Marie Pauls
Madison Ballet: Four decades of community impact on and off stage
September 13, 2023
School of Madison Ballet, 2023. Instructor Fernanda Yamaguchi corrects SMB student, Lillian (Lilly) McDaniel.
I believe that everyone should have a chance to dance if they want to,. You get to have fun, meet new friends, listen to live music and perform in shows.
Madison Ballet, one of Overture’s nine resident companies, and the second largest dance organization in Wisconsin, celebrates its 42nd season as a pillar of the performing arts in Dane County. While it is most known for its stunning performances of “The Nutcracker,” an annual holiday season collaboration with Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, its programming impacts the greater community year-round.
Encompassing both a professional dance company and a ballet school, Madison Ballet provides a full-circle artistic experience. The company presents three full productions per season, in addition to “The Nutcracker.” Guided by their vision “to shape ballet into an inclusive art form,” their groundbreaking new works honor and represent a diversity of artists, often featuring original choreography by emerging choreographers from around the world, in addition to fostering new creative voices from local dance makers like artists from Madison Ballet. Utilizing a wide range of venues, from Overture Hall to more intimate spaces, such as Capitol Theater and Promenade Hall, audiences see dance through multiple lenses.
The ballet school offers a variety of classes geared toward a wide range of levels, toddlers through adults. Students grow artistically and individually as they develop a solid foundation and repertoire of dance skills.
“Ballet isn't just about dance; it teaches you to work hard and achieve your goals in life, too,” said Lilly, age 10. “I also love reading, writing and playing the piano, and ballet helps me be better at those things.”
A dancer since age three, Lilly joined the ballet school when she moved to Madison in 2019. She found an instant sense of belonging in her new home.
“It’s hard being in a new city, but from the moment I walked into class, I knew I had found my place,” she said. “Madison Ballet is more than just a place to dance; it's a whole ballet family.”
Madison Ballet students not only study with high-level active performing artists, they have opportunities to perform onstage with their instructors at Overture. Along with showcasing their talent on the grand stage, young dancers serve as arts ambassadors.
Lilly has performed in “The Nutcracker” twice and is proud to share her gift in this way.
“Performing in ‘The Nutcracker’ is amazing because I can actually do a full professional production and show my friends and family what I’ve learned,” she said.
Last year, her elementary school attended Madison Ballet’s Behind the Curtains production of “The Nutcracker.” This interactive educational program reaches 2,000 area school children each year, and for many, it is their first exposure to a live, professional performance in a theater. Schools also receive a study guide filled with activities and information to enrich their experience. Students learn about the history of ballet, “The Nutcracker’s” rich storyline and its memorable music. They are also introduced to the numerous components and personnel that bring the show to life, such as the stage crew and pit orchestra musicians.
“My classmates got to come see me perform, and they all said they really liked it. After the show, my school friend Dyllen said, ‘I'm starting ballet now,’” said Lilly.
Madison Ballet also engages in smaller-scale free performances, such as Kids in the Rotunda. Their outreach programs work to break down barriers to arts accessibility through local partnerships and special events.
“I believe that everyone should have a chance to dance if they want to,” said Lilly. “You get to have fun, meet new friends, listen to live music and perform in shows.”
A performance opportunity with live music, not to be taken for granted, involves a thrilling energy exchange between musicians and dancers. While professional dance companies worldwide consider it a rare treat, Overture guests annually enjoy the vitality of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra during “Nutcracker” season, and Madison Ballet students have live piano music at all their classes.
When you buy a ticket or donate to Madison Ballet, you support so much more than what you see on stage. You support opportunities to inspire audiences from all walks of life and performers of all levels, cultivating a vibrant local arts scene.
Kicking off Madison Ballet’s 2023/24 season, “Innovation” runs Oct 26-Nov 5 in Overture’s Promenade Hall. The upcoming season, “Unbound,” includes multiple world premieres, creatively challenging the confines of the past. Madison Ballet will also premiere Giselle Act 2 in the Timeless Program. And be sure to check out the ballet school in action on Saturday, March 30 at Overture’s Kids in the Rotunda program. Performances are free of charge, taking place at 9:30am, 11am and 1pm at the Rotunda Stage.