Ballet 5:8 invites families, community members, and arts supporters to celebrate the Grand Opening of the School of Ballet 5:8 Fox Cities on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at its new campus located at 1478 Midway Rd., Menasha, WI 54952.
The free public event will feature sample classes, a special performance, studio tours, and opportunities to meet the faculty and leadership team. The celebration marks the beginning of a new chapter in dance education for the Fox Cities following the retirement of longtime educator Jeanette Makaroff, whose leadership helped shape generations of dancers throughout the region.
Earlier this year, following Makaroff's retirement, the Board of Makaroff Youth Ballet approached Ballet 5:8 with an opportunity to continue the organization's legacy and ensure that local students would continue to have access to exceptional ballet training close to home. Since April, Ballet 5:8 has worked to establish a permanent Fox Cities campus, prepare professional studios, recruit faculty, and launch enrollment for the inaugural season.
Rather than replacing what came before, Ballet 5:8 sees the new campus as an opportunity to honor decades of community investment while expanding educational opportunities for future generations.
"The dance education I believe in is centered on child well-being and artistic excellence," said Julianna Rubio Slager, Artistic Director of Ballet 5:8. "We are proud to bring this legacy to the Fox Cities. We believe in the value and potential of every child, and are committed to bringing high-level classical ballet to this community in honor of the incredible Makaroff family and the work they have done these past 60 years."
Classes at the School of Ballet 5:8 Fox Cities officially begin September 8, 2026, serving young dancers, pre-professional students, teens, and adults.
Leading the campus is Brian Norris, an internationally recognized dancer, choreographer, educator, and artistic leader whose career spans more than three decades. A former principal dancer with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and the first Native American male Artistic Director of a classical ballet company in the United States, Norris brings extensive experience in professional performance, artistic leadership, and dance education.
"The opportunity before us is about more than preserving dance training," said Norris, "it's about creating a place where young people can develop confidence, discipline, creativity, and a lifelong love of the arts while receiving exceptional instruction in a supportive environment."
The School of Ballet 5:8 Fox Cities aims to provide professional-level ballet education while remaining accessible to families throughout the region through scholarships, community partnerships, and programs for dancers of all ages and experience levels.
Grand Opening Schedule
Free Sample Classes
Advance RSVP Required
10:15 – 11:00 AM
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
11:15 AM – 12:45 PM
Performance
1:30 – 2:30 PM
Advance RSVP Required
Guests will enjoy a special performance featuring Ballet 5:8 artists and students.
Meet the Ballet 5:8 Team
2:30 – 3:00 PM
Attendees are invited to meet faculty, staff, and leadership, tour the facility, and learn more about upcoming programs and enrollment opportunities.
Event Details
School of Ballet 5:8 Fox Cities Grand Opening
Saturday, August 15, 2026
1478 Midway Rd.
Menasha, WI 54952
Free and open to the public.
RSVP required for sample classes and performance.
For more information or to RSVP, visit: https://www.ballet58.org/fox-cities
About the School of Ballet 5:8 Fox Cities
The School of Ballet 5:8 Fox Cities provides exceptional dance education rooted in artistic excellence, character development, and child well-being. Serving students from early childhood through adulthood, the school offers professional ballet training in a supportive environment where every student is encouraged to grow in skill, confidence, and creativity. As part of Ballet 5:8, the Fox Cities campus joins a nationally recognized organization dedicated to enriching communities through the transformative power of dance.