| Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity | |
| Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory | |
| Length | 6:14 |
| Working title | (unknown) |
| Release date | October 26, 1999 (same as album) |
| Lyrics | (Instrumental) |
| Music | Dream Theater |
| First live performance | Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, USA, on January 31, 2000 |
| Total live plays | 337 |
| Recorded | BearTracks Studios |
| Other appearances | Metropolis 2000, Live Scenes from New York, The Making of Scenes from a Memory, Breaking the Fourth Wall, Distant Memories |
| Previous song | Scene Six: Home |
| Next song | Scene Seven: II. One Last Time |
Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity (or just simply The Dance of Eternity), is the ninth track on the album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, and the second track in Act 2 of the album. It is the second instrumental on the album, the first being Overture 1928.
Due to its complexity and many time signature changes (108 in total), The Dance of Eternity is often regarded as one of the most complex songs in progressive metal.
John Petrucci recorded this song using a 7-string guitar in standard tuning (B-E-A-D-G-B-E).
Appearances[]
| Year | Recording Type | Release | Release Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Studio | Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory | Studio Album |
| 2001 | Live | Live Scenes from New York | Live Album |
| 2001 | Live | Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New York | Video Album |
| 2003 | Tracks | The Making of Scenes from a Memory | Official Bootleg |
| 2014 | Live | Breaking the Fourth Wall | Live Album, Video Album |
| 2020 | Live | Distant Memories - Live in London | Live Album, Video Album |
| 2022 | Live | Live in Berlin (2019) | Official Bootleg |
| 2023 | Tracks | The Making of Scenes from a Memory - The Sessions (1999) | Official Bootleg |