Dance Class Accompanists must be able to play music in any tempo and any rhythm, to work intuitively both with the Dance Class Instructor and with dancers co-creating improvisational explorations. Accompanists must be able to take direction from the Dance Instructor. The Accompanist interprets and expresses exercise patterns, understanding that rhythm, accent, and/or tempo may change at any time at the request of the Instructor. The Accompanist is able to give and take instruction when relating to the students.

The experienced Dance Class Accompanist may play any instrument/s including voice, body percussion, acoustic, electric, electronic, or digital sound sources to support and facilitate movement through pitch, volume, tempo, rhythm, texture, mood, and phrasing. Dance class accompaniment competencies are a specific set of skills developed through time and practice; they differ somewhat from skills developed from other musical backgrounds; and they contribute greatly to skills needed for other musical professions.