The Ultimate Playlist for Lyrical Dance: Tracks That Tell a Story
Curating emotion through movement and music
Lyrical dance lives in the space between the technical precision of ballet and the free expression of contemporary. It's where movement becomes poetry and music finds a physical form. The right song doesn't just accompany the dance—it breathes life into it, providing a narrative arc for the dancer to embody. Here is our ultimate playlist of tracks that don't just sound beautiful, but tell a story.
Turning Page
Sleeping At Last
This song is a delicate, swelling confession of love. The lyrics paint a picture of devotion and transformation—"I've waited a hundred years, but I'd wait a million more for you." The gradual build of the instrumentation, from simple piano to sweeping strings, creates a perfect arc for a dance about newfound love, commitment, or a pivotal moment of change.
Why it works for lyrical: The emotional crescendo is subtle but powerful, allowing a dancer to build intensity slowly and tell a story of patient, enduring love.
Gravity
Sara Bareilles
A raw and powerful ballad about struggle, addiction, or being pulled back to something you know is bad for you. The pain and conflict in Bareilles's voice are palpable. The lyrics "Something always brings me back to you. It never takes too long" set the stage for a narrative of internal battle and reluctant yearning.
Why it works for lyrical: The song's push and pull—between the gentle verses and powerful chorus—mirrors the physicality of a struggle, perfect for expressing conflict and release.
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Steeped in nostalgia and regret, this track is a haunting journey back to a moment that changed everything. It's a story of loss and the desperate wish to return to a time before the pain began. The ethereal vocals and reverb-drenched guitar create a dreamlike, melancholic atmosphere.
Why it works for lyrical: The song's wistful, almost ghostly quality invites fluid, yearning movement. It's ideal for portraying memory, loss, and the haunting nature of the past.
Bird Set Free
Sia
An anthem of breaking free from oppression and finding your voice. The song charts a journey from being silenced ("Clipped wings, I was a broken thing") to triumphant self-liberation ("I don't care if I sing off key, I found myself in my melodies"). Sia's powerful, cracking vocals are a story of resilience in themselves.
Why it works for lyrical: The journey from constrained, sharp movements to large, expansive, and joyous leaps is written right into the music. It’s a narrative of empowerment perfect for physical storytelling.
Hallelujah
Jeff Buckley (Leonard Cohen cover)
Perhaps the ultimate story-song. Cohen's lyrics are a complex tapestry of biblical references, love, pain, and brokenness. Buckley's rendition is achingly vulnerable, transforming the song into a secular prayer. Each verse offers a new miniature story, ripe for interpretation.
Why it works for lyrical: The song's emotional depth and lyrical complexity allow a dancer to explore multiple facets of a narrative—love, betrayal, faith, and redemption—all in one piece.
Crafting Your Story
The most powerful lyrical dances happen when a dancer truly connects with the story a song is telling. It's not just about counting the beats, but about understanding the emotion behind the lyrics, the intention in the singer's voice, and the arc of the instrumentation.
Listen to these tracks. Read the lyrics. Find the story that resonates with you. Then, let your movement become the ink that writes it in the air. Your body is the narrator. What story will you tell?
