A virtuosic salon piece by Ernest Shand that utilizes rapid scales and arpeggios to build dramatic momentum. It is a showy, technically demanding work characteristic of Victorian-era concert showpieces.
At Henle 6 this is an advanced piece that assumes fluent technique and rewards mature interpretation. The main demands: fast passage work that stays light and even at tempo; fine finger independence within the hand; and sweeping arpeggio figures that must stay smooth across positions.
Beyond that, expect octave passages that demand a relaxed wrist to avoid tension.
The primary challenge is the endurance required for consistent, high-speed velocity throughout the 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.
Danse Capriccio (Op.28) is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 8.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 6 — meaning you can already play level 5–6 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 Danse Capriccio (Op.28) lasts about 4 minutes.
Danse Capriccio (Op.28) 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 Caprice espagnol by Moritz Moszkowski, Bohemian Dance by Rudolf Friml, Allegretto capriccioso by Robert Volkmann — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.