80s Dance Party (Medley): Choral Instrumental Pak
Arranged by Kirby Shaw
Item: 35-PK00131582
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Description
It was a totally awesome decade of big hair, torn jeans and lots of new young artists! This 11-minute medley will help you experience this extraordinary era. Songs include: "All Night Long (All Night)," "Flashdance...What a Feeling," "Footloose," "I Love Rock 'n Roll," "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," "Let's Hear It for the Boy," "Material Girl," "Thriller." Duration: ca. 11:00.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00131582
More about this title
About the Arranger: Kirby Shaw
Kirby Shaw's reputation in choral music spans five decades and six continents. With formal training in music education, choral composition, and conducting from San Jose State University and the University of Washington, Shaw has spent his career building innovative vocal programs, most notably founding the celebrated COS Vocal Jazz Ensemble at College of the Siskiyous. His work has touched thousands of students across multiple universities and school districts, and he has collaborated directly with jazz vocalists including Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks.
Shaw's compositional and arranging output is staggering: over 2,500 published works that have sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide. His music carries the hallmark of someone who understands both the technical demands of singers and the practical realities of the classroom. ASCAP has honored his prolific contributions repeatedly. Beyond choral music, Shaw co-created the musical Scroogical with his wife Markita, adapting Dickens for theatrical performance.
Why we love this
Shaw knows exactly how to sustain energy across a full medley without letting any single moment feel rushed or thin. This 11-minute journey through eight iconic 80s hits keeps singers engaged with smart voice leading and genuine fun, not novelty. The instrumental pak format gives you flexibility to pair vocals with live players or backing tracks depending on your ensemble's strengths.
What to expect
A trip down memory lane with genuine nostalgia and infectious joy. The 80s sensibility comes through in the harmonic language and rhythmic choices, but Shaw keeps the tone sophisticated enough for a concert setting rather than parody. You're celebrating the era while performing music that holds up.
Who it's for
Choirs of intermediate to advanced ability who want repertoire that feels current and celebratory. This works equally well for concert choirs adding a lighter set closer, show choirs building a retro showcase, or any ensemble needing repertoire that lands with an audience and keeps singers smiling.
How to get the most out of it
- Build momentum from one song to the next rather than treating each hit as an isolated moment. Shaw's transitions are designed to propel the energy forward, so slight tempo adjustments and breathing can feel like acceleration rather than interruption.
- Commit to the groove. These songs were written for movement and joy; overly careful or cautious singing will drain the party atmosphere Shaw has crafted.
- Balance the familiar melodies so the original recordings remain recognizable while your singers' voices remain the focal point. Let the accompaniment support, not dominate.
How to use it
Place this as your spring concert finale or as the centerpiece of a thematic set exploring pop music across decades. The length and upbeat character make it ideal for closing a program on a high note, and audience familiarity with these songs creates an instant connection.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining consistent ensemble blend across contrasting song styles and tempos
- Recognizing and executing groove-based rhythms characteristic of 80s pop
- Balancing clear diction with legit choral tone in a pop idiom
- Following smooth harmonic transitions between medley sections
- Building narrative momentum across a full-length medley form