Madison Ballet Special Projects

Madison Ballet Special Projects Advancing the art of ballet in Madison, WI through creativity, conversation, and community 🩰

THANK YOU to the incredible guests who joined us for Season 1 of At the Barre with Madison Ballet Special Projects! Stay...
05/15/2026

THANK YOU to the incredible guests who joined us for Season 1 of At the Barre with Madison Ballet Special Projects!

Stay tuned for Season 2 dropping this fall! 👀

🎙️Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon music

05/07/2026

In this episode of At the Barre, we go behind the scenes with Madison Ballet company member and emerging choreographer James Wainwright.

James shares how he transitioned from years of playing football into professional dance after starting ballet and musical theatre as a teenager. He reflects on growing up around his mother’s dance studio in Chicago, the sense of belonging he found in the studio environment, and the journey that eventually brought him to Madison Ballet.

We also get a sneak peek into the inspiration behind James’ Innovation II piece, Heure de Fermeture (“Closing Time”), which was sparked by a transformative family trip to Scotland and a memorable evening spent immersing himself in the Edinburgh community.

🎟️ Grab your tickets to see Heure de Fermenture by James at Innovation II @ Overture Center Promenade Hall May 8-10, 2026!

🎙️Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon music

05/05/2026

In this episode of At the Barre, we go behind the scenes with Madison Ballet company member and emerging choreographer Ben Rose.

Ben shares his unique path from competitive ballroom dance into ballet, and how that background continues to influence his creative voice.

He discusses the structure of his new piece Tea for Two for Eight, built as a series of contrasting sections inspired by ballroom competitions, and his goal of highlighting both versatility and individuality within the dancers.

🎟️ Grab your tickets to see Tea for Two for Eight by Ben at Innovation II @ Overture Center Promenade Hall May 8-10, 2026!

🎙️Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon music

05/03/2026

That’s a wrap on our salon series at for the 2025-2026 season!

Thank you to company member for a wonderful conversation on fifteen years with Madison Ballet.

Stay tuned for the MBSP 2026-2027 season lineup coming soon!

05/01/2026

In this episode of At the Barre, we go behind the scenes with Madison Ballet apprentice and emerging choreographer Gianna DeMassio.

In her first season with the company, Gianna shares her journey from a competition dance background to discovering her passion for ballet and how she unexpectedly fell in love with choreography during her training.

We also dive into her choreographic process for Innovation II, where she premieres a new work titled Memento Vivere inspired by a meaningful moment while dancing in Italy. The work is centered around the passage of time and the emotional experience of living in the present.

Gianna offers insight into what it’s like to create work on her peers, how she balances her own movement voice with the established language of a company, and why she’s drawn to grounded, human-centered movement that resonates both with dancers and audiences alike.

🎟️ Grab your tickets to see Memento Vivere by Gianna at Innovation II @ Overture Center Promenade Hall May 8-10, 2026!

🎙️Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon music

Over the past six weeks, MBSP has visited eight local libraries to share the magic of ballet story time with over 600 me...
04/30/2026

Over the past six weeks, MBSP has visited eight local libraries to share the magic of ballet story time with over 600 members of our Madison community!

Thank you to , , , , , , and for welcoming us into your beautiful spaces!

And a huge thank you to students Brooke, Sylvia, Marika, Teagan, Colette, Virginia and Evelyn for sharing for sharing your beautiful dancing for us!

Stay tuned for the return of Nutcracker story time this fall!

04/29/2026

In this episode of At the Barre, we are joined by Charlotte Junge, Company Dancer with and emerging choreographer featured in this season’s Innovation II.

This conversation explores Charlotte’s early dance training, her move to Boston Ballet School at just 14, and the unexpected path that led her to Madison Ballet. She also discusses how her background in multiple dance styles continues to influence her movement vocabulary today.

We get a peek inside Charlotte’s choreographic process and how her piece As Above, So Below has come to life. Inspired by her relationship with her mother, Charlotte shares the beauty of exploring a deeply personal theme in a safe space with her Madison Ballet colleagues.

🎟️ Grab your tickets to see As Above, So Below by Charlotte at Innovation II @ Overture Center Promenade Hall May 8-10, 2026!

🎙️Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon music

Join Madison Ballet Special Projects and host Chris Fahrenthold for At the Barre, our cozy salon series where dance meet...
04/28/2026

Join Madison Ballet Special Projects and host Chris Fahrenthold for At the Barre, our cozy salon series where dance meets conversation in the book-lined heart of

For our final salon of the season, we’re joined by company member Shanon Quirk as she celebrates her 15th season with the company.

Shannon is a revered artist in the Madison community - we’ll see you Thursday for a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ballerina! 🩰

📸: .a.ulrich
madisonwisconsin

04/27/2026

In this episode of At the Barre, we are joined by Eric Stith III, Company Dancer with and emerging choreographer featured in this season’s Innovation II.

We dive into Eric’s evolution as a choreographer, including the moment he discovered his artistic voice and what it means to create work that reflects both his movement influences and his identity as a q***r Black artist.

He also opens up about the creative process behind his new piece, Genesis 1:3, a deeply personal work honoring his grandfather’s life.

🎟️ Grab you tickets to see Genesis 1:3 by Eric at Innovation II @ Overture Center Promenade Hall May 8-10, 2026!

🎙️Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon music

04/23/2026

In this episode of At the Barre, we are joined by Sarah Martin, Company Dancer with and emerging choreographer featured in this season’s Innovation II.

Sarah shares her journey from early training at BalletMet to trainee programs across the country, and how the relationships she built along the way ultimately led her to Madison Ballet.

We dive into Sarah’s lifelong love of choreography: from creating dances as a child to developing her third original work for Madison Ballet. She shares insight into choreographing within the company, including how collaboration and trust influence the studio dynamic.

We also get a sneak peek at the making of her new piece, Circles in Blue, a nostalgic work set to the music of Joni Mitchell that draws on her personal memories and a deep connection to the music.

🎟️ Grab you tickets to See Circles in Blue by Sarah at Innovation II @ Overture Center Promenade Hall May 8-10, 2026!

🎙️Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon music

We heard from so many of you this past weekend at ChoreograpHER who want to hear more from our incredible choreographers...
04/06/2026

We heard from so many of you this past weekend at ChoreograpHER who want to hear more from our incredible choreographers!

You’re in luck! ✨

At the Barre: a Madison Ballet Special Projects Podcast is your behind-the-scenes look at the ideas, stories, and creative processes shaping Madison Ballet’s work.

We’re bringing you up close and personal with the brilliant minds behind our performances.

🎙️Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon music

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