The Nutcracker by Dance Wisconsin

Dance Wisconsin (DW) is a 501(c)(3) pre-professional dance company based in Madison, Wisconsin, dedicated to promoting dance, offering performance opportunities, and providing dance education throughout the region. The organization has a long legacy — the production of The Nutcracker is part of a nearly 48-year tradition in Madison.

• DW welcomes an open community: dancers, artists, costumers, volunteers and others are invited to be involved.

• The Nutcracker:

  • Dates: December 20 & 21, 2025 at 2:00 pm.

  • Location: Wisconsin Union Theater (on the UW-Madison campus) in Madison.

  • Significance: The only local Madison performance of the Nutcracker that features a live orchestra (the DW Orchestra), vocals from the Monona Grove High School Singers, and a cast drawn from across south-central Wisconsin (Dane, Green, Rock, Iowa, Waukesha and Sauk counties).

  • New features: For 2025, the production debuts new costumes, updated choreography, and continues the tradition of bringing holiday joy to the community.

• This production is not just a standard Nutcracker: it combines live music, regional dancers (including youth through adult), and large-scale production values in a community-rooted event.

• The tradition and longevity — nearly five decades — show that it has become a local holiday fixture in Madison.

• Because it draws from many counties and includes a live orchestra and singers, it offers a richer experience than many smaller local ballet productions.

• Use code RADIO25 to get discounted tickets