Dance Companies
It is the mission of Madison Contemporary Vision Dance Company to present original and diverse contemporary-based choreography in order to inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds to appreciate a deeper connection to dance as a visual art-form, while also providing a platform for dancers and other artists to come together for resources, education, events, support, and community.
Dancers share their enthusiasm for Israeli Folk Dance and have fun while developing coordination, improving self esteem and learning to respect each other. Yonim members perform each season in Madison and around the Midwest. Their past performances include major local Jewish Community celebrations and several other special regional events such as Celebrating Youth, International Folk Ball, MIT’s Israeli Folk Dance Festival in Boston, and The Israeli Folk Dance Festival in New York. Any child in grades K-12 who wants to dance and have fun may participate in Yonim. Israeli Dance is a wonderful, culturally rich experience for both Jews and non-Jews alike.
WADOMA blends African, American and other global art forms to create a one-of-a-kind spectacle of movement and sound, educating and inspiring people through the universal experience of music and dance.
The Berkshire Ballet Theatre is Summers Academy of Dance’s pre-professional training program for motivated dancers 12-20 years old.
Students learn through technique classes and performances in a creative and disciplined environment. Intermediate 1 and 2 students begin the classical syllabus which requires students to work carefully with much repetition in order to isolate the correct muscle groups required for turn-out, extension, and a strong jump. When a student is ready pointe training begins. Character dance, modern dance and floor barre are also introduced into training. Berkshire Ballet Theatre trainees, apprentices, and company dancers continue advanced classical ballet training including classical variations, pas de deux, repetoire.
The Company’s purpose is to bring a high artistic level of dance to the community. The company accepts an elite few from The School of Dance West Ballet at auditions held in August each year for the upcoming season. Junior Apprentices are considered to be in training and therefore may or may not receive performing roles.
Members of DanceWest Ballet Company perform in The Nutcracker and a spring repertoire performance. Dancers also participate in the school concert presented every June, as well as attending the Regional Dance Association Festival held at one of the Mid States companies, usually in May. Company members participate in performances that are scheduled as opportunities for performances arise.
Sadira is the founder and director of the Riad Dance Company. She has performed in Cairo, Egypt and studied Arabic dance and music in Egypt, Morocco and Jordan. Sadira and the Riad Dance Company perform women’s dances from the Middle East with a repertoire that includes both traditional and contemporary dances from Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, the Gulf states and Palestine. Sadira currently teaches independently at Kanopy Dance studios and for the U.W. Division of Continuing Studies.
Natyarpana’s mission is to present the rich cultural heritage of India through performances and workshops of Indian classical dance, music and theater. The Company also aims at providing a venue for Wisconsin residents to explore and experience classical Indian arts as a means to reflect upon their own cultural heritage. As part of its outreach mission, Natyarpana serves communities that do not usually have access to ethnic arts or are unable to afford such programs. Apart from a performing dance company, Natyarpana offers workshops, lecture demonstrations at Universities, schools, colleges and corporate organizations.
Limanya Drum and Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Mandjou Mara and Maya Kadakia, performs traditional music and dance from Guinea and Mali, West Africa. By incorporating song, dance, drum and theatre, Limanya’s performances are high-energy entertainment for all audiences. Perfect for schools and community events, Limanya’s shows create cultural connections and provide engaging educational experiences. Limanya is composed of a diverse group of dancers and drummers who share a love of African tradition, celebration, and culture.
Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre is a contemporary-based repertory company that presents the work of its Artistic Director and other choreographers, both established and emerging. The Company strives to present choreography that can support a humanistic voice while remaining in the physical world where dance is the primary ingredient; using the full moving body for expression. The Company maintains an ever-evolving body of work that is driven by theatricality, athleticism, tenacity and accessibility for its audience.
Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre (SPDW), led by artistic director Joanna Rosenthal, is a Chicago-based contemporary dance ensemble that has built a strong reputation for work that is evocative, entertaining and engaging. SPDW has received critical acclaim for its varied repertory and powerful performers. SPDW presents the choreography of artists from across the country, both seasoned veterans as well as up-and-coming innovators, with styles that range from classical to post-modern dance. The diverse spectrum of work can range from humorous satire to high-octane virtuosity, but never ceases to delight audiences with performances that are dynamic and inspiring. Contributing artists include Peter Carpenter, Faye Driscoll, Jan Erkert, Carl Flink, Ashleigh Leite, Molly Shanahan, Jeff Hancock, Shirley Mordine, Sam Watson, Shapiro and Smith Dance and to name a few.
We are a Chicago-based dance company that values making intelligent, visually rich dance theater driven by inquiry. We ground our inquiry in contemporary issues and the history of art and ideas, toward our pursuit of bold, exacting and potent physicality.
Under Carrie Hanson’s direction, the company is committed to bringing audiences an expanded experience of dance that ignites thought and understanding of real-world issues. With dance at the center of the work, the company’s vision extends to a total action and environment and includes collaboration with practitioners in fields as diverse as architecture, installation, video, sound, and fashion.With full-length works on pressing issues, such as the recent economic recession and the ongoing climate change debate, they have built a reputation for “well-crafted and researched works that don’t hold forth a political agenda, but look instead at how these towering issues reflect back on our own humanity” (New City, which named The Seldoms Best Local Dance Company in 2012).