HISTORICAL DANCE & CHARACTER DANCE MUSIC CDs
Produced by CDA for Teachers, Dancers, and Choreographers
Musical Composition for Historical Dance Lessons 2-CD Set
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https://www.amazon.com/Musical-Compositions-Historical-Dance Lessons/dp/B00NFXUPXG/
The study of Historical Dance is based on the principles of folk, social and court dances, which through the centuries evolved in to the art of ballroom dance.
Following the tradition of French court ballets of Louis XIV, the classical ballet music of the nineteenth century reflects distinctive rhythms, tempo, and melodic characteristics of dances such as the Gavotte, the Minuet, the Waltz, the Polka, the Polonaise, the Pas de Grâce, and many more.
The repertoire of today’s opera and ballet theater requires a performer to have a good knowledge of the art and style of social dancing from different epochs and countries.
In a comprehensive program for the training of ballet dancers, Historical Dance is a separate discipline along with classical ballet, character dance, acting and partnering classes.
The music for this recording was conceived and created in the beautiful village of Cadrieu in the South-West of France, beside a 12th century Templar's castle. The musical material includes pieces from music and dance history books found by Marina Gendel in Paris at the bouquinistes (antique booksellers) stalls on the banks of Seine, music discovered at Atelier de Danse (Renaissance and Vintage Dance Workshop) at Degagnac, France, as well as original music composed specially for this project.
This 2-CD set provides music for elementary historical dance lessons. It can also serve as a source of material for ballet classes, pre-ballet and creative dance lessons for children and acting workshops.
Among other hard-to-find pieces in this collection of music are:
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Four Marches (including the authentic Marche des Mousquetaires by J. B. Lully)
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Four Galops
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Three Polonaises (including the Military Polonaise, composed by Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Polish born General, hero of the American Revolutionary War)
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Five Polkas
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Three Waltzes (including Valse composed by Leo Tolstoy, his only musical composition)
Music for Elementary Character Dance Class CD
Order on Amazon.com (CD or MP3)​​​:
https://www.amazon.com/Music-Elementary-Character-Dance-Class/dp/B09PL6SF4B/
Character Dance training takes place at the Barre and in the Center exercises. Dance steps are based on the characteristics of different dances from particular nations, societies, or ethnic groups. Studies and Etudes in different styles are taught in the Center. Illustrations of some of the different types of music used for each exercise on the CD include: Russian, Spanish, Hungarian, Polish, and Italian stage dance.
Pieces are composed and performed on grand piano by Marina Gendel. Gendel was born and studied in St. Petersburg, where she played for the Vaganova Academy and Kirov Ballet. Here in the U.S. she has played for the Kirov Academy in Washington, D.C. and the Boston Ballet, as accompanist for classes and rehearsals and pianist with the Boston Ballet Orchestra. Ms. Gendel has been a guest pianist at seminars nationwide, a lecturer on ballet accompaniment, and a collaborator on publications and recordings.
The CD was Directed by Vladimir Kolesnikov, leading character dancer with the Kirov Ballet where he performed principal roles in Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, and Romeo and Juliet. Also featured in cinema roles for the Kirov, he is a recipient of the Mariinsky Theatre Award, Mr. Kolesnikov has been an instructor in Classical and Character Dance at the Vaganova Academy, Kirov Ballet Company, Boston Ballet, and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.
Produced by CDA at Lofish Production Inc. Recording Studios, 6-8 West 28th Street, New York, NY 10001. Sound engineers: Alex Nizich and Reed Taylor on a Yamaha Grand Piano.