Madison Ballet

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Becky McKenzie

Madison Ballet dancers on stage.

"Recess," Madison Ballet, 2023.

“Innovation” begins Madison Ballet’s 42nd season with four world premieres. Artistic director Ja’ Malik challenged each of the choreographers to examine the concept of innovation. Contributing new works and underscoring the company’s efforts to commission works by more artists of color and female-identifying artists, are Alia Kache, a cast member of The Lion King and a choreographer for Ailey 2; Richard Walters, the company’s rehearsal director; and company members Eric Stith, Charlotte Junge and Sarah Minton. Shows at 7 p.m. on Oct. 26-28 and Nov. 3-4 and 2 p.m. on Oct. 29 and Nov. 4-5; post-concert discussions follow the performances on Oct. 26 and 29 and Nov. 3 and 5.

media release: Madison Ballet is excited to announce the first program of their 42nd season, Innovation. Comprised of five world premieres of new ballet works, Innovation will present ballet in a new perspective to audiences. Performances take place at Promenade Hall at the Overture Center for the Arts from October 26 to November 5, 2023.

Join us for post-performance conversations with the choreographers and artists, moderated by Artistic Director Ja' Malik. Come to see the show, and stay afterwards to learn about the process of creating INNOVATION.

Thursday, October 26, with guest choreographer, Alia Kache, and company artist and costume designer, Fernanda Yamaguchi

Sunday, October 29, with choreographer and rehearsal director, Richard Walters, and company artist and costume designer, Fernanda Yamaguchi

Friday, November 3, with company artists and choreographers, Eric Stith III, Charlotte Junge, and Sarah Minton, and company artist and composer, Alex Vrba

Sunday, November 5, with Artistic Director and Executive Director Ja' Malik

Tickets can be purchased online by visiting madisonballet.org, by calling 608-258-4141, or by visiting the Overture Center Box Office at 201 State Street.

In a continued commitment to commissioning works by female-identifying choreographers of color, Innovation features a world premiere by Alia Kache, a former dancer with Ailey II and the 2021 Choreographic Fellow with BalletX. Through her choreography, Ms. Kache “choose[s] to use joy as resistance… It is my sword, so I make dances that are defiant with joy! And I like to bring audiences along for the ride.” Whimsical and playful, her new work explores the youthful freedom of childhood games set to music by former San Francisco Ballet dancer and singer/songwriter, Shannon Rugani, also known as EMPRESS. Ms. Kache wants audiences “to recall a time when we were all free from responsibility, full of hope, and we didn't know all of our dreams wouldn't come true.” Ms. Kache’s choreographic work has also been seen at the Dance Gallery Art Festival, Harlem Arts Festival, Bryant Park Presents Modern Dance, and FringeNYC.

Rehearsal Director Richard Walters also contributes a world premiere to the program. For his second new work with the Madison Ballet company, Mr. Walters’ is collaborating again with composer Brandon Lee Alley, whose music was used for Mr. Walters’ first work “Parallax” featured on Madison Ballet’s Next Steps program last fall. This new work explores themes of irregularity and unpredictability in our inherent modern life. In addition to serving as Rehearsal Director, Mr. Walters was appointed Principal for the School of Madison Ballet in February 2024.

Three Madison Ballet company artists are also choreographing new works to be featured on the program. Eric Stith III joined Madison Ballet in November 2022, and has since shined as a soloist in The Nutcracker and in “RE/COMPOSED” on the mixed repertory program Ballet Beyond this past spring. His piece is set to music by the newly promoted company dancer, Alex Vrba, for an intense and physically demanding duet that portrays the complication of unrequited love. Charlotte Junge joined Madison Ballet in August 2022 after graduation from the Boston Ballet School’s Professional Division. Her piece is set for seven dancers who weave in and out of interactions with each other to tell a story about escaping reality. Charlotte says, “I am excited and grateful for this opportunity because it is my first work with a professional company.” In her sixth season with Madison Ballet, Sarah Minton has choreographed for School of Madison Ballet and outreach performances, including her work being performed by advanced SMB students for the Ballet Beyond: Family Series program. Set to music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, her piece features a trio of dancers and explores dealing with emotions through intricate partnering, as well as lighting and costume design.

Through this program, Artistic Director Ja’ Malik challenges each choreographer to create and explore the concept of innovation using their “toolbox”: music, costume, movement, and beyond. Audiences are invited to join Madison Ballet after the opening night performance for a conversation with the choreographers and artists, moderated by Artistic Director Ja’ Malik.