Danceworks, Inc.
Milwaukee nonprofit dance studio with classes for youth and adults, plus perf…
Danceworks, Inc.
Photo: Zaidimar Rivera via Google
Before your first class
New adult students pay $5 for their first class; youth programs begin with foundational styles like creative dance and pre-ballet; classes emphasize building confidence and technique at all levels.
Form-fitting clothing for ballet, contemporary, jazz, and tap; comfortable non-restrictive clothing and sneakers for hip hop; comfortable street clothing and smooth-sole shoes for ballroom/Latin.
Proper footwear is required by style: ballet shoes for ballet, tap shoes for tap, jazz shoes for jazz, dance sneakers for hip hop.
Adult: $5 first class (new students), $45 for unlimited week pass (new students), ongoing drop-in rates available.
About this studio
Danceworks, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 with a mission to enhance joy, health and creativity by engaging the community through dance. The studio operates from two locations: the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center at 325 W. Walnut St in Milwaukee, and a satellite location at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Whitefish Bay.
Adult classes run year-round with drop-in options welcome, spanning ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop, ballroom, Latin styles, barre, Zumba, Bhangra, Pilates, African Dance, and dance fitness. A new adult student's first class costs $5, with an unlimited week pass available for $45. Youth classes are offered by session or for the full year, with styles including ballet, pre-ballet, creative dance, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, theatre dance, ballroom, and combinations. The studio offers private lessons arranged around your schedule in a wide range of styles and levels.
The teaching faculty includes Richard Ashworth (BFA Dance, University at Buffalo; MFA Dance, UW-Milwaukee), who has performed with Chicago Dance Crash and Chicago Tap Theatre and taught at institutions including Dance Masters of America and Interdanza of Mexico; Melissa Anderson, a ballet instructor certified by American Ballet Theatre who performed with Milwaukee Ballet and the Icelandic Ballet and received the 2024 Chicago National Association of Dance Masters' Artistic Achievement Award; Sejain Bastidas, trained at Fundación Gustavo Franklin Ballet Arte School in Caracas and a professional dancer with companies across South America; Courtney Dorzok, a UW-Milwaukee BFA graduate teaching contemporary and jazz; Jessica Fastabend, who teaches youth classes at the JCC and tap and ballroom for the Mad Hot program; and Yumelia Garcia, a former Joffrey Ballet dancer who performed principal roles with Milwaukee Ballet and studied at Escuela de Ballet Gustavo Franklin in Caracas.
Danceworks operates several performance companies: Danceworks Performance MKE (DPMKE), the resident professional company, led by artistic director Christal Wagner and a creative team including Katelyn Altmann, Cuauhtli Ramírez Castro, and Ashley Ray Garcia; Danceworks On Tap, featuring founding member Amy Brinkman-Sustache and company members Gabi Sustache-Turner, Tina Wozniak, Holly Swenson, and Nikki Junkel; Youth and Intergenerational performance companies; and the DanceLAB Series. Recent performances include Rhythmworks: Ritmo Vivo (July 2026), celebrating living rhythms and cultural influences across the Americas, and Danceworks On Tap: Sole Expressions (August 2026), featuring original works rooted in tap tradition. The studio also hosts Get It Out There – Youth, a platform for young performers and choreographers to present original work in dance, music, theatre, and spoken word.
The studio offers private lessons, rentals, and school day off workshops. It runs Rhythm In The District, a free summer community dance series in downtown Milwaukee's Deer District featuring salsa, line dance, poms/jazz, K-pop, and other styles. A Shining Light Studio Scholarship (in memory of Paulette Johnson) provides partial or complete tuition for families in the Milwaukee area. Foster families receive a 15% discount on youth studio classes and School Day Off Workshops through a partnership with Children's Wisconsin.
What to expect
Your first visit
Adult classes meet ongoing with flexible registration online through Mindbody up to 2 hours before class; new students can take their first class for $5. Youth classes are offered by session with structured curricula in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, and other styles. The dress code is flexible and safety-focused; specific requirements vary by style (ballet shoes for ballet, tap shoes for tap, comfortable sneakers for hip hop, etc.). All students must have a signed waiver on file.
Instructors
Who teaches here
The faculty includes Richard Ashworth (BFA Dance, University at Buffalo; MFA Dance, UW-Milwaukee), Melissa Anderson (American Ballet Theatre certified, former Milwaukee Ballet dancer and 2024 Chicago National Association of Dance Masters' Artistic Achievement Award recipient), Sejain Bastidas (trained in Caracas, professional dancer across South America), Courtney Dorzok (UW-Milwaukee BFA graduate teaching contemporary and jazz), Jessica Fastabend (teaches youth and ballroom), and Yumelia Garcia (former Joffrey Ballet principal dancer).
New to dancing?
What beginners can expect
New adult students pay $5 for their first class; youth programs begin with foundational styles like creative dance and pre-ballet; classes emphasize building confidence and technique at all levels.
What to wear and bring
Before your first class
Dress code
Form-fitting clothing for ballet, contemporary, jazz, and tap; comfortable non-restrictive clothing and sneakers for hip hop; comfortable street clothing and smooth-sole shoes for ballroom/Latin. No dangling jewellery; hair chin-length or longer must be secured neatly.
What to bring
Proper footwear is required by style: ballet shoes for ballet, tap shoes for tap, jazz shoes for jazz, dance sneakers for hip hop. Form-fitting or comfortable clothing appropriate to the style; dangling jewellery should not be worn. Hair chin-length or longer must be secured neatly away from the face.
Studio history
Founded in 1992, Danceworks, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to enhance joy, health and creativity by engaging the community through dance. It is a proud partner of Milwaukee Youth Arts Center and a proud member of United Performing Arts Fund.
Styles offered
20 dance styles taught here
Gallery
The people, the parties and the dancing here
Amenities
Pricing
Approximate lesson costs
Class schedule
Weekly classes and workshops
Danceworks, Inc.hasn't set up a public class schedule yet.
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Frequently asked about Danceworks, Inc.
Quick answers to the most common questions
What dance styles does Danceworks, Inc. teach?
Danceworks, Inc. teaches General, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and 14 more. The full list of styles is shown above on this page along with each genre's classes and lesson options.
Where is Danceworks, Inc. located?
Danceworks, Inc. is located in Milwaukee, WI. See the map above for the exact address and one-tap directions.
Does Danceworks, Inc. offer private lessons?
Contact Danceworks, Inc. directly to ask about private lessons and current class options — their website has the latest details.
Does Danceworks, Inc. teach kids and adults?
Danceworks, Inc. welcomes students of varied ages and experience levels. Contact the studio to learn which classes fit your age group and level.
How do I sign up for classes at Danceworks, Inc.?
The fastest path is to visit Danceworks, Inc. via their website or check the class schedule above. Many studios offer a free or discounted intro lesson — contact them directly to ask.
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Upcoming opportunities
No upcoming opportunities for this studio in the next 90 days.
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