Musicality in Ballet Dancing
Up until the middle of the 19th century, the role of music in ballet was of secondary importance to the dance choreography itself. Nowadays, ballet music occupies almost equal significance as the choreography itself and often with musical phrasings perfectly complementing the dancers’ physical movements. And this is where musicality comes in.
Musicality: Grasping for a Definition
In its strictest sense, musicality means bringing together the physical dance with the musical arrangement in such a way that it’s impossible to see where one begins and the other ends. They perfectly match one another. The mood, rhythm and melody of the music offer a seamless complement to the dance.
Ballet isn’t just about elegance and beauty however, it’s about precision of footwork and that means it’s not always a good match for musicality. This means that ballet isn’t just about the dance steps, but also about how the music is expressed through arm and facial movements.
In ballet, musicality is where the dancer becomes the composer – their movements drawing out the musical phrases, and intended emotions. The steps, like the music, flow one to another with fluidity.
As ballet teachers often instruct their students, go with the flow of music but remember your proper techniques. Indeed, most prima ballerinas have excellent technique and outstanding musicality that sets them above the rest!
Do You Have Musicality?
This is a very subjective question. You might think you have it. Your ballet tutor may think you have it. An audience however may not! On the other hand an audience may consider you have musicality coming out of your fingers, and your ballet tutor can’t understand why you are unable to make her feel anything! Work at your musicality technique and as long as you’re doing your best, don’t worry too much about what others think.
Often, a dancer’s musicality will not manifest itself in just one performance and in all performances. Dancers are humans, after all, who have feelings, fears and frustrations that manifest themselves in their dancing, not to mention that they get tired and sustain injuries, too. (Take note that ballet is akin to professional sports in injuries sustained and stamina required of the dancers) As such, musicality is often best determined through a body of work rather than via a single performance.
A ballet dancer with great musicality will be also able to use some of the musical phrasing to showcase their own skills without upstaging the rest of the dancers on the stage. Their interpretation will show an audience how to feel the music rather than just hear it.
Music is often about emotion, not just about the way that notes are put together. A ballet dancer with good musicality will be able to help the audience find this raw emotion through their dance movements and help bring an even greater appreciation of the ballet.
Musicality isn’t something you are necessarily born with. It can be developed over time and practice if you’ve got the dedication to succeed. Any ballet dancer with a passion for the dance must study and master musicality if they want to find themselves in a solo role.
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