Dance Companies
Aerial Dance Chicago is a nonprofit dance company dedicated to creation, performance, and instruction in the field of aerial dance. The mission of Aerial Dance Chicago is to enrich our community with the fine art of aerial dance. Through innovative choreography, engaging performances and energizing hands-on experiences, our programs educate, strengthen and connect people of all walks of life.
Aerial Dance Chicago inspires everyday people to challenge their own assumed limits to reveal undiscovered potential. Through highly original and physical programming, the company reawakens humanity’s craving for live, kinetic and creative experiences and contributes to the health and empowerment of the community.
Lead by artistic director Jessica Deahr, Chicago Dance Crash has emerged as the premier fusion-style contemporary dance company in the Midwest. Emphasizing a unique mission of both athleticism and accessibility, the Crash aesthetic is most notably recognized by its combination of concert and hip hop techniques in works ranging from full length productions to repertory pieces and freestyles.
The Joel Hall Dancers express contemporary urban life through dance while educating, entertaining, and inspiring their audience. The signature dance style of JHD incorporates ballet, jazz, modern, funk, and “street dance” using contemporary jazz and house music to create an innovative and continuously evolving dance style that is appealing, relevant, and approachable for those frequently underserved by the arts.
The Joel Hall Dancers maintain a citywide, national, and international reputation, not only for their diversity and innovation, but also for their substantive sociological content and engaging aesthetic style. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Joel Hall, the Joel Hall Dancers have carried their unique yet universally accessible voice to venues that span the world.
Both JHD and its audience exhibit a rare diversified spectrum of cultural, ethnic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds.
CDR is unique compared to other dance schools and programs in the composition of the “company”. CDR is composed of an elite group of local, talented, and dedicated students 10-18 years old. Company members become versatile dancers, taking classes and rehearsing in various styles of dance. Members take class and rehearse as a unit. There is a limited amount of dancers accepted to create more individual attention from the director/teachers and to create more opportunities for each dancer to grow technically and artistically. The dancers show their love and passion for dance through their work ethic in the studio and on stage. Members are recognized at competition and conventions, winning many scholarships and stand-out dancer awards.
Ballet Minnesota is a nonprofit, Saint Paul-based professional dance company established in 1988 by Andrew and Cheyl Rist. It functions as the performing company of the Classical Ballet Academy, its official school. Ballet Minnesota’s founding vision was to create a dance organization serving the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, dedicated to creating an understanding and enjoyment of the dance arts through performance of the classic repertoire and exploration of new works.
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.
Li Chiao-Ping Dance creates and presents concerts of contemporary postmodern dance, featuring highly physical, elegant and inventive works. LCPD was founded in 1990 and had its first concert in Madison in 1995. It is a resident company of the Overture Center for the Arts and works hard to spread the benefits of dance.
Reflecting and supporting the artistic vision of choreographer Li Chiao-Ping, Li Chiao-Ping Dance produces and presents original performance works, provides mentorship, education and training, offers opportunities for residencies and collaborations, and promotes tolerance and respect.
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.
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.
Madison Ballet is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, professional performing arts organization which holds as its mission to promote appreciation and access to ballet by providing training and performing opportunities through professionally produced productions and educational initiatives.Originally founded in 1981 as The Wisconsin Dance Ensemble, the organization’s primary purpose was the production The Nutcracker, an annual community event. In 1999, the organization changed its name to Madison Ballet and embarked on an ambitious plan to become a professional performing arts organization, offering quality arts experiences for youth throughout South Central Wisconsin.