Milwaukee Ballet Second Company Takes Center Stage

Milwaukee, WI – February 17, 2022 – Milwaukee Ballet’s second company presents its annual showcase, MOMENTUM, on March 5 and 12. The up-and-coming dancers of Milwaukee Ballet II (MBII) perform their biggest show of the season, featuring a mixed repertory program of classical and contemporary dance.

Milwaukee Ballet Resident Choreographer and MBII Rehearsal Director Timothy O’Donnell presents an extended reimagination of his Chopin Etudes.  MBII dancers demonstrate their classical abilities in scenes from Sylvia staged by MBII Artistic Director Mireille Favarel. Rounding out the showcase is the world premiere of a long stretch of night by Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy faculty member Calvin Hilpert.

MOMENTUM runs two weekends, opening Saturday, March 5 (4:00 PM) at Cardinal Stritch University in Glendale, followed by two performances March 12 (4:00 PM and 7:30 PM) at Milwaukee Ballet’s We Energies Foundation Performance Studio at Baumgartner Center for Dance in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward.

The March 2020 run of MOMENTUM was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with only one show performed before shutdown.  “We are beyond grateful to be able to perform MOMENTUM again with a full roster of MBII dancers,” Favarel said. “After a two-year interruption, it is reaffirming and inspiring to see our dancers’ youthful energy back on stage.”

MBII is made up of 19 young dancers from around the world who are dedicating their lives to ballet in pursuit of a professional career. In addition to their training and professional development, they support the Company by performing in mainstage productions, such as The Nutcracker and the upcoming 2021/22 season finale Beauty and the Beast. MBII dancers also serve as ambassadors in the community throughout the year.

“MBII is truly vital to our organizational mission, as the dancers support our artistic productions, help facilitate our outreach programming, and often share their talents assisting in our school,” Milwaukee Ballet Artistic Director Michael Pink said. “Also equally important is that dancers have this opportunity to come through the program and go on to have internationally successful careers. In fact, more than half of our current Company Artists are former MBII dancers.”

Tickets for MOMENTUM are $35 and available for purchase online at www.milwaukeeballet.org or through the Milwaukee Ballet Box Office at 414.902.2103.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.