Ballet Memphis is planning to open a second Ballet Memphis School location this summer.

The organization has formalized an agreement with the Memphis Jewish Community Center, located at 6560 Poplar Ave. in East Memphis, to operate the school in the MJCC space currently staffed by the Markell School of Dance.

The location will be known as Ballet Memphis School at the MJCC Markell Dance Center, and classes will start there in August.

Ballet Memphis currently operates its professional company and Ballet Memphis School, as well as Youth Ballet Memphis, from its facilities at 7950 Trinity Road in Cordova. Its new headquarters and main school facility in Midtown is under construction and will open in August.

“Maintaining a school presence in the eastern part of the city always has been vital to our strategic plan to serve as much of the Memphis community as possible,” said Janet Parke, director of Ballet Memphis School, in a statement. “The MJCC is not only an ideal geographic location; its history of dance education is a perfect backdrop to our new partnership.”

Classes offered at the Ballet Memphis School at the MJCC Markell Dance Center will be Discover Dance 3, 4, & 5; Ballet 1 through 4; and Older Beginners. All classes will be taught by Ballet Memphis instructors. Traditional Israeli dance may be offered by MJCC instructors, and other dance offerings have yet to be finalized. Current Markell dance students will be evaluated and placed in the comparable Ballet Memphis School level.

Ballet Memphis School will continue its regular class schedule at the Trinity Road location until the end of this semester. Two summer programs also will be held there before the facility closes in July to prepare for the move to Midtown.