Dance Wisconsin

Dance Wisconsin brings the story of Lise and Colas to the stage again on April 11 and 12, 2026 at the Mitby Theater at Madison College. The comedic ballet will transport audiences to pastoral France with its family friendly story. The young couple is challenged by the hilarious Widow Simone who wants her daughter to get married to the wealthy but simple, Alain. The cast will include the Dance Wisconsin company, local dancers, and guest artists.

A forty-eight-year Madison holiday tradition, Dance Wisconsin’s The Nutcracker 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.

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, contemporary 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.