Kanopy Dance Company
Puppet Master
Thursday, October 2 - Sunday, October 5
Reception following Friday night performance
Promenade Hall
Adults: $56.48
Groups of 4 or more: $50.20
Ages 18 & under / Students: $29.27
Ticket prices reflect sales tax, facility and phone/online fees
Runtime
90 minutes, including one intermission
Age Recommendation
All ages
A Glam Rock Ballet
“Puppet Master” will be the ultimate theatrical experience in visual storytelling. Vibe to the dynamic energy of animated stage lighting, moodscapes and other special effects… all synced to creative dance moves and the powerful beat of cello metal!
Concertgoers will chill and delight as they follow the tormented Mohawk Man (Biker Boy) into a netherworld of enchantment and bizarre altered reality under the spell of the Puppet Master and alluringly freaky China Dolls who hold Biker Boy captive.
This dance concert will teem with the decibel drive of metal cello as dancers, veiled in fantastical glam metal garb, explore cliché and the physicality of angst with movement, lightness and a touch of ironic humor.
It’s also a great concert to let loose, have some fun and dress up as a splashy metal star. If so inspired, our award-winning New York City based costume designer David Quinn says, “Think spandex, leather, neon, studs, chains, sparkle, animal print, fishnet, everything too short and too tight... über make-up and hair-hair-hair!”
Meet the Artists
Choreographer
Robert E. Cleary
Robert E. Cleary (Cleary) artistic director of Kanopy Dance has toured, performed, choreographed and taught throughout the United States and Denmark. He trained intensively at American Ballet Theatre and with Susan Klein in Klein Release Technique in New York. Critics hail Cleary as “fiery and riveting, inspired, wicked dancing… astonishing.” Cleary’s choreography has been featured by numerous presenters, including at several Arhus and Copenhagen Dance Festivals, in Chicago at the Ruth Page Center and at New York City’s Sokolow Theater/Dance Ensemble.
Thank you sponsors
Underwritten with support from Tom Neujahr & Julie Underwood, Paul & Clio Bushland and other generous support.
Upcoming Dance Events
-
October 10 - October 12
Dance, Family Friendly, Madison Ballet Rock the Ballet
Starlight Theater MYARTS
“Rock the Ballet” breaks down those barriers, blending classical technique with contemporary flair and music not traditionally associated with ballet.
Multiple Showtimes -
November 7 - November 9
2025/26 Season, Dance The Rhythm Project
Promenade Hall
TNW Ensemble Theater's “The Rhythm Project” features a diverse array of Madison’s finest percussive dancers and musicians, with a recorded narration providing historical context and wry observations about these dance forms.
Multiple Showtimes -
December 4 - December 7
Dance, Family Friendly, Kanopy Dance Winter Fantasia: Reimagined
Promenade Hall
Kanopy lights up the stage for the holidays with “Winter Fantasia: Reimagined,” a dazzling dance celebration showcasing a mosaic of cultural traditions.
Multiple Showtimes -
December 12 - December 21
Dance, Family Friendly, Madison Ballet The Nutcracker
Overture Hall
Madison Ballet's The Nutcracker brings Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score to life with stunning choreography, lavish costumes and a dazzling cast of dancers from our company, school and community, under the glorious Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra conducted by Maestro Andrew Sewell.
Multiple Showtimes -
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 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