The sound of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake filled Kansas City Ballet’s studios one September afternoon, not from the Kauffman Center’s orchestra pit, but from 75 young musicians tuning their instruments.
After a coaching session with Music Director and Conductor Ramona Pansegrau, the young musicians joined the dancers in rehearsal, “listening” to their movement and adjusting their music in real time.
It was one of the most memorable community moments of Kansas City Ballet’s season so far, and a powerful reminder of why live music will always be the heartbeat of ballet.
Where Two Art Forms Meet
On Sept. 21, members of the Youth Symphony of Kansas City (YSKC) joined Kansas City Ballet’s Second Company for a side-by-side rehearsal of the ”Black Swan Pas de Deux.” For many of the students, it was the first time they had experienced how closely music and movement depend on each other.
“You are the future of the performing arts in Kansas City and beyond,” Artistic Director Devon Carney told the students. “Just as our Second Company represents the future of ballet, you represent the future of live music. Bringing you together makes sense. It’s where two art forms learn from each other.”
Learning to Listen Differently
Lucy Ohly, principal oboe for YSKC and a high school junior, came eager to understand how music changes when dancers enter the picture.
What she discovered went deeper.
“I could feel us working together, each part contributing to one big work of art,” Lucy said. “I expected to just watch the conductor, but I found myself getting into the music with the dancers there. From now on, I’ll notice how music and visual arts go together in everyday life.”
YSKC concertmaster Daniel Chang felt the shift too.
“It was an honor to play with such amazing dancers and learn how each note adds expression and timing to the story. This gave me a deeper appreciation for how live music helps tell the story in ballet.”
Three Moments, One Experience
This collaboration unfolded across three touchpoints, each designed to deepen the connection between music and movement:
- Sept. 9: Students observed a Swan Lake rehearsal while Devon Carney and Ramona Pansegrau explained how Tchaikovsky’s score and choreography intertwine.
- Sept. 21: Students performed the “Black Swan Pas de Deux” live with KCB II dancers Brooke Noska and Ben Workman.
- Sept. 24: Students attended Swan Lake at the Kauffman Center, performed by Kansas City Ballet with the Kansas City Symphony.
“Getting the opportunity to observe, rehearse, and then see Swan Lake live creates a powerful bond between students and our city’s artistic institutions,” said YSKC Executive Director Keith Stanfield. “It’s an experience that stays with them for the rest of their lives.”
The Magic of Live Partnership
For Ramona, teaching these young musicians meant revealing one of ballet’s secrets: flexibility.
“Music is a physical presence for dancers. It can lift them or push them to the floor,” she explained. “If the dancer does six pirouettes instead of four, you hold the note longer. You follow the movement, not the metronome.”
Many students had never adjusted their playing to movement rather than tempo. They learned that in ballet, the orchestra doesn’t just perform – it partners.
This is what makes live music irreplaceable. Every performance is a conversation between dancer and musician, unique, unrepeatable and alive.
“For us dancers, performing to live music changes everything,” Devon said. “It’s different each time. That’s the beauty of live performance – it’s alive and in the moment.”
A Community Creating Together
Longtime Kansas City Ballet supporters and live music enthusiasts Brad Allen and Gene Cooper witnessed the rehearsal firsthand. “Oh my gosh! What an amazing experience,” they said. “The Youth Symphony blew us away. Experiencing the next generation of dance and music really made for a special event.”
When the final note faded and the dancers took their last bow, the applause celebrated more than technique. It celebrated the living, breathing connection that only live music can create.
“Kansas City Ballet and the Youth Symphony share a belief that the arts thrive through collaboration,” said Kim Trudell, Manager, Strategic Partnerships. “Partnerships like this show young artists how sound and movement inspire one another and remind all of us why live performance matters.”
This is why Kansas City Ballet remains committed to performing with live orchestras.
Because when music and movement meet in real time, something extraordinary happens, something that can’t be recorded or replicated.
Live music transforms ballet from beautiful to breathtaking. Your support helps Kansas City Ballet continue this tradition of artistic excellence for generations to come. Contact Chief Philanthropy Officer Kristin Castle at 816.216.5585 or kcastle@kcballet.org.
Header image: Kansas City Ballet Music Director and Conductor Ramona Pansegrau guides Youth Symphony musicians. Photo by Beeh Moynagh.
