A classic 'devil-may-care' salon virtuoso showpiece from the late 19th century. It is characterized by relentless chromaticism and dramatic, thunderous octave passages.
At Henle 5 this is a late-intermediate piece — technically substantial, with musical demands to match. The main demands: fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; octave passages that demand a relaxed wrist to avoid tension; and sharp dynamic and character contrasts held together in one arc.
Beyond that, expect big chords that need weight without harshness.
Developing the stamina for rapid, unrelenting octave repetition is the key to performing this piece.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.
Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.
Lesser-known works by the same hand, at a comparable level.
Dance of the Demon is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 5 — meaning you can already play level 4–5 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.
A typical performance of Dance of the Demon lasts about 4 minutes.
Dance of the Demon is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.
Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Allegro fuocoso by Antoine François Marmontel, Ballade by Alexandre Édouard Goria, Ballade No.1 by Theodor Döhler — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.