Choreography of the Classical Dance

Level 2A, Performance, Pg. 6-7, Theme and Variation

Listen to this classical dance come to life as Nancy guides Philip through the “choreography” of the musical phrases. Nancy describes the left hand as the man and the right hand as the lady, dancing together as they play slurs that slide down the long dancehall. Nancy draws his attention to the technique through creative imagery to express the slurs that slide, little steps that hop, and a slow section at the end as they bow and say, “thank you for the dance.” She playfully points out that the end of the phrase must get softer or else it may like someone might have stepped on somebody’s foot – “Ouch! You stepped on my foot!” Philip’s first and last performance in this video of Classical Dance are dramatically different. Philip’s performance and understanding of the music is transformed as he embraces the technique and engages with the artistry and spirit of the music.