2025-2026 Season
continuum II
“The dedication and talent of these young Dance Wisconsin Company dancers is inspiring. I continue to work as hard as I possibly can to provide them the opportunities they deserve to perform for the community and be seen by as many community members as possible.”
DW’s 48th Season
New Works: Generations
Each fall the Dance Wisconsin Company presents a performance centered around original choreography created on the company of dancers. On Friday evening, September 26, 2025, at the MyArts Starlight Theater, Dance Wisconsin will once again present an evening of five original pieces of choreography that will be created this summer on the company dancers. “Generations” will amuse, delight and engage the audience as they see pointe, contenporary and modern genre works set to the music of the Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Z and the Greatest Generation. Expect some twists from the choreographers as you may see a genre of dance set to music you may not expect.
The Nutcracker
A forty-eight-year Madison holiday tradition, Dance Wisconsin’s Nutcracker Ballet is the only local performance that includes dancers, a live orchestra (the Dance Wisconsin Orchestra), and the magical vocals of the Monona Grove High School Singers. The cast includes members of the Dance Wisconsin Company and additional dancers from all over south central Wisconsin including the counties of Dane, Green, Rock, Iowa, Waukesha and Sauk.
The first concept of what is now Dance Wisconsin, began in 1976 as Madison Youth Ballet with a production of the Nutcracker at West High School. Madison Youth Ballet transformed into Wisconsin Dance Ensemble and a partnership was formed with the Madison Civic Center in 1981. Ms. Retrum worked very closely with David Lew Crosby, then Director of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and The Nutcracker Ballet was accompanied by live orchestra music. In 1999 Wisconsin Dance Ensemble made another transformation to Dance Wisconsin and the home of its productions moved to the Wisconsin Union Theater and Taras Nahriniak formed the Dance Wisconsin Orchestra.
This 48 year strong production is excited to debut new costumes, updated choreography, and more importantly bring holiday joy to the Madison community for another year. Join us on December 20 & 21, 2025 at the Wisconsin Union Theater for Dance Wisconsin’s production of The Nutcracker Ballet.
Repertoire
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Coppélia
Dance for Life
New Works
Nutcracker Ballet
Nutcracker Fantasy
Paquita
Peter and the Wolf
Peter Rabbit's Ballet
La Fille Mal Gardée
Le Corsaire
Les Sylphides
Wizard of Oz