Dance Companies
Milwaukee Ballet creates a rich and diverse community through its inspiring dance performance, education and outreach.
The company approaches movement as a process of investigation, rather than thinking of dance as a vocabulary of actions. While MamLuft&Co. Dance works to make Modern Dance accessible to the general population, ML&Co. also challenges pre-conceived notions of what dance is by searching for authentic, organic, and original movement. MamLuft&Co. Dance’s explorations are led by director Jeanne Sopanha Mam-Luft, whose personal history informs the company processes, as an immigrant and refugee of the Khmer Rouge genocide, as well as an interdisciplinarian of design, architecture, photography, and video.
Dance Wisconsin is a regional dance company that promotes excellence in the art of dance. The company presents high-quality productions featuring dancers from all over southern Wisconsin and guest artists from professional companies around the world. These productions not only offer the opportunity for young people to explore new heights, but also to learn teamwork, commitment and a sense of pride in accomplishing something truly extraordinary. Dance Wisconsin is the state’s only Honor Company in Midstates Regional Dance America.
Dance Wisconsin provides the vehicle for young dancers to go beyond their studio dance experience and learn more about their art form while making valuable connects in the dance world at a professional and collegiant level. Dance Wisconsin offers dedicated dancers the opportunity to train at a high level to achieve their goals whether they are simply to be the best dancer they can be or if they wish to pursue dancing beyond High School. Dance Wisconsin offers them the training and opportunities to help make anything happen.
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.
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.
Kanopy Dance Theatre, Inc. was organized to: “promote, encourage, and increase the public’s knowledge of and appreciation for the arts, including the art of dance; to coordinate and provide services to the arts to foster their growth and practice; and, to engage in activities relating to the aforementioned purposes.” (Articles of Incorporation, 1976)
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.
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.
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.
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.