Montana Ballet Company preparing for busy 2026-27 season

BOZEMAN, Mont. — The Montana Ballet Company is building its 2026-27 season with a focus on making performances more accessible for Montana audiences. 

The company is beginning work on several different pieces, said Executive Director Melissa Bowman. 

Last season, the company performed shows including “Sleeping Beauty” and a Montana-themed “Nutcracker.” The new season is set to begin this fall with a Halloween production featuring pieces from ballets including “Dracula” and “Giselle.” 

The Nutcracker is also set to return for the holiday season. In the spring, the company is planning a full production of “Giselle,” followed later by “Montana Mix,” a performance blending classic American ballet and contemporary ballet with music from Montana composer Erik Funk and Montana country artist Madeline Hawthorne. 

Bowman said the company is continuing to grow and bring in more professional dancers. That work is helping strengthen each production. 

Along with that, the Bozeman Symphony will also perform the music for several of the shows. 

"It elevates the whole show. And I don't think people realize that we do have professional dancers and that this really is taking this turn," Bowman said. "And I think the whole season excites me because I can't wait to see what Montana audiences say. We're really trying to make it and fun and interesting.” 

Bowman has been with the Montana Ballet Company for four seasons, taking over for Elizabeth DeFanti. 

“It’s just such an honor to be a part of and to help it grow and evolve,” she said. “Elizabeth and I first started talking — the idea is to make this a company where Montana dancers can stay and dance professionally, right? So, that’s our long-term goal is to keep our beautiful dancers here.” 

One of those company dancers is Madelyn Kleven, who joined the company last season. She began her dance career in Seattle before working in Pennsylvania and Oregon. She said this last season was very fulfilling and rewarding to work on. 

This season she is looking forward to performing “Giselle.” 

“It has such dramatic storytelling and it’s super accessible for all ages. And then to make it even more magical, we have the symphony with us, which is such an awesome experience and truly creates a wonderful, magical experience for the dancers and audience,” she said. 

It takes hours of work to put each ballet together, Kleven explained. So much work is spent in the studio refining details and working out kinks. The dancers rehearse to the point where they can live in the moment on stage and embrace the story they are trying to tell, she said. 

Kleven has previously had experience working in the community-tailored sort of shows like “Montana Mix” and has enjoyed being able to perform in them.  

"It's always really nice to be a part of something like that, because it's tailored to our Montana audiences," Kleven said. "And so, it's even more accessible for everybody who wants to come and hear those stories and to see these shows." 

Season tickets for the Montana Ballet Company on sale right now.