pdf

Changes made in arranged score:

I added a four-bar introduction.
I used only mm. 1-16 to adhere to square phrasing.
I added repeats in m. 8 and m. 16 to have an opportunity to repeat sections as needed (for multiple groups of dancers).

Videos of Dancers performing combination with selected music:

Reactions while playing the combination:

The teacher wanted some transitional music between groups, so I decided to just improvise in the key between groups. It ended up being 8 counts – four counts for transition and four counts for the next group’s introduction.

Next: Centre 3

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse