Danceworks DanceLAB is an experimental performance initiative dedicated to pushing artists and audiences to expand their thinking about dance as an art form.
The focus is on collaboration, fusion of forms and current trends in the field; many events include educational components to encourage artist-to-audience dialogue and participation. Danceworks DanceLAB honors and nurtures the development of new works by dance artists by offering year-round opportunities in the form of performances, internships, mentorships, space access and advocacy for artists serving the Milwaukee community. We stay on the lookout for talented emerging or established dance artists.
Get It Out There
ran October 7, 2023
at Danceworks Studio Theatre
GET IT OUT THERE is an emerging and established artist concert series featuring new work by performing artists of various disciplines in Milwaukee and surrounding areas. Artists showcased their new work on Saturday, October 7th, 2023 in 2 separate concerts at the Danceworks Studio Theatre, ranging from contemporary, dance theatre,
voice and music composition. This performance was presented through the Danceworks DanceLAB concert series.
>>View the Playbill
>>Meet the Artists of Get It Out There 2023
Danceworks On Tap: It’s Tappening!
ran August 12-13, 2023
at Danceworks Studio Theatre
It’s Tappening!, a lively tap dance concert that featured original works that celebrate the union of movement and sound.
Choreographers for this exciting show included Danceworks On Tap Artistic Director, Amy Brinkman, as well as company members Tori Isaac, Gabi Sustache and Tina Wozniak. Cyenthia Vijayakumar performed a classical Indian Dance that emphasized the rhythmic footwork of Kathak dance. Finally, professional tap dancer and Danceworks faculty member Richard Ashworth also set choreography on the company as well as created new work with Danceworks Tap Performance Workshop.
Shepherd Express cited DOT as having “ –a conversation in a language of feet and floor as social and compelling as a good drum circle.” and also mentioned “the audience whooped and applauded explosively for each act in the tight, intelligent, perfectly executed hour of entertainment.”
>>Meet the Artists of Danceworks On Tap
Rhythmworks: Swingin’ Algorhythms
ran July 15-16
at Danceworks Studio Theatre
Danceworks presented Rhythmworks: Swingin’ Algorhythms as a part of the Danceworks DanceLAB summer concert series. Rhythmworks brought back flamenco extraordinaire Kerensa DeMars and African dance trailblazer Prince Adrean for a second year. Danceworks Artistic Director, Christal Wagner, showcased her fresh take on contemporary jazz with Danceworks Performance MKE as well as swing jazz performed by Danceworks Youth Performance Company. New to the Danceworks stage was emerging K-Pop ensemble MkeMe Crew. Special guests also included Hip Hop duo Gabi Sustache and Wezley Turner, as well as Afro Swing virtuoso Patrice Nasslang, rooting us to vernacular swing stylings of the 30’s, 40’s and today. This summer’s Danceworks’ Performance Workshop Series featured choreography by Danceworks K-Pop instructor AlexVanissaveth and a crew of 15 performers!
>>Meet the Artists of Rhythmworks
Rhythmworks
ran August 13-14, 2022
at the Danceworks Studio Theatre
Danceworks brought together a platter of tasty dance techniques and styles with one commonality: complexity of rhythm. In year two of this annual concert, Danceworks on Tap’s sophisticated and electrifying work featured the choreography of Gabi Sustache, Tori Isaac and Anette Smedema and DOT Director, Amy Brinkman. Returning ensembles Aarambh Kathak Dance and McNamara McCarthy Irish Dance each presented 2 new works and new to the Danceworks Studio Theater is Studio K Flamenco with Choreography by Kerensa DeMars featuring live music by collaborator Marija Temo. Midwest’s rising star and West African choreographer Adrean Maxwell (Prince Adrean) joined this powerful showcase. Emerging performers showcased Hip Hop, Tap, and Jazz following the Danceworks’ Performer Workshop Series with Choreography by Rich Ashworth, Gabi Sustache and Gina Laurenzi, who also brought a playful Duet set on Danceworks Performance MKE.
Rhythmworks Artists:
Aarambh Kathak Dance; McNamara McCarthy Irish Dance; Studio K Flamenco; Prince Adrean; Danceworks Performance MKE; Danceworks on Tap; Danceworks Performance Workshops
>>Meet the Artists of Rhythmworks
Get It Out There
ran July 30, 2022
at the Danceworks Studio Theatre
GET IT OUT THERE is an annual concert of works in progress and finished works by emerging and established artists through the Danceworks DanceLAB Summer Series. This Get It Out There‘s 2 distinct shows featured 12 creators from various disciplines, ranging from Bollywood to Contemporary to Bharatanatyam. Each performance was unique in its presentation and audience members were encouraged to attend both performances.
Summer 2022 Artists Selected to present work:
Joan Luciano Vargas; Rae Zimmerli; Kanchana Srinivasan; Geovanni Virella-Torres; Catey Ott; Desmond Cotton; Catey Ott Dance Collective; Kaitlyn Moore; Katelyn Altmann; Lavanyaa Surendar; Zoe Glise; Gayle Rocz
>>Meet the Artists of Get It Out There 2022
Rhythmworks
ran August 7-8, 2021
in Danceworks Parking Lot
Danceworks brought together a platter of tasty dance techniques and styles with one commonality: complexity of rhythm. From a sly swing beat to a rocking 4/4 rhythm, Danceworks Performance MKE and Danceworks On Tap were joined by guest artists Cyenthia Vijaykumar (Kathak Indian classical dance), McNamara McCarthy School of Irish Dance, and Joshua Yang (Hip Hop) to present to you an exploration of rhythmic styles, ranging from weighted percussion via the soles of the feet to the internal rhythm explored by a soulful body. This concert featured original music and performance by percussionist Paul Westfahl, and breakout flutist Jennifer Rodriguez. If we were to fit this show in the bottle, it would likely burst before you could take a sip!
Thank you to our show Sponsors:
Artist Sponsorship by Bob BaldersonIn-Kind Sponsorship by Ogden & Company, Inc.
Get It Out There
ran January 18, 2020
at the Danceworks Studio Theatre
Get It Out There presented the hottest new work in our community created by area performing artists from a variety of disciplines. Immediately following each performance, audience members were invited to stick around to mingle and share feedback with artists.
>View the 2020 Get It Out There: Program A playbill
>View the 2020 Get It Out There: Program B & C playbill
Get It Out There
ran September 12, 2019
at the Danceworks Studio Theatre
Get It Out There presented the hottest new work in our community created by area performing artists from a variety of disciplines. Immediately following each performance, audience members were invited to stick around to mingle and share feedback with artists.
>View the 2019 Get It Out There playbill
> View the 2019 DanceLAB: Get It Out There photo album
Movement Media Lab
ran September 8, 2019
at the Danceworks Studio Theatre
Local film and video artists showcased dance and movement-focused media projects in a variety of genres, including experimental, narrative, documentary and animation. The Movement Media Lab invited a process-based approach to analyzing and translating choreography/movement to the screen. The lab also looked at the relationship to the body in a 2D format, and highlighted movement through editing.
> View the 2019 Movement Media Lab playbill
Danceworks On Tap: Tap Talk
Saturday, August 10, 2019 // 6pm & 8pm
Sunday, August 11, 2019 // 2:30pm & 6pm
at the Danceworks Studio Theatre
Presented by Jane Lewis & Mickey Maier
Additional support from Lamont A. Johnson, Pam Kriger Donor Advised Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation, and Bob Balderson
Danceworks On Tap: Tap Talk sent and received messages through rhythmic communication in a dynamic exchange. Unfolding sequences and layers of audible texture create what is most unique about tap dancing — movement your eyes can hear!
> View the 2019 Danceworks On Tap: Tap Talk playbill
> View the 2019 Danceworks On Tap: Tap Talk photo album
DanceLAB Teen: Conversations
ran August 3, 2019
at the Danceworks Studio Theatre
This concert featured original work from Danceworks Youth Performance Company Artistic Manager and Danceworks Performance Company member, Gina Laurenzi. Laurenzi set new choreography, improvisational structures, and infused movement created by dancers throughout to create a unique collaboration with teen artists. Concepts were drawn from both the dancers’ own personal experiences and the moods the music evokes. DanceLAB Teen: Conversations featured the music of Chicago band, Twin Talk.
> View the 2019 DanceLAB Teen: Conversations playbill
> View the 2019 DanceLAB Teen: Conversations photo album
Ignite: A Hip Hop Dance Experience
ran July 27 – 28, 2019
at the Danceworks Studio Theatre
Presented by an Anonymous Community Donor
Ignite continued to blow up the Danceworks Studio Theatre with the area’s best and most exciting hip hop crews for the 7th year in a row! These high energy performances are a DanceLAB favorite.
> View the 2019 Ignite: A Hip Hop Dance Experience playbill
> View the 2019 Ignite: A Hip Hop Dance Experience photo album
Questions? Visit our FAQ page or contact Dani Kuepper, Artistic Director, at 414.277.8480 x6001 or via email.
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