INS 486
The Pianist’s Guide to Dance Accompaniment
July 28- August 1, 2025 / Monday, 10 am-5 pm; Tuesday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
Director: Yoshiko Arahata, New Mexico State University
Guest presenters:
Heather Roffe, Nazareth University Department of Theatre and Dance
Søren Bebe, an internationally active jazz pianist from Denmark and author of Music for Ballet Class
Winnie Cheung, international Argentinian tango piano and bandoneon artist
Ruben Ornelas, contemporary dancer and director
Emily Wong, pianist, American Ballet Theatreon
Greg Woodsbie, dance musician, SUNY Brockport
Dance accompaniment is a great gateway for pianists to deepen skills in music performance, improvisation, sight-reading, composition, and mastery of collaborations encompassing broader musicianship and interdisciplinary artistry. In this course, pianists will learn methods for preparing piano accompaniment for ballet and contemporary dance classes, using repertoire and improvisation based in Baroque, Romantic, jazz, and contemporary styles.
If you are looking to gain skills needed for professional ballet accompanying jobs, learn an approachable method to start improvising music, develop exquisite listening skill, or find ways of collaborating with artists across diverse disciplines, this weeklong intensive institute will help you become a more versatile musician and artist.
A typical day will feature instructor presentation of techniques/tools to enhance dance accompaniment music, participants demonstrating their work in class, detailed comments by the instructor and feedback from other students, small group activities, and practice time. Assignments will include a variety of activities such as listening, arranging, practicing improvisation at the piano, and some composition. Participants will perform (with dancers) in a group concert at the end of the week.
No previous improvisation experience is required, but participants should be able to sightread or easily learn Classical sonatinas and Chopin waltzes and should have some knowledge of keyboard harmony.
Program Information
How to Apply
This institute is designed for late-intermediate to advanced-level pianists (collegiate and adult, age 18+). No audition is required; admission is by résumé review only (use this template if you need help putting a résumé together). To apply, contact Dr. Arahata at Yoshiko.arahata@rochester.edu; include your music résumé with your message.
Students wishing to take this course for 1 credit must email Pilar Boucher, Summer Session Program Manager, at pboucher@esm.rochester.edu to register as an independent study.
Orientation: Monday, July 28, 10 AM
Faculty Recital: Monday, July 28 at 7:30 PM
Participant Showcase: Friday afternoon, August 1st (exact time TBA) with artists from Nazareth College’s Department of Theatre and Dance
Professional Development Hours: 30
Tuition:
$1,000/ noncredit only (without housing and dining)
$1,528.50/ tuition with housing and dining
Registration deadline: May 15, 2025.
Read our blog: Eastman Summer Spotlight: The Pianist’s Guide to Dance Accompaniment
