Shen Yun 2024
Saturday, February 10 - Sunday, February 11
Overture Hall
$84 - $184
Runtime
2 hours plus a 15-minute intermission
Age Recommendation
4 and up
A Heavenly GiftThe culture of ancient China was divinely inspired.Shen Yun’s works reflect this rich spiritual heritage...Shen Yun invites you to travel back to the magical world of ancient China. Experience a lost culture through the incredible art of classical Chinese dance, and see legends come to life. Shen Yun makes this possible by pushing the boundaries of the performing arts with a unique blend of stunning costuming, high-tech backdrops and an orchestra like no other. Be prepared for a theatrical experience that will take your breath away!A Heritage Once LostThe traditional Chinese culture Shen Yun presents cannot be seen anywhere else in the world—not even in China. There, the ruling communist regime has viewed China’s rich spiritual and artistic heritage as a threat to its ideology and for decades tried to erase it.But in 2006, a group of Chinese artists came together in New York with a vision: to revive the best of China’s cultural heritage and share it with the world. They drew courage and inspiration from their practice of Falun Dafa—a spiritual discipline based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. The company’s repertoire includes important works shedding light on the plight of people like them in communist China today.After a decade of performing around the world to sold-out audiences everywhere, Shen Yun has brought a great civilization back from the brink of extinction.Full Houses EverywhereShen Yun is now the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company. Some people fly from other countries or drive hundreds of miles to see it. Others see the same performance five or six times. Why? Many say there are no words to describe it—you have to see it with your own eyes to find out.Join us for the experience of a lifetime.
This is a facility rental event presented by an independent organization separate from Overture Center for the Arts.
Shen Yun brought something most needed in this world—hope: hope for a better world, hope for a better future, hope for a better life.
Jesse Miranda, producer
Absolutely the greatest of the great! The words to describe it might be ‘divine,’ ‘reborn,’ and ‘hope.’ You have to see it to believe it.
Christine Walevska, master cellist
It makes you dream of a heavenly world. It's really a balm, a salve for the soul. It's something that really restores you, regenerates you.
Filippa Giordano, famous Italian-Mexican Singer
Meet the Artists
Principal Dancer
Angelia Wang
“I hope I can always dance. I will dance however long I can.”
Angelia Wang won first place (junior female division) in New Tang Dynasty Television’s 2009 and 2010 International Classical Chinese Dance Competitions. She won first place (adult female division) in the same competition in 2012. She studied classical Chinese dance at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Classical Chinese Dance from Fei Tian College in New York.
Principal Dancer
Melody Qin
“I feel that I learn more from teaching than what I teach to others.”
Melody Qin won first place in New Tang Dynasty Television’s 2012 International Classical Chinese Dance Competition (adult female division) and won third place in the competition’s junior division in 2010. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Classical Chinese Dance from Fei Tian College after studying classical Chinese dance at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, both in New York.
Principal Dancer
Tiffany Lin
“The beauty is in the process. Even if you are talented, you have to practice diligently.”
Tiffany (Hsiao-Hung) Lin won first place in New Tang Dynasty Television’s 2014 Classical Chinese Dance Competition (adult female division), and first place in the same competition’s junior division in 2012. She studied classical Chinese dance at the New York-based Fei Tian Academy of the Arts and Fei Tian College.
Principal Dancer
Evangeline Zhu
“My greatest joy in life is to dance with my heart.”
Evangeline Zhu won first place in New Tang Dynasty Television’s 2016 International Classical Chinese Dance Competition (adult female division), after having won first place in the same competition’s junior female division in 2014. She studied dance at the New York-based Fei Tian Academy of the Arts and earned her bachelor’s degree in this field, graduating summa cum laude, from Fei Tian College, where she is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Classical Chinese Dance.
Principal Dancer
Michelle Lian
“They say one step at a time. I would say one dance step at a time.”
Michelle Lian won first place in the 2018 New Tang Dynasty Television International Classical Chinese Dance Competition (adult female division) after having previously won consecutive first place titles in the junior female division of the biennial competition in 2014 and 2016. She pursued advanced studies in classical Chinese dance at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts in New York, graduating with high honors.
Principal Dancer
Piotr Huang
“It’s not about yourself, but about others around you.”
Piotr Huang won first place in New Tang Dynasty Television’s 2014 International Classical Chinese Dance Competition (adult male division). He studied classical Chinese dance at the New York-based Fei Tian Academy of the Arts and holds a bachelor’s in this field from Fei Tian College, graduating summa cum laude. He is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Classical Chinese Dance from Fei Tian College.
Upcoming Dance Events
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February 2
Monday
Dance, Educational/Talks Step Afrika! Community Panel
Promenade Hall
Overture Center and our Community Advisory Council invite you to a dynamic community conversation inspired by Step Afrika!’s “The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence,” presented in collaboration with the UW-Madison Dance Department and company members from Step Afrika!
5:30 PM -
February 4
Wednesday
2025/26 Season, Dance, Overture Presents Step Afrika!'s The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence
Overture Hall
Watch as the energy of percussive dance, African traditions and contemporary movement collide. With powerful rhythms, storytelling and audience participation, this celebration of African culture and artistry will leave your heart pounding.
7:00 PM -
February 13 - February 15
Dance, Family Friendly, Madison Ballet Pointes of View
Promenade Hall
From tutus to combat boots, each work in "Pointes of View" offers a bold reinterpretation of classical technique, pushing boundaries while honoring ballet’s rich traditions.
Multiple Showtimes -
February 26
Thursday
2025/26 Season, Dance, Overture Presents Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Overture Hall
From tutus to toe shoes, the all-male troupe transforms classical ballet into an outrageous, yet deeply skilled, spectacle. With impeccable technique, over-the-top personas and a touch of slapstick, the Trocks deliver a performance as breathtaking as it is hilarious.
7:30 PM -
March 7
Saturday
Dance, Educational/Talks, Family Friendly, Folk Music, Free Events, Music, Theater, Variety, Visual Arts International Festival
Multiple Venues
Celebrate the rich cultural heritage within our community and enjoy nearly 30 FREE performances throughout Overture by artists who call Dane County home. Indulge in cuisines from around the world, browse stunning arts and crafts available for purchase and learn about the many local businesses with global connections.
10:00 AM -
March 14
Saturday
Dance, Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda Kalaanjali Indian Dance Company
Rotunda Stage
Experience breathtaking stories of the East through the graceful postures, percussive feet, vibrant costumes and dynamic expressions of the Kalaanjali dancers.
Multiple Showtimes -
March 28
Saturday
Dance, Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda Madison Ballet
Rotunda Stage
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience the Madison Ballet like never before! Audience members will have an up-close experience of a ballet class warm up, barre practice, center floor work and choreography rehearsal.
Multiple Showtimes -
April 3 - April 5
Dance, Family Friendly, Madison Ballet ChoreograpHER
Starlight Theater MYARTS
The highlight of our 2025/26 season is a bold celebration of the female choreographic voice. Although women have long been the faces of ballet, they remain vastly underrepresented in choreography —especially women of color.
Multiple Showtimes -
April 4
Saturday
Dance, Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda Trinity Irish Dance Academy
Overture Hall Main Lobby
Get ready for a high-energy showcase that will leave you breathless! In this performance, you’ll witness the incredible talent of Trinity students, some as young as 3.5 years old, as they bring traditional Irish steps and vibrant choreography to life on stage.
Multiple Showtimes -
April 11
Saturday
Dance, Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda, Music Limanya Drum and Dance
Rotunda Stage
Performing traditional music from Guinea and Mali, West Africa, Limanya Drum and Dance Ensemble incorporates song, dance, drum and theater into high-energy entertainment for all audiences.
Multiple Showtimes -
April 16 - April 19
Dance, Family Friendly, Kanopy Dance Divine Mythologies
Promenade Hall
Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble and Kanopy Dance collaborate on a rare remarkable performance of Anna Sokolow’s epic “Odes," a luminous, searing vision of humanity, unsparing in its demands for intense physical concentration and dramatic depth.
Multiple Showtimes -
April 18
Saturday
Dance, Family Friendly, Free Events, Kids in the Rotunda, Music Duke Otherwise
Rotunda Stage
Don’t miss the wildly entertaining Duke Otherwise! This playful wordsmith, spirited performer and captivating tap dancer brings music and laughter to audiences of all ages.
Multiple Showtimes -
May 8 - May 10
Dance, Family Friendly, Madison Ballet Innovation II
Promenade Hall
In this invigorating artistic initiative, the dancers of Madison Ballet step into the role of choreographer, creating new works on one another.
Multiple Showtimes -
May 16
Saturday
Dance, Family Friendly, Kanopy Dance The Next Generation of Dance
Promenade Hall
Watch the next generation of dancers and choreographers in Kanopy’s pre-professional training program, Kanopy 2 and the Kanopy Academy, ignite the stage with new ideas, new expressions and even original choreography and costuming developed and built by the dancers themselves.
Multiple Showtimes