News Summary
Danceworks, a nonprofit dedicated to dance education in Milwaukee, is relocating from its longstanding Water Street location to the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center by October 2025. This move comes after 25 years at Water Street and is motivated by various factors, including flood damage, rising costs, and a need for improved facilities. Danceworks aims to enhance its offerings and maintain operations for diverse age groups. The new location promises better amenities and opportunities for collaboration within the local arts community.
Milwaukee – Danceworks, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit dedicated to dance education, has announced its relocation from its longstanding location at 1661 N. Water Street to the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (MYAC) at 325 W. Walnut St. The move, which will be completed by early October 2025, marks a significant transition after 25 years at the Water Street site.
The final classes at the Water Street location will occur from September 22-27, 2025, with no classes scheduled for the week of September 29, 2025. A studio sale will take place during the last week at the old location, featuring Danceworks merchandise, furniture, and fixtures.
Several factors have contributed to Danceworks’ decision to move, including flood damages sustained at the Water Street facility, ongoing impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, decreasing arts funding, rising inflation rates, and increasing rent costs. The organization aims to save on operational costs by moving to MYAC, thereby allowing for improvements in facilities and amenities for its students and patrons.
MYAC serves as a vibrant hub for various arts organizations in Milwaukee, currently hosting the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and First Stage, among others. The center offers a studio theater, several performance and rehearsal halls, classrooms, and office space, which will enhance the resources available to Danceworks.
Among the benefits Danceworks will gain from this new location are updated facilities, increased security measures, a larger lobby area, ample parking, and modern water fountains equipped with bottle fillers. This move is expected to foster collaboration with other arts organizations and engage families of children involved in MYSO and First Stage.
Prior to this official relocation, Danceworks has been conducting some activities at MYAC once a week, particularly for the Danceworks Youth Performance Company. The organization, founded in 1992, has a rich history of providing a diverse range of dance classes and activities to all age groups, emphasizing community engagement and the importance of arts education in Milwaukee.
As the organization transitions to MYAC, Danceworks plans to continue offering classes to dancers of various ages, maintaining its unwavering commitment to enriching the local arts community. Board President Renee Griswold acknowledged the historic significance of the Water Street studio while expressing optimism for the future at MYAC.
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Additional Resources
- JSONline: Danceworks Dance Studio Classes
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Danceworks
- BizTimes: Danceworks Moves to Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
- Google Search: Danceworks Milwaukee
- Milwaukee Magazine: Danceworks Moving
- Google Scholar: Dance Education
- Urban Milwaukee: Members Only Free Tickets to Danceworks
- Google News: Danceworks Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
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MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER The MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMilwaukee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Summerfest, Milwaukee Film Festival, and the Milwaukee Boat Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Visit Milwaukee, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and brewing that power the local economy such as Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Wisconsin's dynamic landscape.
