Comes with a accompaniment CD, which also includes a demo video. Can be performed by any size of flute ensemble, or alternatively as a flute solo.
From the book introduction text:
"Do you too sometimes feel you would like to dance while you play the flute? Well, here is Dance with Me, dance music for any size of flute ensemble, where the players not only play the flute, but also perform some synchronized dance movements along to the included CD accompaniment. To do so, the players have to learn both the music and the movements by heart. This is less difficult than it may seem at first sight, since both the movements and the music have many repetitive elements.
Also, you are advised first to study the phrases and dance patterns separately, before combining the music and movements. The dance movements are based on simple steps with the left or the right leg, either to the left or right, or forwards or backwards. These steps always occur on a quarter note and are marked in the score by dance indications.
At the start of the piece, the flutists are positioned in the centre of the stage with sufficient space between and around the players and with the flutes already in playing position. Throughout the piece all flutes play in unison."
Dance with Me in Ossiach, Austria May 2010
Dance with Me in Trinity College / British Flute Society, London Oct. 2010
Movement Instruction Videos
This is the official movement instruction video by the composer. It introduces the 12 different movements of Dance with Me. This video can also be found on YouTube.
This video is a MIRROR version of the above mentioned video and is useful if you want to study the movements while watching the video. You should move in such a way that the video is like you are looking into a mirror to your own movements. This MIRROR video can also be found on YouTube.
Performance Videos
This video has been recorded at the Flute Day presentation concert by Wil Offermans for the music school Barneveld, Holland on March 12th, 2011 at the Schaffelaar Theatre, Barneveld, Holland. See it directly on YouTube.
This video has been recorded at the final recital by Wil Offermans during the 2-day flute festival for the British Flute Society / Trinity Laban College, at the St. Alfege Church, Greenwich, London. For this recital, Wil Offermans invited the flutists of Ayre Flutes to join him in this 'Dance with Me' performance. Date was Oct. 29th. 2010. See it directly on YouTube.
This video has been recorded as a result of a small workshop by Wil Offermans in Kofu, Japan, at the foothills of mount Fuji on Oct. 17th. 2010. See it directly on YouTube.
"Dance with Me (Tanz mit mir) ist eine Tanzperformance für Flötenensemble gleich welcher Anzahl, bei der der Komponist das Musizieren mit rhythmischen Bewegungselementen kombiniert. Bevor es an die Einübung der Choreographie geht, deren synchrone Bewegungen auf der mitgelieferten CD sehr hilfreich aufgearbeitet sind, müssen die Flötisten sich den Notentext (unisono) auswendig aneignen. Doch keine Scheu: da die Komposition aus klassisch miteinander verbundenen Formelementen besteht, die sich wiederholen oder ähneln, dürfte diese Aufgabe rasch bewältigt werden. Auch die Tanzbewegungen sind nicht allzu schwer, im Notentext über die betreffenden Zählzeiten notiert und am Ende nochmals exakt erklärt. Die beigefügte CD beinhaltet gleichzeitig die CD-Begleitung zu der die Performance Augen und Ohren erfreut. Die Videotanzanleitung kann man sich ebenfalls bei YouTube anschauen: Dort findet man mittlerweile auch schon mehrere Live-Mitschnitte von Aufführungen dieses außergewöhnlichen Stückes. Besonders wirksam wird diese "Flöten-Show" mit mehreren Teilnehmern. Daher ist das Stück als Bonbon bei Workshops, Kursen oder Klassenvorspielen sicherlich ein ganz besonderes Highlight und wird bestimmt nicht nur bei den Ausführenden für große Begeisterung sorgen. Die Darbietung, in Schwierigkeitsgrad 3-4 eingestuft, dauert ca. 5.20 Minuten."
– Flöte Aktuel magazine, German Flute Assoc. (Germany)
"This is a piece for flute ensemble (or solo flute) with a set of twelve dance moves that must be executed while playing. The flutes play in unison, and the compositional style is influenced by hip hop. The music comes with an instructional CD ROM, which demonstrates the dance moves, and the video can also be seen on YouTube.
An electronic backing track provides a rhythmic groove, and the flute part is based on looping ideas, so the music itself is relatively simple and easy to memorise. The moves are well explained, and while this might not be for everybody, there is certainly a lot of fun here, which I imagine would appeal particularly to children and early-teens. Some of the YouTube performances of the piece demonstrate the importance of embracing the movements as part of the theatrical nature of the piece, and Offermans' own dancing was pretty impressive. As one would expect from Offermans, this is something out of the ordinary, well produced and highly enjoyable."