Timeless Ballet Music: Must-Have Songs for Pointe Work & Practice
From delicate adagios to fiery allegros, the right music transforms ballet practice into magic. These classics never fade.
For Warm-Ups & Barre
- Tchaikovsky – "Swan Lake: Act I Waltz" (Gentle yet rhythmic for pliés and tendus)
- Delibes – "Coppélia: Valse Lente" (Light and airy for port de bras)
- Chopin – "Nocturne in E-flat Major" (Perfect for slow, controlled stretches)
Pro Tip: Use slower tempos (60-80 BPM) for barre work to focus on alignment, then gradually increase speed for petit allegro.
For Center Practice
- Saint-Saëns – "The Dying Swan" (Ideal for adagio with emotional depth)
- Minkus – "Don Quixote: Kitri’s Variation" (Energetic for chaînés and pirouettes)
- Debussy – "Clair de Lune" (For lyrical, flowing movements)
For Pointe Work
- Adam – "Giselle: Act I Peasant Pas de Deux" (Light jumps and relevés)
- Prokofiev – "Cinderella: Midnight" (Dramatic for balances and turns)
- Glazunov – "Raymonda: Entrée" (Stately for slow pointe exercises)
For Grand Allegro
- Khachaturian – "Spartacus: Adagio" (Powerful leaps and grand jetés)
- Tchaikovsky – "Sleeping Beauty: Rose Adagio" (Regal for big jumps)
- Stravinsky – "Firebird Suite: Infernal Dance" (Explosive energy)
