Ballet, with its dancers in beautiful costumes and their dazzling, elegant movements, is truly captivating.
Beyond the dance itself, the music—essential to the unfolding of each story—is also incredibly appealing, filled with melodies that linger in the memory.
This time, we’ve selected only the most famous pieces from the world of ballet music—masterworks that even those not familiar with ballet have likely heard somewhere.
Alongside piano performance videos, we’ll share the background and allure of each piece.
While ballet music is typically performed by an orchestra, some of the works we’ll introduce here include arrangements for solo piano based on the original ballet scores.
Enjoy exploring the world of ballet while appreciating the differences from the originals!
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- [Masterpieces of the Waltz] A comprehensive introduction to classic works written for the piano!
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- [Intermediate] Recommended Piano Duets | A Curated Selection of Cool and Dazzling Pieces
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- [Classical Music] All pieces under 3 minutes! A collection of short and cool piano pieces
- [Low Difficulty] Recommended Tchaikovsky Piano Pieces [Intermediate]
- [Intermediate Level] A curated selection of piano masterpieces featuring strikingly brilliant melodies!
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Let's play ballet music on the piano! A carefully selected collection of gem-like masterpieces that color iconic scenes (1–10)
March from The Nutcracker SuiteTchaikovsky = Pletnev
This “March” from the Concert Suite The Nutcracker is Mikhail Pletnev’s piano arrangement of the March from The Nutcracker, the ballet music composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
While the orchestral version comprises eight pieces, this suite selects and arranges seven.
Among them, the March is especially striking for its brilliant, festive atmosphere, perfectly suited to the prologue of the story—and to the Christmas season.
Please enjoy the richly nuanced performance that only the piano can offer.
Scene from the ballet music Swan LakePyotr Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake, the timeless masterpiece of ballet music by Russia’s national composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
His beautiful yet heartrending melodies accompany the tale of the Swan Queen and a prince, who plunge into a tragic romance.
“Scene” evokes a quiet presence by the shores of the lake.
In addition to the orchestral version, the piano solo arrangement is also widely beloved.
Why not let a graceful, delicate melody sing over a lilting three-beat rhythm? It’s a piece that calls for a sensitive touch and rich expressiveness.
“Waltz of the Flowers” from the ballet The NutcrackerPyotr Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers” from the ballet The Nutcracker.
This piece is performed in Act II—the scene in the Land of Sweets where the inhabitants celebrate Clara and the Prince—as part of the story in which Clara, a young girl who receives a magical nutcracker on Christmas Eve, embarks on an adventure to a land of delicious confections with her nutcracker.
From its hazy yet resplendent introduction, the music builds toward a brilliant, passionate climax, brought to life by Tchaikovsky’s masterful orchestration and his ability to paint the ballet’s fantastical world in sound.
The interwoven lines of its many instruments create melodies filled with dreamlike beauty and joy.
It is a perfect piece for the Christmas season—try playing it on the piano.
Ten Pieces from the Ballet “Romeo and Juliet,” Op. 75Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev, a Russian composer known as one of the most important composers of the 20th century, wrote the ballet Romeo and Juliet in 1935, and later arranged it into a set of piano pieces titled Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op.
75.
This work presents some of the most famous and striking melodies from the ballet in a new light through the instrument of the piano.
The story and emotions of Shakespeare’s masterpiece—such as the passionate lovers’ meeting and parting and the heartrending tragedy of love—are expressed through the music, making it impossible not to sense Prokofiev’s brilliant genius.
“Waltz” from the ballet The Sleeping BeautyPyotr Tchaikovsky
Waltz from The Sleeping Beauty, the ballet music composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Known as one of Tchaikovsky’s three great ballets, this particularly famous Waltz is used to striking effect in the story depicting Princess Aurora’s birth, her hundred years of slumber, and her awakening.
In addition to the orchestral version, it has been arranged for solo piano, with a wide range of publications from accessible arrangements that highlight the graceful melody and triple meter to advanced scores requiring considerable technique.
As you play, try to be mindful of the right hand singing the beautiful melody and the left hand articulating the light, steady rhythm, and let your imagination dwell on the tale.
It is a beloved masterpiece enjoyed by many piano students, from children to adults.
‘Sabre Dance’ from the ballet GayaneAram Khachaturian
Aram Khachaturian is an Armenian composer who epitomized the Soviet era.
The excerpt Sabre Dance from his signature ballet Gayane captivates audiences with its unrelenting energy and tension.
Composed in 1942, the piece gained popularity in the West after World War II.
It exists in numerous arrangements for different instruments and has been used as background music in films and television shows.
Of course, it’s frequently performed on piano as well and is a favorite for recitals.
Brimming with passion and imbued with an homage to Armenian folk music and dance, this piece is highly recommended for anyone interested in ballet or folk dance.
Waltz from the ballet CoppeliaLéo Delibes
The ballet music Coppélia, composed by Clément Philibert Léo Delibes, is a ballet work inspired by E.T.A.
Hoffmann’s short story “The Sandman.” Premiered in Paris in 1870 to great acclaim, it established Delibes’s reputation as a ballet composer.
Among its numbers, the “Waltz” is particularly famous and is widely enjoyed not only in its orchestral form but also as a solo piano arrangement.
Its light, cheerful melodies color a fantastical story in which a doll is brought to life by magic.
Imagine the ballet scenes and perform gracefully to the rhythm of the waltz.