Ballet And Young Ballet Class Music

Patience Clements is a composer, musician and songwriter and has been accompanying dance classes for over 30 years. Originally from the D.C. area, she has played dance classes since the age of 15.  She was trained by her teacher, Jean Butler, in improvisation and classical repertoire and attended American University and Manhattan School of Music where she studied Dalcroze Eurhythmics.

The original ballet “Latrec” by Choreographer and Director of the Nashville City Ballet, Peggy Burks, featured her as a composer in 1984.  She was class pianist for The Nashville Ballet for 20 years.  She has played master and company classes for ABT, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Eliot Feld Ballet, Harkness, Ballet Dallas, Alvin Ailey, Bournonville and many others too numerous to name. She has  also been  on the faculty of RDA/SERBA and associated with Tennessee Association of Dance. And she has been on the summer faculty of the Ballet Arkansas summer program, playing for Susan Jaffee, Elaine Thomas,  and others.

She is currently the pianist for Centenial Youth Ballet.    In 1995 she released New Piano Music for Ballet Class, followed by her second release, New Piano Music for Ballet Class II  and  New Piano Music for the Young Dancer.   New Piano Music for the Dedicated Dancer with Susan Jaffe is her newest CD

Ms. Clements has played Master and Company classes for ABT, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Eliot Feld Ballet, Harkness Ballet, Ballet Dallas, Alvin Ailey Dance Company and the Nashville Ballet, in addition to many others.

In 2004, Ms. Clements received a BMI Award for her hit song “Honesty Write Me a List”.  The top 5 country hit was recorded by Country Artist Rodney Atkins.  It which was on the Billboard charts for 7 months during 2003 and featured on the Dr. Phil Show !!

Peggy Burks (Dance Advisor on New Piano Music for Ballet Class and New Piano Music for Ballet Class II) is a retired professional dancer who is currently a ballet instructor and choreographer at Vanderbuilt University.  She is the Founding Artistic Director The Nashville City Ballet (presently The Nashville Ballet).  Ms. Burk has also been teaching at The Knox County Performing Arts Magnet Schools and on the faculty at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee