Dance 21

Clark Kimberling

ModernObscuresuiteD majorAllegro2/4~1 min

About this piece

Dance 21 is a brief, rhythmic character piece intended for young pianists. It highlights clean articulation and basic melodic development within a concise form.

What makes it challenging

At Henle 2 this is a beginner-level piece, where steady coordination between the hands is the main hurdle. The main demands: precise articulation — the difference between crisp and blurred is the piece; fine finger independence within the hand; and fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo.

Teacher notes

Work on precise detachment of notes and maintaining a consistent, bright articulation.

Technical focus

articulationfinger-independencespeed-agility

Mood

energeticplayful

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

What to play around Dance 21

Similar to Dance 21

Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.

Easier, same character

A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.

The next step up

Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.

More Clark Kimberling, off the beaten path

Lesser-known works by the same hand, at a comparable level.

Browse all Henle level 2 pieces (Beginner) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Dance 21 by Clark Kimberling?

Dance 21 is rated Henle level 2 of 9 — beginner repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 2–3. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 2.

What level do I need to play Dance 21?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 2 — meaning you can already play level 1–2 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Dance 21?

A typical performance of Dance 21 lasts about 1 minute.

Where can I get free sheet music for Dance 21?

Dance 21 is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Dance 21?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Dance 18 by Clark Kimberling, Alla Marcia by Clark Kimberling, Dance 15 by Clark Kimberling — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.