Ballet Piano Podcast

This week’s new episode is a funny one, but with serious undertones.  And it’s all about studio etiquette, the do’s and don’ts of the ballet studio.

Traditionally speaking, ballet is a physical art form, and a discipline, and over the centuries, how dancers, teachers, and pianists behave in the studio has evolved.

We discuss in this episode what we think are the most important aspects of studio etiquette that enhance the art form, both at training and professional level.

It’s quite a funny episode with lots of tongue in cheek stories with no offence intended whatsoever, but ultimately, it’s a look at how everyone can behave in the studio to make the experience of training and work, more fun and productive.

We’d love to know what you think about this topic, and to hear your stories of studio etiquette.  Please do message us and we can share them on the podcast.

We have a fantastic new episode for you this week, another ‘In Conversation’.  We were lucky enough to get together with dance pianist and silent film composer, living legend John Sweeney.

John has the most amazing career in dance accompaniment and silent movies, and we well and truly put the spotlight on him to find out about his life and career, from a person, who on the surface is rather understated.

John is also famed for his extremely varied and sophisticated improvising and that is the life blood of his work as an accompanist, and we ask him in-depth about his training and education in music that has shaped him and the way he accompanies dance.

We hope you enjoy this episode.  Please let us know what you think, by emailing us at [email protected], and if there was anything you wanted to ask John, you can email your question and comment to us for a future episode.

This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

The whole team are back this week with the addition of baby Hazel, to talk about preparing for, and playing for ballet assessments.  It’s quite a niche topic within our industry, but it’s quite important and this episode is particularly insightful.

How does David choose the steps?  How does he structure the class?  How does he best exhibit the dancers in their best light?  How do the pianists decide what music they are going to play?  How is the assessment finalised and rehearsed?  What happens on assessment day?

The team talk openly and candidly about the process from initial thoughts, the collaboration stage of marrying music and choreography, the definitive assessment, to the finessing of the work leading to the assessment day.

This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

In Conversation with Rose Alice Read More »

We have another fantastic episode for you this week, an ‘In Conversation’ with enigmatic, charismatic, and all round creative human, Rose Alice, the Artistic Director of International Arts Collective.

With an extreme physical ability and technique, she has captivated audiences all over the world from Europe, to China, and the USA.

We hope you enjoy this episode with the spotlight firmly on Rose, who always keeps it real, and who talks candidly about her serious highs and lows as an artist, and what fuels her every day.  Listener discretion is advised, but nonetheless, you will love getting to know this very special “OG”!

This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

First Date Nerves – Playing For A New Ballet Teacher Read More »

Have you ever been on a first date and experienced the sort of nerves you get when you meet someone for the first time?  Well as a ballet pianist, and ballet teacher, working with someone you’ve never met before can feel just like that.  And that’s what this episode is all about.

We discuss what it’s like to work with someone new for the first time.  The sorts of things you might anticipate in a new colleague, the sorts of things you bring to a new partnership, and the little idiosyncrasies you try to read in each other that make your class go as smooth as possible.  Of course there are funny stories, as you might expect from a ‘first date’, but we discuss the sorts of things you might want to look out for when working with a new colleague.

Why not get in touch if you are a ballet teacher, or pianist, and let us know your thoughts on working with somebody new for the first time.  Message our social media platforms, or email us.

This episode is proudly produced and published by PodcastRecording.co.uk

Playing For Men in Ballet Class Read More »