How the Art Builds Community and Confidence
In general, the arts have a way of storytelling that simply flows. Through words, music, drawings, movement and more, emotions can easily be conveyed. Not just that, but expressed in beautiful, artistic ways that add its own impact to the overall connection to a story.
Dance, through gestures and props, has a special way of connecting to audiences.
Using dance to share history and lessons—not to mention for pure entertainment—within cultures has been done since ancient times. Think Hula dancing in Hawaii, Kathak in India and Ballet in Europe.
In our own backyard, area dance companies provide lessons in a multitude of genres—like jazz, tap, hip hop and more—for both kids and adults. They don’t just offer a place to move, although that’s a significant portion, but much more in terms of personal growth.
“I believe dance classes help to build self confidence and helps the dancer feel like part of a community,” Keegan Baur, Owner and Dance Teacher at Electric Dance Company in Kaukauna, says. “It is nice for them to build a second family. I think the audience can feel the emotions of the dancer by watching them dance. I enjoy choreographing pieces that tell a story or show different emotions.”
“Personal goals such as building confidence, feeling at ease in a social situation, physical activity that is more fun than a gym, getting ready for a life event such as a wedding or quinceanera,” Jessie Spencer, Owner of Valley Social Dance in Appleton, says of reasons to consider dance classes.
“Our dance community is very welcoming and supportive. Students build lifelong friendships. Our students gain so much more than just dance steps.”
But it’s not just the participants who benefit from a dance performance.
“Dance allows the audience to feel emotions,” Kim Mader, Director and Owner of Footworks Dance Company by Kim LLC in Kimberly, agrees. “Dance is a universal language and can influence and convey messages. The audience experiences a wonderful opportunity to see art in motion. The impact on an audience is immeasurable.”
Ballet is a classical dance form with formalized steps that employs grace and poise.
Tap dance is a percussive and rhythmic dance style that has rhythm and musicality.
Jazz dance is a high energy style that incorporates turns, leaps and jumps into the choreography.
Lyrical is a beautiful style of dance that portrays the story of the music; it incorporates skills from jazz and ballet and often shows off a dancer’s lines, control and flexibility.
Hip Hop is a fun, fresh and up-beat street style that evolved from hip hop culture with popping, locking and breaking moves.
Acrobatics is an artistic art form that blends dance and tumbling with feats of flexibility and agility.
Modern dance is a creative and expressive style of dance that steps outside of the box and has abstract movements.
Contemporary dance is innovative and interpretive and is a fusion of different dance genres. As you can expect, musical theater dance is rooted in Broadway and musicals.
Makaroff School of Ballet
Jeanette Makaroff, Owner and Director
“The purpose of the school is to represent the history of classical ballet… although it is fun, it’s learning. It’s really about the art form. Our goal is not so much to make professional dancers, but it’s to help people within the community understand the art form. Our kind of training helps them to appreciate the art form. People think it’s just a little muscle 
movement but you have to change the way your hands look, you have to change the way your arms look, you have to change the way your legs look, your feet look, your posture. It’s literally transforming the body like clay. No one is born with a dancer’s body. It’s math, it’s science, kinesthetic intelligence.
“If you want your child to be a good dancer, don’t put them in dance lessons right away… give her or him music lessons. Let them play with your pots and pans and ‘drum.’ Let them bang their feet and march around the house. They will develop kinesthetic intelligence. At about 6 or 7… any younger and they’re going to burn out.
“My goal is not to create professional dancers, it’s to give anyone and everyone equal opportunity to learn the art form of classical ballet.”
Studio history: It’ll be 65 years… this year… there’s so much that we’re still learning. My father (Nikolai Makaroff) came to the United States after World War II. He was dancing and working and performing with a touring group in Russian Character dance, a sort of marriage of classical ballet and Russian folk dance… He met my mom (Juanita) in New York City when she was a student at the American School of Ballet. They moved to Appleton and started Makaroff School of Ballet in 1960 in our living room! It then went to Neenah… then College Avenue and it moved to our current location in the ‘80s.
Ballet’s impact on students: Work ethic, self-discipline, responsibility, accountability… Accountability is a big one. If you’re going to bother to do something, do it well.
Public performances: We traditionally have had a Spring Concert… stay tuned.
Fun facts: Dancers are musicians first. There’s a quote: ‘The language of ballet has its own inherent rhythm.’ Everybody knows you have a right foot and the left foot, but did you know you have a front foot and a back foot? And sometimes it changes.
Electric Dance Company
Keegan Baur, Owner and Dance Teacher
“I like to think of my studio as all inclusive,” Baur says. “I want to create an environment where everyone is comfortable dancing no matter what their skill level is. I keep it affordable and fun. I offer all different genres of dance from jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. I have competition groups for those that want more of a commitment and recreation groups for those looking to dance just for fun.”
Studio history: This is my 6th year open as Electric Dance Company.
Upcoming performances: The 2025-2026 season starts back up in September. Our recital is May 2 and 3. Tickets will be on sale in April and a link to purchase those will be posted on our social media pages.
Fun facts: My first year open was during COVID. I ran classes over Zoom and had to get creative with the outdoor recital. I tried to keep dancers busy when everything else was shutting down.
My studio has been rapidly growing starting with just 75 dancers during my first year and expanded to 218 dancers for this current year.
Footworks Dance Company by Kim LLC
Kim Mader, Director and Owner
“From a child’s first dance class to their graduation performance, Footworks offers something for everyone from age 2 through adult,” Mader says. “Our Shooting Stars program is for dancers ages 2 through 6 and designed just right for these young kiddos. Our Shooting Stars offerings are: Tiny Toes, Tippy Tappy Toes, Tappers Tutus & Bowties, Twisted Tumblers and Bunheads. Our Enrichment Academy is for dancers ages 6-19, with class offerings in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, acrobatics, lyrical and hip hop. We also offer adult tap dance. Our national award-winning Competition Company is for dancers ages 5-19. We offer a wide variety of dance genres, including styles such as modern, contemporary and musical, along with the previous styles mentioned.” 
Studio history: Footworks has been in business since 2003 and has a long history. After teaching dance at various locations in the Valley, I decided to open our studio in 2003, with plans that my mother would handle the administrative side of the studio while I taught. She was there as we taught our first few weeks of classes. Very unexpectedly, she was tragically diagnosed with a brain tumor and died 7 weeks later. My heart was crushed, as I lost my best friend. With a lot of help from family and friends, along with many prayers, we made it through our first season. Within 3 years we reached our maximum enrollment at our first location and moved into Darboy Plaza, with two dance rooms. With the help of my husband, and many others in our community, we were able to rent and renovate a building in Kimberly near the high school with 3 dance rooms for the past 9 years. This summer is very exciting for us, as we are building a 4 dance room studio on Kimberly Avenue in Kimberly and will be open this fall at our new location.
We strive to create self-confident, responsible, compassionate, creative and intelligent dance artists, who will become the leaders of tomorrow. Dance offers an athletic and artistic outlet. Dance builds confidence, builds team spirit and teaches the value of being a part of a team.
Upcoming performances: Footworks Competition Teams attend several competitions between February and July each season… we culminate our year with a recital. Our recital is usually in May at Kaukauna High School and is open to the public. In December, we open up our studio to family and friends for our dancers to showcase what they have been learning during the first semester.
Valley Social Dance
Jessie Spencer, Owner
“We teach all forms of partner dancing,” Spencer says. “That includes ballroom, Latin, social, weddings, and fun! Our instructors know about 20 different dances. Dances like Waltz, Fox Trot, Swing, Salsa, Polka, and many more!
“We teach both private lessons and group classes. We even have parties twice a month to be able to use what you’ve learned in your lessons.”
Are your studio’s lessons reserved for adults? While we mainly teach adults, we welcome students of all ages. I also teach ballroom at Renaissance School for the Arts – a charter high school.
What are some of the reasons guests decide to take dance lessons with you? The reasons for taking dance lessons are as varied as the people who come into the studio.
Why do you think dance is such a positive way to express creativity? Music and movement light up your brain! It’s hard to be in a bad mood while dancing to your favorite song. Dance is a personal journey that you get to share with a group.
Fun facts: There have been studies about the link between Alzheimer’s prevention and ballroom dancing.
Ballroom dancing is a proven brain boost.
Valley Social opened in 1997. We were previously a franchise studio (opened in 1978). My husband, Chuck, and I just celebrated 10 years of ownership.
