Madison Ballet

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Tom Davenport

Madison Ballet dancers Alex Vrba and Charlotte Junge.

Madison Ballet dancers Alex Vrba and Charlotte Junge.

Madison Ballet closes its season with a bold new reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream — a one-act ballet that merges Shakespeare’s magic with Ja’ Malik’s kinetic, contemporary choreography. (It's a different production than the Ballet's outdoor performances in 2021.) Expect mischief, moonlight and fairy dust, set to an eclectic score that mixes Mendelssohn with Max Reinhardt and Wynton Marsalis. Also on the program: the return of Malik’s exhilarating Next Steps for a Large Ensemble, set to music by Steve Reich, and a fresh take on The Dying Swan, turning the iconic solo into a meditation on fragility and time. With live music and a company in peak form, this is a season finale that will blend elegance with edge. Performances at 2 p.m on April 4, 2 and 7 p.m. on April 5, and 2 p.m. on April 6.

media release: Madison Ballet proudly concludes its 2024-2025 season at the Capitol Theater April 4-6 with a brand-new one-act production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This enchanting ballet, featuring original choreography by Artistic Director Ja’ Malik, will transport audiences into a magical world with newly designed sets and costumes by company artist Fernanda Yamaguchi and lighting by Julie E. Ballard. The production showcases an eclectic musical score featuring compositions by Felix Mendelssohn, Max Reinhardt, and Wynton Marsalis.

The season finale also marks the return of Next Steps for a Large Ensemble, a dynamic contemporary ballet set to Steve Reich’s Music for a Large Ensemble. This piece, Ja’ Malik’s first creation for Madison Ballet, premiered in 2022 and has been celebrated for its exhilarating choreography, intricate partnering, and seamless fusion of music and movement.

Adding to the program’s richness, Ja’ Malik presents a fresh interpretation of the classical solo The Dying Swan, inspired by Mikhail Fokine’s original 1905 masterpiece. Set to Camille Saint-Saëns’ Le Cygne from Carnival of the Animals, this poignant work explores the beauty and fragility of life. The performance will be accompanied by local musicians Deirdre Brenner on piano and Alex Chambers-Ozasky on cello.

Don’t miss this extraordinary program featuring live music and breathtaking performances, as Madison Ballet closes its season with elegance, power, and innovation.

“Next Steps for a Large Ensemble”- Originally premiering in 2022, Next Steps was Ja’ Malik’s first creation for Madison Ballet. Set to Steve Reich’s pulsating Music for a Large Ensemble, this full-company tour de force is a stunning display of contemporary ballet technique. With its lightning-fast partnering, solos, and trios, the piece seamlessly blends movement and music into a breathtaking experience.

“The Dying Swan” (World Premier)- A fresh take on the iconic ballet solo, this reimagining of The Dying Swan bridges classical and contemporary ballet to create a profound meditation on the passage of time. Inspired by Mikhail Fokine’s 1905 original, Ja’ Malik’s new choreography brings a modern perspective to this beloved work, accompanied by the hauntingly beautiful strains of Saint-Saëns’ Le Cygne.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Madison Premier)- This one-act ballet transports audiences into a moonlit forest where chaos and enchantment unfold. As King Oberon and Queen Titania battle for control of the woodland’s mystical creatures, the mischievous Puck casts magical spells, sending fairies and mortals on a wild, whimsical adventure. Featuring a vibrant musical mix of Mendelssohn’s timeless score alongside compositions by Max Reinhardt and Wynton Marsalis, this production is tailor-made for the artists of Madison Ballet, showcasing their athleticism, artistry, and storytelling brilliance.