Milwaukee Ballet Brings Dance into the Community Throughout July

Milwaukee, WI – June 30, 2022 – Milwaukee Ballet launches its annual Ballet Beat summer program next week, continuing its commitment to bring ballet into communities around Milwaukee with a series of free activities, workshops, and performances. Following a successful return to in-person performances and outreach programs throughout the past season, Milwaukee Ballet looks forward to continuing to reengage with the local community this summer.

“Our art form is truly meant to be enjoyed live, and we are enormously fortunate to have been able to present our season programming entirely in-person this past year. During the summer, Ballet Beat allows us to extend our programming in unique ways throughout the community with inspiring performances and engaging programs,” said Artistic Director Michael Pink. “Ballet Beat is an exciting way to connect with a new generation of dance lovers in places that represent the vibrancy of Milwaukee in the summertime.”

Milwaukee Ballet First and Second Company dancers will participate in activities open to the public at popular summer events in Milwaukee, including Washington Park Wednesdays and during Bastille Days, and at community locations like the Wisconsin Athletic Club, Adventure Rock, and Fondy Farmers Market.

Ballet Beat also includes private workshops for partners throughout greater Milwaukee, including PEAK Initiative, Jewish Community Center, Alice’s Garden, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The monthlong Ballet Beat programming concludes with two free outdoor performances: Wednesday, July 27, at St. Ann’s Indaba Community Bandshell, and the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Peck Pavilion on Saturday, July 30. Both performances begin at 6:30 PM and will feature a variety of pieces performed by Milwaukee Ballet dancers and guest performers.

“This year, we have developed an extremely collaborative production for our final Ballet Beat performances–one that celebrates the diversity of artists in Milwaukee,” explained Director of Community Engagement Samantha Martinson. “The beauty of classical ballet will be interwoven with the work of Milwaukee poets, African musicians, flamenco dancers, and students from Milwaukee Ballet’s Tour de Force program, resulting in an incredible tapestry of creativity and expression.”

Milwaukee Ballet’s community engagement programs reach thousands of students and families each year at public schools, libraries, parks, and performing arts venues.

Schedule of Public Events

July 7, 2022	South Milwaukee Public Library
10:00 AM, 11:00 AM	1907 10th Ave., South Milwaukee, WI 53172
Storytime Workshop Children will get moving during storytime, bringing ballet books to life and exploring dance movements, facial expressions and emotions – all while learning a bit about the ballet world.

 

July 7, 2022	Fondy Farmers Market
6:00 – 7:00 PM	2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53206
Yoga at the Market Milwaukee Ballet offers an evening yoga class at the Thursday Fondy Farmers Market, Milwaukee’s largest and most diverse farmers market.

 

July 11, 2022	Franklin Public Library
2:00 PM, 3:00 PM	9161 W. Loomis Road, Franklin, WI 53132
Storytime and Dance Athleticism Workshop All kids welcome! Children will get moving during storytime, bringing ballet books to life and exploring dance movements, facial expressions and emotions – all while learning that a dancer’s job is just as demanding as a professional athlete’s.

 

July 14, 2022	Bastille Day West
Festival: 4:00 – 10:00 PM	West Vliet Street
Class/Demo: 5:30 PM	5811 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee, WI 53208
Barre Class, Demo, and Sneak-Peek Performance Milwaukee Ballet celebrates the French art of classical ballet at the first-ever Bastille Day West by offering a ballet class, educational demo, and sneak-peek of the July season finale performance.

 

July 15, 2022	Adventure Rock
5:30 – 7:00 PM	613 S. 2nd St., Milwaukee, WI 53204
ON BALLET? BALLET ON!  Barre Class and Sneak-Peek Performance Milwaukee Ballet is stopping by Walker’s Point to teach a barre class for climbers and to show that a dancer’s job is just as demanding as any other professional athlete’s. Afterward, climbers can watch a sneak-peek of the July season finale performance.

 

July 16, 2022	Bastille Days – Kidz Day Event
Festival: 10 AM – 3 PM	Cathedral Square
Demo: 1:30-2:30 PM	520 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
All kids welcome! East Town Association presents Bastille Days, where Milwaukee Ballet will be stopping by to celebrate the classical art of ballet.

 

July 19, 2022	Milwaukee Public Library – Bay View Branch
3:30 – 4:30 PM	2566 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207
Dance Athleticism Workshop and Sneak-Peek Performance Milwaukee Ballet will present an interactive workshop where participants will learn that a dancer’s job is just as demanding as a professional athlete’s. Afterward, the dancers will present a sneak-peek of the July season finale performance.

 

July 20, 2022	PEAK Initiative at Tiefenthaler Park
1:00 PM	2480 W. Cherry St., Milwaukee, WI 53205
Demo and Sneak-Peek Performance Milwaukee Ballet presents an educational demonstration about the classical ballet art form and invites everyone to enjoy a sneak-peek outdoor performance in beautiful Tiefenthaler Park.

 

July 20, 2022	Washington Park Wednesdays
5:15 PM	Washington Park
	4599 W. Lloyd St., Milwaukee, WI 53208
Demo and Sneak-Peek Performance Milwaukee Ballet continues Washington Park’s tradition of providing cutting-edge cultural entertainment with an interactive ballet demonstration and a special sneak-peek of our July season finale performance.

 

July 21, 2022	Milwaukee Public Library – Bay View Branch
10:30 – 11:15 AM	2566 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207
Storytime Workshop Children will get moving during storytime, bringing ballet books to life and exploring dance movements, facial expressions and emotions – all while learning a bit about the ballet world.

 

July 25, 2022	Wisconsin Athletic Club – West Allis
7:00 – 7:30 PM	1939 S. 108th St., West Allis, WI 53227
Demo and Sneak-Peek Performance Milwaukee Ballet stops by the Wisconsin Athletic Club to demonstrate how training in classical ballet can increase strength, flexibility and fitness followed by a special sneak-peek of the July finale performance.

 

July 28, 2022	Fondy Farmers Market
6:00 – 7:00 PM	2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53206
Ballet Barre Class and Sneak-Peek Performance Milwaukee Ballet offers a classical ballet barre class at the Fondy Farmers Market, followed by a sneak-peek of the July finale performance.

 

Finale Performances

Experience the exuberance of Milwaukee Ballet in fresh air! Ballet Beat presents virtuosic selections from the classical ballet canon alongside new choreographic work from Amanda Lewis (MBII) and Calvin Hilpert (Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy Faculty), interwoven with works and performances by Milwaukee poets Mikey Cody Apollo and Michaela Lacy, Xalaat Africa Drum and Dance, flamenco dancer Kerensa DeMars, and a world premiere from Tour de Force Glissade student Namine Eiche in collaboration with Milwaukee Ballet Artist Itzel Hernandez.

 

July 27, 2022	St. Ann’s Indaba Community Bandshell
6:30 – 7:30 PM	2450 W. North Avenue
	Milwaukee, WI 53205

 

July 30, 2022	Marcus Performing Arts Center, Peck Pavilion
6:30 – 7:45 PM	929 N. Water Street
	Milwaukee, WI 53202

 

Ballet Beat is made possible through support from United Performing Arts Connect and Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.