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MBSA PERFORMANCES & SHOWCASES
What we see onstage is the result of countless hours of toil, sweat, failure and resilience. It is only by becoming a stronger person on the inside that we get to the seemingly effortless level of confidence exuded by our students.
Spring Showcase: Coppélia
This year's Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy Spring Showcase will be a new adaptation of the beloved classical ballet Coppélia. This production will be created in 2026 by School & Academy Director Kristin Dimmer in conjunction with faculty members. We are delighted to bring this charming 19th-century ballet about love, jealousy, and magical dolls, to our MBSA students and families. The story follows spirited Swanhilda who suspects her fiancé Franz is smitten with the beautiful but silent Coppélia, a lifelike doll made by the eccentric toymaker Dr. Coppélius. Swanhilda sneaks into his workshop to discover the truth and pretends to be the doll herself to teach Franz a lesson, leading to comical chaos and a happy village wedding for the real couple.
MBSA encourages all students in Pre-Ballet I through Academy II to participate in the annual showcase. Performing demonstrates the skills learned in ballet class, increases self-confidence, and provides an opportunity to work towards a project in which each child is an important part of a larger whole…and it is a lot of fun!
Parent Volunteers
Marize Fumero and Timothy O'Donnell, Photo Mark Frohna
Our annual spring showcase would not be a success without the many gracious MBSA parent volunteers assisting backstage! Volunteers help to keep students relaxed, organized, and on task during dress rehearsals and the performances.
Complete volunteer details are listed in the Family Guide linked above, and online sign-up links are linked below. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the parent volunteer duties and descriptions outlined in the Family Guide prior to signing up. Volunteers will not be able to watch from the audience for any portion of the performance but are welcome to volunteer backstage even when their student is not performing.
- Boys Class Volunteer Sign-Up
- Baumgartner Center for Dance Volunteer Sign-Up
Ascend
Join us in celebration of our 2025/26 Pre-Professional Program students as they take the stage once more this season in Ascend. Tickets will be available soon.
Friday, May 22, 2026
3:30pm and 7:00pm showtimes
We Energies Performance Studio, Baumgartner Center for Dance
128 N Jackson St, Milwaukee
Weekly Academy Rehearsals
Saturday, April 4 - Spring Break. No classes or rehearsals in session.
Costume Fittings
Monday, April 6, starting at 6:30pm - Dawn, Prayer, Mazurka, Czardas, Dr. Coppelius, Langen, and Workshop Dolls
Thursday, April 9 - 6:30pm Friends, 7:00pm Le Travail, 7:45pm Hours
Saturday, April 11
11:45am-12:30om Friends, Swanhilda, Dr. Coppelius
12:30-1:30pm Swanhilda and Dr. Coppelius
12:45-3:15pm Academy I (with Dawn and Prayer 12:45-1:00pm, and Pre-Academy until 1:30pm)
1:30-2:15pm Dr. Coppelius and Franz
1:30-3:00pm Pre-Academy
Academy Division Students in Pre-Academy, Academy I, and Academy II will have weekly rehearsals on Saturdays following morning classes. Students will have a 30 minute lunch break prior to rehearsals as scheduled. Rehearsal schedules for the coming Saturday will be posted by Tuesday each week.