Contemporary, ballet, Detroit jit – Nō Studios’ Dance Fest will bring all these forms and more to the Marcus Performing Arts Center on Aug. 2 to build up Brew City as a dance hub.
“Dance Fest is creating an environment for Milwaukee’s artists and art lovers to really come together, so bring the whole family,” says event curator and Water Street Dance artistic director Morgan Williams.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
The fourth annual all-day showcase is meant to uplift Milwaukee’s dance scene while introducing new faces to the city to invite collaboration and innovation. For example, the Ailey II dance company – an offshoot of the prominent Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – puts emerging artists into the spotlight.
The main indoor show begins as the sun sets and features eight companies known for pushing the boundaries of their respective disciplines, including local favorites like Danceworks MKE and visiting groups like Chicago street dance company Dance Crash and Detroit’s House of JIT.
This year, Nō Studios is also expanding to include guided yoga, live music, vendors and food trucks during the day to invite the entire community to try something new. Those interested can take an African dance class taught by Ko-Thi Dance Company or a bachata class taught by Daync Academy.
And the free outdoor pre-show is all local, featuring MKE Irish Dance, TRUE Skool, Water Street Dance and Daync Academy to display Milwaukee’s diverse talent.
“If you are a dancegoer, you’re gonna love it. If you’ve never seen dance, you’re gonna love it,” Williams says. “It’s not just your artistic, thought-provoking dance. We have everything.”
