Robert Long has worked as a ballet pianist-accompanist for over 30 years. He has played for Royal Academy of Dance Exam Syllabus classes as well as “open” classes, where the instructor sets the exercises and there is no set music. He is currently working as an accompanist at Canada’s National Ballet School.
Robert has composed three albums of original piano music for ballet class: Ballet Etudes, released in 2000, Etudes II, in 2005 and Etudes Volume 3, in 2013.
There have been five requests for Robert’s music in film/video. The first was Ed Lippman’s Documentary, “Divertissement: Everyday Dancers Stories“. Next, Paramount Pictures approached Robert for selections from his Etudes II album to be used in the feature film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button“. Neither of these materialized.
Meanwhile, a selection from his Ballet Etudes album was included in a BBC4 episode of “Danceworks“, featuring the Ballet Black dance company. Also, Robert’s “Brises” selection (from the Ballet Etudes album) is heard in season 4, episode 3 of the Netflix series “The Crown“. In November 2025, “Developpes Centre” (Etudes II album) was used in “Lioness“, season 2, episode 4, “500 Children”. (This selection is also known as “A Dream Too Far”)
Towards the end of 2022, Robert was contacted about a pilot video for instruction, to be created by Ballet Jörgen. This video features several selections from Robert’s three albums. Here is the link: Virtual Dance Studio
In 2004, Robert appeared as pianist in an episode about ballet on a syndicated children’s TV show (“This is Daniel Cook”).
Advertisers and film makers interested in Robert’s music may wish to visit Pink Shark Music. Or, to hear some pieces especially chosen: SoundCloud Media Selections.
Robert has also worked as a church musician for several years, as well as a variety show accompanist/synth arranger. Recently, he has been performing locally in the pop/rock scene. In September 2023, Robert made his first “official” appearance in Port Credit’s annual “South Side Shuffle“, playing at Posta Restaurant with vocalist Victoria Young and sax legend Pat Carey from the Downchild Blues Band. Robert returned to the Shuffle in 2025, performing at Roc’N’Docs in a piano duet with the incomparable Tyler Yarema, also of the Downchild Blues Band
He currently resides in Port Credit, Ontario, Canada. For more information about Robert and his ballet class music albums, visit https://www.rlongballetmusic.com
Robert Long interviewed at balletconnections.com
Robert Long Blog Interview with Karen MacIver, The Art of Class
