Madison Ballet Begins 42nd Season With Innovation
Madison, WI – Madison Ballet is excited to announce the first program of their 42nd season, Innovation. Comprised of five world premieres of new ballet works, Innovation will present ballet in a new perspective to audiences. Performances take place at Promenade Hall at the Overture Center for the Arts from October 26th to November 5th, 2023.
In a continued commitment to commissioning works by female-identifying choreographers of color, Innovation features a world premiere by Alia Kache, a former dancer with Ailey II and the 2021 Choreographic Fellow with BalletX. Through her choreography, Ms. Kache “choose[s] to use joy as resistance… It is my sword, so I make dances that are defiant with joy! And I like to bring audiences along for the ride.” Whimsical and playful, her new work explores the youthful freedom of childhood games set to music by former San Francisco Ballet dancer and singer/songwriter, Shannon Rugani, also known as EMPRESS. Ms. Kache wants audiences “to recall a time when we were all free from responsibility, full of hope, and we didn’t know all of our dreams wouldn’t come true.” Ms. Kache’s choreographic work has also been seen at the Dance Gallery Art Festival, Harlem Arts Festival, Bryant Park Presents Modern Dance, and FringeNYC.
Rehearsal Director Richard Walters also contributes a world premiere to the program. For his second new work with the Madison Ballet company, Mr. Walters’ is collaborating again with composer Brandon Lee Alley, whose music was used for Mr. Walters’ first work “Parallax” featured on Madison Ballet’s Next Steps program last fall. This new work explores themes of irregularity and unpredictability in our inherent modern life. In addition to serving as Rehearsal Director, Mr. Walters was appointed Principal for the School of Madison Ballet in February 2024.
Three Madison Ballet company artists are also choreographing new works to be featured on the program. Eric Stith III joined Madison Ballet in November 2022, and has since shined as a soloist in The Nutcracker and in “RE/COMPOSED” on the mixed repertory program Ballet Beyond this past spring. His piece is set to music by the newly promoted company dancer, Alex Vrba, for an intense and physically demanding duet that portrays the complication of unrequited love. Charlotte Junge joined Madison Ballet in August 2022 after graduation from the Boston Ballet School’s Professional Division. Her piece is set for seven dancers who weave in and out of interactions with each other to tell a story about escaping reality. Charlotte says, “I am excited and grateful for this opportunity because it is my first work with a professional company.” In her sixth season with Madison Ballet, Sarah Minton has choreographed for School of Madison Ballet and outreach performances, including her work being performed by advanced SMB students for the Ballet Beyond: Family Series program. Set to music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, her piece features a trio of dancers and explores dealing with emotions through intricate partnering, as well as lighting and costume design.
Through this program, Artistic Director Ja’ Malik challenges each choreographer to create and explore the concept of innovation using their “toolbox”: music, costume, movement, and beyond. Audiences are invited to join Madison Ballet after the opening night performance for a conversation with the choreographers and artists, moderated by Artistic Director Ja’ Malik.
PERFORMANCES AND TICKETS
Innovation
Thursday, October 26 – 7:00pm*
Friday, October 27 – 7:00pm
Saturday, October 28 – 7:00pm
Sunday, October 29 – 2:00pm
Friday, November 3 – 7:00pm
Saturday, November 4 – 2:00pm
Saturday, November 4 – 7:00pm
Sunday, November 5 – 2:00pm
Reserved seating tickets are $45 for adults, $40 for children and seniors.
*Join us for a post-show conversation with choreographers and artists moderated by Artistic Director Ja’ Malik after the opening night performance.
Tickets can be purchased online by visiting madisonballet.org, by calling 608-258-4141, or by visiting the Overture Center Box Office at 201 State Street.
Overture Center for the Arts
Promenade Hall
201 State Street, Madison WI 53703
About Madison Ballet
For 40 years, Madison Ballet has been an integral part of the vibrant Dane County arts community. Full-scale productions of inspiring traditional ballets, innovative contemporary performances, and the timeless holiday tradition of The Nutcracker reach more than 13,000 people each year. The School of Madison Ballet empowers students of all ages and skill levels with the poise, confidence, discipline, and fundamental life skills intrinsic to the study of dance. Outreach programming, presented in partnership with dozens of local school and community groups, enriches thousands of young people’s lives by introducing them to the joy of dance.