Currently company pianist for The Charleston Ballet in Charleston SC with Jill Eathorne Bahr as artistic director, Patience is just completing her fifth CD of all original piano music for ballet class, "Extended Piano Music for the Ballet Class". Look for it soon on i-tunes!
Ms. Clements studied piano and music theory at American University in the preparatory department. She attended Manhattan School of Music, studying composition and Dalcroze-Eurhytmics.
Since 1978 she has been on the pianist staff of Georgetown University, George Washington University, Capitol Hill School of the Arts, The McLean School of Ballet, Glen Echo Dance Theatre, The Nashville City Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Vanderbilt University, dance intensives and RDA festival events nationwide.
Patience has played company class for touring companies of ABT, Alvin Ailey, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Eliot Feld Ballet, Harkness Ballet, Bournonville, as well as Tennessee Dance Theatre (Donna Rizzo) and many others. Pola Nirenska, Erika Thimey, Tatiana Tchernova, Robert Barnett, Kevin McKenzie, Lee Theodore (The American Dance Machine), Susan Jaffe, Gelsey Kirkland Jill Eathorne-Bahr. and Paul Vasterling are among the many highly respected teachers she has had the opportunity to play for.
The “New Piano Music for Ballet Class” series was created to provide the proper tempos and accents for all barre and center work in the serious ballet class. The original melodies provide clear intros and teacher-friendly phrasing with a variety of tempos, primarily in the classical style.
“New Piano Music for Ballet Class” was released in 1993. Ms. Clements has since released 3 CD’s of original music for ballet class including “New Piano for the Young Dancer” for the beginning ballet class and “New Piano for the Dedicated Dancer with Susan Jaffe” for the more advanced student.
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