Campus and community artists came together for an evening of music and performance art during Moonshine 2026, hosted by UW–Madison’s Dance Department.
Live music, dance and contemporary theater lit up Lathrop Hall’s Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space during Moonshine 2026. Held on Feb. 27, the annual event brought together campus and community artists for a night of shared performance art. Undergraduate and graduate students took to the stage alongside local Madison dance studios. Atlanta-based artist Stacy Letrice, with expertise in African and Caribbean traditions and dance/movement therapy, also provided a signature solo performance as part of her residency on campus.
Founded and currently run by UW–Madison dance professor Chris Walker, Moonshine celebrates Black excellence and centers the Black experience through local voices. The event has become a campus tradition during Black History Month each year, showcasing performances that include West African, Afro-Caribbean Dancehall and Hip Hop dance forms.
Moonshine 2026 featured a variety of artists from UW–Madison’s Dance Department, as well as local performance arts collectives. Some dancers performed as groups while others showcased their talents as solo acts, with many performing pieces that elevated the Black experience in honor of Black History Month. Xiaomeng ShenMembers of Barrio Dance Studio, located in Madison, perform their version of “Romeo and Juliet.” Xiaomeng ShenBarrio Dance Studio brings movement to the stage in Lathrop Hall’s Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space. Xiaomeng ShenUndergraduate student Sojourner Croom, who is majoring in dance, laces up tap shoes on stage as part of a solo performance. Xiaomeng ShenUW dance students hopped on stage to cheer on members from the Hitterz Collective, a dance education and performance art collective based in Madison. Xiaomeng ShenThe mood was celebratory as participants, including UW dance professor and Moonshine founder Chris Walker (second from left), gathered on stage. Stacy Letrice’s residency on campus culminated with her performance of “Reverence, A Return to Self,” a key feature of the night. Xiaomeng ShenDuring her time on campus, Letrice taught master classes to UW–Madison students enrolled in the Dance Department. She brought her decades of global experience as a dancer, choreographer, mas band leader, and dance/movement therapist to her teachings as well as to her Moonshine 2026 performance. Xiaomeng Shen
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