BPS Music for Youth: World Dances

Music moves us! Explore the music that connects us across cultures through dance and celebration.

Carmen Fantasy
by Pablo de Sarasate

Sphinx Competition winner Amaryn Olmeda performs one of the most challenging and technically demanding standards of violin repertoire.

SARASATE'S HABAÑERA

Learn about habañera rhythm in this traditional Spanish dance.
Grades 5-8 suggested

Symphony No. 3, Mvt. III “Juba”
by Florence Price

Composer Florence Price was the first African-American woman to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra. Discover how the “Juba” dance was used as a communication tool between enslaved people during the 18th and 19th centuries.

PATTING JUBA IN FLORENCE PRICE'S MUSIC

Learn about the history and cultural influence of the Juba dance on music by composer Florence Price.
Grades 1-4 suggested

Four Dances from “Estancia”
by Alberto Ginastera

Explore the historical cultural landscape of Argentina through folk song and dance!

ARGENTINEAN CULTURE & FOLK DANCE

Discover the Argentinean malambo folk dance.
Grades 5-8 suggested

Festival of the Clocks & Dance of the Hours from Coppélia
by Léo Delibes

Journey through the evolution of ballet in music from one of the most innovative productions of all time.

THE EVOLUTION OF BALLET

Discover the origins of ballet and how the art form came to be shaped by European culture.
Grades 5-8 suggested

Duo Ye
by Chen Yi

Celebrate Chinese culture in traditional folk song and dance.

CALL AND RESPONSE

Explore call and response through an ancient Chinese dance-song!
Grades 1-4 suggested

Skočná from Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, No. 7
by Antonín Dvořák

Feel the rhythm in folk music from Dvořák’s native homeland.

SKOČNÁ DANCE

Dance to the lively music of Eastern Europe.
Grades 1-4 suggested

Feast from Arabic Suite
by Agnes Bashir

Celebrate the musical traditions of Iraqi culture through dance!

MACRO & MICRO BEAT IN CHOBI DANCE MUSIC

Demonstrate steady beat through a traditional Iraqi dance.
Grades 1-4 suggested

Danzón No. 2
by Arturo Márquez

Experience the joyful rhythms of Latin America, featuring a salsa dance demonstration.

EXPLORING RHYTHM WITH SALSA

Identify traditional Latin rhythms in salsa music.
Grades 1-4 suggested

Akinla from African Suite for String Orchestra
by Fela Sowande

Move to the music in this high-energy presentation featuring drummers and dancers from the African American Cultural Center.

RHYTHM & STEADY BEAT IN AFRICAN MUSIC

Dance along to traditional African drum music.
Grades 1-4 suggested

Additional Resources

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#PlayOnWNY

Choose and practice an instrument along with BPO musicians through the #PlayOnWNY series featuring 70+ videos.

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#SingOnWNY

Learn the fundamentals of singing with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus.

High school student members with Principal Pops Conductor John Morris Russell

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Music Education Resources

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