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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

The Pursuit of Tappiness

Posted on by 10Web Support

In honor of Danceworks’ 20th Anniversary, we are sharing 20 stories of individuals who have made an impact on—or who have been impacted by—Danceworks and our programs. This is the first in our series, “20 Years, 20 Stories.”

Amy and Gabi - the early years.

Amy with her daughter Gabi, and a set of dance-themed flash cards.

Many of you know Amy Brinkman-Sustache as the woman who “uses her feet to tap out the rhythms of life,” as Crocker Stephenson said in a Journal Sentinel article on her in 2005. She shares that rhythm with students of all ages and abilities at Danceworks and throughout the city.

What you may not know is that when Danceworks opened its doors in 1992, co-founders Polly Morris and Mary Newton asked Amy to be the Studio Director.

Amy came with experience. She started teaching dance lessons to students in her family kitchen at the age of 10. This prepared her well for what would lie ahead; with Danceworks’ focus on taking the work beyond the studio and theatre and into the community, you never know where you might end up having to teach or perform. In addition to tap, Amy has taught jazz, modern and ballet. She also choreographs.

In the early days, Danceworks produced many independent artists’ concerts, Amy’s work among them. For one of her concerts, Amy hired Sarah Wilbur and other UWM dancers. In 1997 Danceworks Performance Company (DPC) was launched—the new company named by Amy. (Sarah Wilbur became DPC’s first Artistic Director, by the way.)

Amy is responsible for much of what makes Danceworks unique, approachable and successful:

  • When her 3-year-old daughter Gabi started placing tickets for post dinner dance performances beside her parents’ dinner plates, Amy decided it was time for some formal training.  Classes for 3-year-olds were added to the schedule and then eventually our extremely popular Hip Hop classes.
  • When Amy needed something for Gabi to do on days off from school, Danceworks’ School Day Off Workshops entered the scene.
  • When Polly received funding from the NEA for a 50+ Initiative, which brought dance and visual arts to Milwaukee County senior sites, it was Amy who said, “Let’s add 50+ classes to the schedule!”
  • When the idea of the Mad Hot Ballroom program came up, it was Amy who added the very popular Tap component to make Danceworks Mad Hot Ballroom and Tap (MHBT). As our lead Tap teacher, she choreographs all the tap dances, trains the tap teachers and teaches in the program herself.
Amy-&-Gabi

Amy and Gabi dancing together with DOT.

“As an MHBT faculty member, it’s amazing to see a child who normally feels invisible at school put himself out there, learn something new and gain the confidence to be a leader among his peers,” Amy told me.

It’s perseverance like Amy’s that has made Danceworks what it is today.

“From the beginning, Danceworks’ focus has been on using the arts to strengthen the community and make a difference in someone’s life. Creating, connecting and building have been on our ‘to do list’ every day for 20 years.”

I’m proud to work alongside Amy.

There are many wonderful 20th Anniversary stories to share, and I will be doing that over the coming months. As the only ‘Danceworker’ who was here when the doors opened in 1992 and is still here today, Amy deserves our recognition and applause. Here’s to you, Amy—and here’s to another 20 years of Tappiness!



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.