This fall is a pivotal time for Madison’s dance community. Several companies are set to celebrate major milestones: Kanopy Dance recognizes its 50th anniversary, Madison Ballet rings in its 45th year, and UW-Madison’s Dance Department celebrates 100 years since UW-Madison established the nation’s first dance major.

“I think that we’re going to have so much excitement and adrenaline that we will certainly just be filled with happiness,” Li Chiao-Ping, chair of the UW-Madison Dance Department, says of the anniversary. “The thing that we all believe in is the power of dance, the power of movement and creativity for all people.”

Audiences can look forward to seeing dance organizations commit to innovation by premiering new works, bringing in influential guest artists, and making local dance offerings more inclusive and representative of modern-day audiences. 

“I want everybody to understand there’s something for everyone within this art form,” says Ja’ Malik, artistic and executive director of Madison Ballet.

Immigrant voices

As Kanopy Dance steps into its 50th season, the modern dance company will be kicking things off with “Without Borders,” an artistic celebration and reflection on modern dance pioneer José Limón. 

“This will be spellbinding,” says Susanne Voeltz, associate director of Kanopy Dance. “The dance that our audience will see expresses life’s emotional journeys, but it also tells really important cultural stories.” 

Limón, who was born in Mexico in 1908 and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1915, is considered one of the great choreographers and technicians of modern dance. In 1946, he cofounded the New York City-based Limón Dance Company, which continues today. 

“We recognize that modern dance is a result of a myriad of cultural influences,” Voeltz says. “Given our 50th anniversary, and to launch it, we really did want to celebrate immigrant voices who have had such an incredible impact on our cultural landscape.”

“Without Borders,” Oct. 15-18 at the Overture Center’s Promenade Hall, will be the first time Kanopy Dance presents a Limón masterwork: Suite from A Choreographic Offering will be reinterpreted by guest artist Daniel Fetecua-Soto.

“The audience can look for a work that surpasses time, witnessing a perfect synchronism of music and dance,” Fetecua-Soto tells Isthmus in an email. Fetecua-Soto will also be performing an original solo inspired by Colombia’s Indigenous Muisca culture titled “Fansié Sinak Chipwany,” which translates to “We Are Still Here,” and guest artist Colin Connor will be presenting his choreography, Flying in the Face of Time.

In December, Kanopy once again tweaks its annual production of “Winter Fantasia Reimagined,” the company’s popular holiday-themed show that celebrates a diverse array of cultures through dance. “It’s that holiday show you want to see again and again,” says Lisa Thurrell, co-artistic director of Kanopy.

See me, feel me

Madison Ballet’s 45th season, dubbed “Coming Into View,” represents a culmination of the company’s artistic and thematic focuses since Ja’ Malik took the helm as artistic director in 2022. Malik calls this season’s upcoming slate of performances, which includes the world premiere of a new full-length ballet, as well as classics like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, the company’s “most ambitious” yet.

The premiere is Jekyll & Hyde, inspired by the novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. The new work is collaboratively choreographed by Malik and Richard Walters, Madison Ballet’s rehearsal director. Producing a new, full-length ballet is no small feat; it’s expensive and time-consuming, Malik notes. However,  he was drawn to the idea of adapting a work with compelling psychological undertones, and presenting it to audiences in a way that has rarely been seen before.

“I was tossing back and forth between this and Frankenstein, and I just felt like Jekyll & Hyde really hasn’t been done, outside of a musical, in America,” he says. “I also thought, ‘What can we give Madison that’s exclusively for Madison?’”

There’s dynamic choreography and original costuming, along with innovative lighting design from resident light designer Julie Ballard, Malik says. Serendipitously, the production is set to run at MYArts over Halloween weekend (Oct. 29-Nov. 1).

Closing out the year is Madison Ballet’s annual production of The Nutcracker, Dec. 11-21 at Overture. This year, the company has made some changes to the choreography and upgrades to costumes. Eventually Malik wants to offer a complete revamp of the classic.

What’s next?

The celebration over its century in existence isn’t the only thing happening at the UW-Madison Dance Department. One of the guiding themes for this upcoming school year is “new now next,” says department chair Li.  “It’s a good time of reassessing, taking stock of things and really looking at ourselves,” she says. “Reflecting on our department’s innovative beginnings, and groundbreaking contributions to the field.”

Li promises “really interesting, thought-provoking work” by UW professors as well as visiting artists.

This fall, professors will present two research concerts: one by professor Kate Corby Sept. 25-26, and a shared concert by professors Omari Carter and Bradford Chin Oct. 16-17. Li says these concerts don’t typically feature students; instead, they give professors a chance to present developments related to their research.

Student performances include a faculty concert scheduled for Nov. 19-21, which will feature work by UW-Madison alum Tiffany Merritt-Brown, as well as choreography from department faculty. The annual Kloepper concert, where all works are choreographed and performed by students, is scheduled for Dec. 5-6.

In spring, the department plans to host a multi-day celebration, April 14-16, in honor of the 100th anniversary, which will include keynote speakers, dance concerts, workshops, social events, screenings, and more, Li says. Tickets for all UW dance performances can be found at dance.wisc.edu/concerts-and-events. 

Training young dancers

Founded in 2020 by Madison’s Kyra Johnson, the nonprofit KLJ Movement aims to make dance accessible by providing inclusive training and performance opportunities.

Johnson was inspired to provide a space where all dancers feel included, regardless of background. “As a young Black dancer in many predominantly white spaces, I’ve learned a lot from those spaces, but at the same time, I was often the only one in those spaces,” she recalls. Johnson wanted KLJ Movement’s offerings to acknowledge and celebrate the cultural imprint and contributions of diverse artists. Instead of shortchanging Black dancers and the history of Black dance, Johnson wants to make them the focus 365 days a year — “increase that representation for dancers of all shapes, sizes, races, ethnicities and ages.”

Due to funding constraints, KLJ Movement has cut back on adult dance training and performance, but will still offer these options to youth ages 4-18, through its recreational and competitive dance programming, Johnson says, with monthly drop-in dance classes, too.

In December, KLJ plans to release a holiday-themed dance video and host a winter student concert Dec. 5 (venue is TBD, but updates will be posted on KLJ Movement’s website or Instagram account, @klj.movement).

Madison Contemporary Dance has studio classes for young dancers and an after-school program, which offers dance programming at area schools.

The company will also be preparing for its annual holiday concert, “Holidays Collide,” which will take place on Dec. 5-6 at Madison College’s Mitby Theatre. Inspired by the film The Nightmare Before Christmas, the concert will feature high-energy contemporary and hip-hop dance performances from dancers of all ages, says Sara Rohs, the company’s artistic director.

It’s in partnership with Hitterz Collective, a hip-hop-inspired, Madison-based dance collective. “What sets ‘Holidays Collide’ apart is the way it brings classical and street dance styles together in one production, featuring a professional cast supported by student performers,” Rohs says. “I hope [audiences] feel joy and inspiration to collaborate with others.”