Piano accompaniment for dance classes
Centre exercises on demi pointe
Working on centre exercises - a foretaste of the stage! - obliges the pianist-accompanist to be particularly attentive, because it is something of "a moment of truth" for students.
All technical and artistic understanding gained at the barre is put to the test: improving turnout, maintaining balance, visual focus, and step direction... There is no longer the trusty support provided by the barre and every dance movement must be controlled in the space!
The pianist must absolutely not overlook this concept of space: musical phrases take more time and can extend over several octaves (like a painter who changes his paintbrush for a larger one!), harmonic modulations provide variations depending on how the movement changes direction... It is also the moment when refined work on pianistic dynamics becomes a real aid for the dancers. Some dynamic exaggeration is opportune, even worthwhile: the finesse of pianissimo to soften landings, augmenting a crescendo for jumps during the diagonal to increase momentum, slowing down (ritenuto) during pirouettes to increase self-confidence... In sum, a true dialogue and complicity is established between the dancers and the pianist, whose work is brought to light by the superb dance movements.
