Kat Stiennon
By suspending its season, Madison Ballet risks losing the 13 dancers who make up its professional corps.
“We lost our jobs. We would have been employed through May,” says Elizabeth Cohen, who left Ballet San Antonio to join the Madison troupe in 2014. They want to continue here but, as with other kinds of athletes, time is an enemy.
“As a dancer — as a performing artist at a young age — your career is short-lived,” says Cohen, 26. “It’s silly to wait around.”
The ballet company is reorganizing following the shortfall of $70,000-$80,000 in operating funds. Had the season continued as scheduled, the nonprofit would have incurred additional projected debt of $100,000. Only a few of its dance professionals are from Madison; the rest are from across the country.
Usually, dancers would be expecting “letters of intent” from the ballet, indicating that the company wanted to retain them for the next season. While they wait and hope for contract negotiations for a 2016-17 season, the performers have come together to launch two benefits for themselves.
The first is "Happy for a Cause" on Saturday, Feb. 27, at Winedown, 118 State St. Guests will have an opportunity to mingle with the performers from 7 to 10 p.m., and 20% of all proceeds will go toward the production of Encore!, a fundraiser performance March 4-5 at the Overture Center.
“This particular need I am quite passionate about,” says Winedown owner Jenna Carol, who also owns Express Yourself! dance studio. She regularly stages “Happy for a Cause” benefits for charities, but this one is special. “I know all too well the struggle it is to keep arts and arts education thriving, and any way I can help a fellow dancer or artist, I will try my best.”
Other assistance is rolling in as well. The Madison Ballet has donated costumes, rehearsal space and other assistance, and the dancers have launched a crowd-funding campaign. The Overture Center has donated its Promenade Hall as the Encore! venue.
“The Madison Ballet is a vital part of the fabric of our community,” says Overture CEO Ted DeDee. “We are happy to support the dancers in this fundraiser.”
Encore! will feature original works choreographed by the dancers, as well as select works by others. In organizing the performance, Cohen says, the performers have found themselves growing in unexpected ways. “For many of us, this is the first time we have produced our own show, and we are already very proud of what we have accomplished together,” she says.
The production will also serve as a retirement performance for Madison native Rachelle Butler, and a farewell to Jason Gomez, who has decided to pursue a career in nursing.
Encore! performs March 4 at 7:30 p.m. and March 5 at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Promenade Hall. A suggested $20 donation will directly benefit the dancers. Tickets will be available at the door 30 minutes prior to each performance. For more information, visit gofundme.com/encoremadcity.