The Dance Department has strong ties to the Milwaukee dance community. The department is home to Ko-Thi Dance Company and its founder and executive director, Ferne Caulker, is a member of the faculty. The first two artistic directors of the Milwaukee Ballet Company were UWM Dance faculty members and the company’s first rehearsal spaces were UWM studios. Alumni have successfully founded and directed several area dance companies, including Danceworks, Wildspace, and Dancecircus. All the dancers in Danceworks and many of the dancers in other companies are Dance Department alumni. The department also has had a long-standing relationship with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater Company. Faculty often serve as guest choreographers and consultants to Milwaukee dance companies, schools, area dance studios and civic organizations.