Dance and you’ll feel better. The impacts of dance – physically, mentally, emotionally – are undeniable. Dance fitness classes are a full-body and brain workout. Not only are you moving and sweating, your brain is also firing away to ensure your body keeps up with the choreography. Because you can only focus on the present step, dance becomes a meditation – a way to tune out the noise and center yourself in a moment of movement.
More abstract notions about dance aside: dance fitness is group fitness. Some of us need the motivation of a class structure, a set time or a community to make space for exercise. We want a workout to be fun and fulfilling in ways beyond the body. Lucky for us, Milwaukee has a wonderful array of diverse dance and dance fitness offerings to motivate you to get moving.
1. Cardio Complete: Aerobics
SHAPE-UP SHOPPE, 2697 S. KINNICKINNIC AVE.
Women-only gym – family-owned fitness club – established 1980
The Shape-Up Shoppe is a Bay View institution, celebrating 45 years in 2025. The Shoppe is run by Julie and Dennis Newman, with Julie as the queen of Cardio Complete – an aerobic dance fitness class offered 10 times a week. The upbeat, results-based, women-only classes are designed for high caloric burn, as well as injury prevention and stress reduction. Cardio Complete combines strength training and toning all while maintaining a consistent cardio heart rate to help you shape up. In this all-ages and all-fitness-levels class, the routines are easy to follow, effective, and best of all? Super fun.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
2. Danceworks MKE: Adult Classes
DANCEWORKS STUDIO, 1661 N. WATER ST.
Wide variety of styles – first class is $5 – some virtual
Danceworks certainly wins the award for Most Classes Offered: over 45 a week in styles ranging from Hip Hop to K-pop, African dance to musical theater, 50+ beginner tap to all-levels adult ballet. Founded in 1992, the mission of Danceworks is to enhance joy, health and creativity by engaging the community through dance. Their adult classes have ongoing registration, so you can drop in anytime. But consistency will improve your technique and build momentum – so why not try an unlimited weekly pass for $65?
3. Ko-Thi Dance Company: West African Dance
UW-MILWAUKEE MITCHELL HALL STUDIO 395, 3203 N. DOWNER AVE.
West African dance – beginner-friendly – emphasis on community
Founded in Milwaukee in 1969, Ko-Thi Dance Company has been celebrating and preserving African and Caribbean dance for 55 years. You can delve into this tradition at one of their adult dance classes, Thursdays at UWM’s Mitchell Hall. The West African dance class starts with djembe drums, calling you to rhythm, movement and connection. A warm-up loosens muscles and releases tension before challenging those same muscles to dynamic, precise, and passionate steps and techniques. As the music intensifies, so does your energy for a fantastic workout and beautiful sense of belonging.
4. Magic Mondays: Afro-Latin Dance
DELAWARE HOUSE, 2499 S. DELAWARE AVE.
Inclusive space – all ages & levels – celebrating rich traditions
The brainchild of Karlies Kelley, founder of Panadanza Dance Company, Magic Mondays are just that: magic. This is an Afro-Latin movement experience like no other, celebrating the African roots of Latin America. While fitness isn’t the prime motivation, waking up your muscles and working up a sweat is a natural consequence of digging into a dance from a new country and culture each week. Don’t confuse Magic Mondays with Zumba – although, for some, Zumba can be a gateway to learning authentic styles of dance from salsa to bachata to samba. Magic Mondays are open to all, regardless of skill level or background, and center on finding connection and community through dance.
5. Milwaukee Ballet School: Adult Dance and Fitness
BAUMGARTNER CENTER FOR DANCE, 128 N. JACKSON ST.
Fitness with finesse – for ages 16+ – all skill levels welcome
Is there a more inspiring space to move your body than the Milwaukee Ballet’s Baumgartner Center for Dance? The Milwaukee Ballet School launched yoga and dance fitness classes last fall, in addition to Barre, Gentle Stretch and Strengthen and Pilates. The Dance Fitness class, specifically, is a one-hour high intensity class that fuses pilates, yoga, barre and resistance work with a variety of easy-to-follow dance forms. On the flip side, if it’s true ballet you seek, Milwaukee Ballet School has several classes for that too: beginning, intermediate, advanced and Silver Slippers Ballet.
6. Milwaukee Rec Center: Fitness Classes
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Affordably priced – unique variety – close to home
The nice thing about the Milwaukee Rec Center is that classes are plentiful and, if you live in Milwaukee county, there’s probably one close to home. From Zumba to Belly Dance Aerobics to a Hoop Dance Workout, the offerings are particularly unique and varied – a veritable “something for everyone.” A great perk for your pocketbook: $29 gets Milwaukee County residents eight weeks of classes ($44 for non-residents).
