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
According to most definitions, musicality pertains to the seamless integration of the physical movements to the musical arrangements such that dancers move according to the music’s melody, mood and rhythm. As previously mentioned, ballet music is often in perfect complementation with ballet choreography.
In most cases, however, technical definitions do not capture the soul of the performing arts like ballet. Of course, ballet is also a science in relation to its precision movements and exact techniques but it is more of an art form because of the emotions, the story, and the soul being expressed in each arabesque and attitude.
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.
Also, a dancer may very well have good musicality, but on the night they are reviewed be feeling a little under the weather or be dealing with some off-stage crisis, and their musicality level may be less than usual. If musicality is being reviewed therefore it’s better to judge a ballet dancer on their full body of ballet work and not just one performance.
Also, there is the element of phrasing in one’s physical movements to emphasize virtuoso sections in the music while showcasing your own ballet techniques. It’s often a matter of “You’ll know when you see it” rather than “You’ll know because you have heard of it” in ballet musicality.
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.
And if you are a ballerina, always remember that musicality is not a God-given gift. It is a talent that needs to be cultivated, nurtured and cared for because it is within your soul and manifests itself in your movements but can be easily lost without practice and passion.
