The Nutcracker

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Beth Skogen Photography

A past performance of "The Nutcracker" by Dance Wisconsin.

The joyful nature of Dance Wisconsin's production of The Nutcracker (celebrating 45 years in 2022) is amplified by its youth performers, who get the chance to form a lifelong love of dance and theater. Their sometimes confident, sometimes tentative performances are also heartwarmingly entertaining for audiences, too. The Dance Wisconsin orchestra is joined by the Monona Grove High School Singers for Tchaikovsky's music.

media release: Dance Wisconsin, Madison’s pre-professional dance company, will present its 45th annual performance of The Nutcracker this holiday season on December 17 and 18 at 2 p.m. in UW-Madison’s Union Theater. The shows will include over 100 performers of various ages from southern/central Wisconsin, the Dance Wisconsin orchestra and the vocals of the Monona Grove High School Singers.

Dance Wisconsin’s production of The Nutcracker was first performed in 1977 at West High School, then the Civic Center in the 80’s and 90’s and has resided at the Wisconsin Union Theater since 1999. Choreography is created by artistic director, JoJean Retrum, based on the original by Marius Petipa. The music is the beloved compositions from Tchaikovsky, recognizable for those familiar and unfamiliar with classical ballet.

Join Clara as she receives a special Nutcracker doll at her family’s holiday party. When the mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer attends, magic ensues. The evening includes dancing dolls, a battle with the Mouse King and a journey through the Land of Sweets. Clara’s story is a timeless seasonal favorite for all ages. Dance Wisconsin is a non-profit pre-professional dance company composed of dancers aged eleven through adult led by artistic director, JoJean Retrum. Founded in 1977, the company prides itself as a nurturing environment for tomorrow’s leaders. Dance Wisconsin has been a part of Regional Dance America’s MidStates Region for over thirty years and is Wisconsin’s only Honor Company within RDA. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Further support by Dane County Arts with

additional funds from the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation, The Evjue Foundation, Inc., charitable arm of the Capital Times, the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation, and the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation. Additional funding provided by Kramer Madison, North Central Utility of Wisconsin, LLC., Cardinal Heating and Air Conditioning and the Bank of Sun Prairie.

Tickets are available through the Dance Wisconsin website at https://www.dancewisconsin.org/ for $19-$50.