Live Cello Accompaniment as a Therapeutic Modality in Dance: Does it aid in Physical and Mental Well-Being in College Students?
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Authors
Nicole Yacks
Mara Tiernan
Issue Date
2026
Type
Language
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Abstract
Music has an imperative role in dance, but how music and dance work together to affect the body emotionally, physically, and mentally is crucial for the understanding of the mind-body connection required for movement. Dancers inadvertently explore this idea throughout every class period or practice, but oftentimes, the accompaniment of music is prerecorded and played through technology such as speakers and phones. Live accompaniment is rare to come by for dancers, but the Alma College Dance Department is fortunate to offer it in select dance classes through percussion instruments and the piano. The cello, a large, low-pitched bowed string instrument, has a rich history in dance, contributing to melodic lines heard in professional ballets such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, but is not utilized as accompaniment to classes at Alma. In conjunction with this, the cello, with its rich timbre, is often used in meditative, relaxation, and sound healing music.