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6 days ago

Danceworks, Inc.
Spring Break is almost here at Danceworks and we want to keep you moving through this break! Signup today for one, two, or three of our Maintenance classes and save! See you there. PRERECORDED Barre Workout Classes2 classes available for the price of 1, Purchase by Monday, March 25, and available through March 27CLASSES:Thursday, 3/28 Barre Workout at 9:15am VIRTUALFriday, 3/29 Barre Workout at 9:15am Friday, 3/29 Classical Ballet Barre at 10:30am VIRTUALSign up at the link in our bio! ... See MoreSee Less
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6 days ago

Danceworks, Inc.
Summer is right around the corner and camps are starting to fill up! Sign up today to secure a spot in one of our popular summer camps for your child!🎨💃🏽🎭Exploration, creativity, and play are needed now more than ever, and Danceworks’ Summer Creative Arts Camps are here to deliver! Our team of professional arts educators have provided high-quality arts programming for over 25 years, and are dedicated to helping students see the world through imagination and creativity. Join us for a fun-filled week of artistry in an environment where imagination thrives and lifelong passions are discovered.Sign up at the link in our bio today✨ ... See MoreSee Less
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1 week ago

Danceworks, Inc.
Announcing Danceworks Performance MKE’s third and final show of the 2023-24 season, "Dixit Dominus and Cantos"! We are so excited to be partnering with vocal early music ensemble, Aperi Animam, and working with guest choreographer, Maria Gillespie on this concert ! Description detailed below⬇️✨“Dixit Dominus and Cantos” runs May 17-19, 2024at Calvary Presbyterian Church935 W. Wisconsin AvenueMilwaukee, WI 53233Joining forces, Danceworks Performance MKE and APERI ANIMAM set out on a rhythmic journey with George Frideric Handel’s passionate rendition of ‘Dixit Dominus.’ Composed by the prodigious 22-year-old Handel in 1707 during his time in Italy, this earlier work presents a flamboyant tapestry of intricate vocal lines woven with a prominent rhythmic gusto. With its dynamic interplay between soloists and choir, ‘Dixit Dominus’ exudes a sense of dramatic fervor that reflects Handel’s profound ability to evoke both grandeur and intimacy while amplifying the sentiments of the war between heaven and hell. In juxtaposition to Handel’s baroque style, this concert features a world premiere “Cantos” by choreographer Maria Gillespie that carefully pairs sophisticated repertoire with her authentically raw movement aesthetic, highlighting secular works in the polyphonic style.Event Link: DPMKE presents: Dixit Dominus and Cantos with Aperi AnimamTickets are linked in our bio🎟✨ ... See MoreSee Less
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Danceworks Blog

Ignite — A Hip Hop Dance Experience

Posted on by 10Web Support

Jeffrey Yang

Jeffrey Yang

I first met Jeffrey Yang when I wandered into the art studio one afternoon a few months ago, wondering who the nice looking young man was working away on his computer, and introduced myself.

“Wacha doin’?  I asked.

“Working on a promotional video of Danceworks classes.”

“Oh, you’re that guy!”

Jeff had volunteered to make a video that promoted Danceworks classes.  We have wanted this for a long time so his gift was amazing to us and will soon be ready to release.

He’s a computer science wiz kid from Grand Rapids, MI who studied at Michigan State University.  He moved to Milwaukee in the summer of 2011 to work for Kohl’s as a technical analyst.  Today, he works a 9 to 5 desk job and dances evenings – teaching and rehearsing.  He found Danceworks in the summer of 2012 and has been teaching and helping out around the studio ever since.

It’s true, he is an amazing dancer and choreographer and we are excited he will be featured in our upcoming DanceLAB production IGNITE — a Hip Hop Dance Experience.   But what really captured my attention about Jeff was his willingness to pitch in and give what he could to get involved.  It’s people like Jeff that keep Danceworks moving forward.  Thank you Jeff!  –Deb Farris

Gabi Sustache and Jeff Photo credit: Jon Liebherr

Gabi Sustache and Jeff
Photo credit: Jon Liebherr

If you were to come into Danceworks about a year ago and ask for Jeffrey Yang, you would probably get the response, “Who?” At the time, I was just a random walk-in who was new to town; but my affiliation with Danceworks quickly grew as I began volunteering at their shows. I would jump at any opportunity to usher, and I would often volunteer multiple times on the same weekend for the same show. After a couple months of ushering at Danceworks, I saw many performances, and I remember wondering what it would be like to dance in one of their shows—instead of just moving the ballet barres before and after!

It wasn’t until college that I started to discover dance. Growing up I was never exposed to dance classes or performances; so when I first got to Danceworks, I found it fascinating to watch the unfamiliar dance styles such as ballet, contemporary and tap. But, being a hip hop dancer, I would have enjoyed seeing a show where they featured performances I could relate to. Once I found out that Danceworks did not have a hip hop company (they had “Fuel” many years ago, but that company dissolved when Cedric Gardner left the city), I figured I would never get the chance to dance in a Danceworks concert. Then I heard about Ignite.

Ignite: A Hip Hop Dance Experience is going to be Danceworks’ first show in a long time consisting only of hip hop dance. When I first heard about it around the studio, it didn’t occur to me that, for the first time, I could be on the Danceworks stage rather than in the audience. This performance opportunity is special to me because I believe my dance career in Milwaukee started from working at a Danceworks show. Since moving to Milwaukee (two years ago) and that summer of volunteering, I now teach for Danceworks as well as other studios and have made many new dancer friends—some of whom I’ll perform with in Ignite. Now that I’m in a performance instead of ushering for it, I can’t help but think back on how much has changed, and all of the connections and opportunities that have stemmed from the shows I used to volunteer at.

I think Ignite is a great opportunity—not only for me, but for the hip hop community. The hip hop dancers in Milwaukee only get a handful of opportunities a year to perform at a hip hop exclusive show; our opportunities are usually smaller, informal and include performances other than hip hop. The nice thing about Ignite is that anybody is welcome to submit an application; you don’t have to audition to be a part of a performance company or have any prior affiliation with Danceworks to participate. Danceworks is giving hip hop dancers the chance to share their talent in a professional setting, and for most—at least, for me—this will be their most legitimate performance yet.

Sometimes, I feel like hip hop doesn’t get equal recognition as an art form in comparison to other styles of dance; so it’s nice to see hip hop share the same stage that I’ve seen so many contemporary and ballet performances on. I think the individuals in this genre of dance are very supportive of one another; so I’m excited to cheer on my peers and feed off of their energy to hopefully put on a very entertaining show. Thank you, Danceworks!



About Our Blog

Welcome to the Danceworks blog, where we're hoping to share a little bit more about the heart and soul behind Danceworks… what made us join the dance and keeps us dancing, what keeps us inspired, and where we can share some of the stories worth telling.