PRIMARY GOALS OF MAD HOT RHYTHM:
- To improve students’ self-confidence.
- To improve students’ respect for self and others.
- To improve students’ attitudes toward physical activity.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
Danceworks Mad Hot Rhythm runs November-April. Participating schools select one or more 5th or 6th grade classrooms to participate in Mad Hot Rhythm. Danceworks teaching artists provide two weekly one-hour dance classes for 18 weeks for 36 total hours of dance instruction. Each year the program culminates with a city-wide competition for all participants, as well as culminating performances in the schools. The Competition is free and open to the public! Families incur no cost for this program.
MAD HOT RHYTHM COMPETITION
This incredible annual celebration shows off the hard work of this year’s 4th – 6th grade students from 32 classrooms from Milwaukee area schools, as they compete in three dance styles: Hip Hop, Jazz and Salsa. The Competition is free and open to the public – join us!
TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2025 @
UW-MILWAUKEE PANTHER ARENA
Competition 10:00am
Finals & Awards 12:30pm
The Competition will also be livestreamed on Facebook!
sponsors
Danceworks Mad Hot Rhythm 2023-24 Programming is supported by:
- Bader Philanthropies
- UPAF
- Forest County Potawatomi Foundation
- CAMPAC
- Milwaukee Arts Board
- Wisconsin Arts Board
- We Energies Foundation
- Julia Uihlein
- Geri G. Olson
- Kristine Szatmary
- Carol and Jim Ross
- Alison Griffin
- Patricia Kiefer
- Anonymous Donors
- Martin Family Foundation
HISTORY
18 years ago we started Mad Hot in just 3 schools. The program quickly spread, and the 2023-24 program is in 48 classrooms in 38 schools! The program is thriving and we have a great bunch of dancers ready to show off their new skills. The mission and motivation of Mad Hot have always centered around the kids, and it remains the same after 18 years. Mad Hot Rhythm, formerly Mad Hot Ballroom and Tap, culminates in a Competition at the UW Panther Arena every spring.
CONTACT
Contact Jessica Fastabend, Community Education Director, at 414.277.8480, or via email.
PRIMARY GOALS OF EMOJI YOGI:
- To improve students’ ability to self-regulate.
- To improve students’ identification of feelings.
- To improve students’ understanding of empathy.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
Emoji Yogi is a program developed by Danceworks for K5 and 1st grade students. Participants will be guided through movement, breathing exercises, yoga and storytelling by one of our Teaching Artists. They will be engaged with themes such as kindness, happiness and gratitude with age appropriate practices. Each month students will receive one in-person 45 minute class and 2 additional recorded lessons to be used throughout the month as needed by the classroom teacher.
Danceworks is proud to be partnering with the Choose Love Movement for this program. The Choose Love formula of Courage+Love+Forgiveness+Compassion in Action will help form each lesson.
CONTACT
Contact Jessica Fastabend, Community Education Director, at 414.277.8480 x6005 or via email.
PRIMARY GOALS OF GENERATIONS:
- To improve effective and appropriate communication skills across generations.
- To improve critical thinking skills by making correlations across art forms.
- To improve empowerment through creating intergenerational relationships that build community.
how the program works
Danceworks Generations is an intergenerational, multi-arts residency that partners second and third grade students and seniors in memory care, nursing homes or other senior centered sites. Together they build community through dance, visual art, and other art disciplines.
The 2023-24 Generations Program will include 12 shared sessions lead by Danceworks’ Teaching Artists. Bussing to and from the senior site is included.
SPONSORS
- Bader Philanthropies
- Maihaugen Foundation
- UPAF Kasey’s Fund
- Froedtert Community Investment Fund
- Anonymous Donor
inspiration
Danceworks Teaching Artists begin the creative process by posing an open ended question to intergenerational participants. Some examples of questions could include, “If you had a superpower, what would it be and why’?”, “What do you treasure in your home – and why?” Students and seniors learn about one another through these thoughtful, open-ended questions that invite personal reflection and expression.
The intergenerational participants’ responses to questions inspire the collaborative creation of visual art and dance.
The theme for the 2023-24 program is “Up, Up and Away”. The participants will explore everything in our skies through a multi-arts approach. Danceworks’ Teaching Artists will use the participants’ ideas to guide each session. The intergenerational participants’ responses to prompts will inspire unique artistic collaborations. The sky is the limit!
CONTACT
Contact Jessica Fastabend, Community Education Director, at 414.277.8480, or via email.
PRIMARY GOALS OF DANCE FOR MS
- To increase the sense of community of participants.
- To increase the feelings of self-efficacy of participants.
- To increase the mobility and balance of participants.
how THE PROGRAM WORKS
Research has found that dance (social ballroom dance, ballet and more) have improved quality of life, cognitive function and MS Functional Composite Scores in persons with MS.
Over the last 10 years, Danceworks teaching artists have worked closely with Alex Ng, PhD (Professor in Exercise Science, Marquette University) to develop Dance for MS. The goal of these classes is recreational physical activity. Physical activity is known to be safe and important for health, wellness, and disease management of MS.
Dance for MS classes can take place anywhere. Classes are regularly scheduled at Danceworks‘ Water Street location and various locations in the Milwaukee Metro Area. If you want a Dance for MS classes in your area, reach out Danceworks’ Community Education Director Jessica Fastabend. These classes are for everyone and can be taken with or without a partner. Danceworks is committed to accessibility, and students needing accommodations for ambulatory aids or other kinds of assistance are encouraged to come.
CONTACT
Contact Jessica Fastabend, Community Education Director, at 414.277.8480, or via email if you’d like to learn more about taking a Dance for MS class or attending one of our social events.
PRIMARY GOALS OF RESIDENCIES
- Improve access to dance training, performances and arts experiences in the community.
- Improve critical thinking skills by making correlations across dance styles and art forms.
- Improve empowerment through creating intergenerational relationships that build community.
how residencies work
Danceworks residencies create an opportunity to integrate movement-based educational activities into your organization’s everyday routine. Our dynamic teaching artists present dance classes in a variety of styles that develop coordination, rhythm, balance, strength, flexibility and encourage self expression.
Classes can be designed for a specific grade level and can be tailored to your classroom’s goals.
Every year, Danceworks partners with over 75 organizations including schools, adult day care facilities, community centers, non-profits and businesses, to design custom arts residencies of varying lengths with diverse goals. Programming can connect to academic content areas, a theme, or be based on a specific style of dance.
residency highlights
- Yearlong movement classes at St. John’s on the Lake with seniors in memory care
- 2x weekly classes at St. Ann’s Center for Intergenerational Care Bucyrus
- School year partnership with Boys and Girls Club where 8 centers received classes in Tap, Hip Hop and Latin Dance styles
- Cardio classes at Regency Assisted Living Center
- Winter/Spring Collaboration with Milwaukee Jewish Day School for musical choreography
- Stormonth Elementary Latin Dance classes
- Danceworks Youth Performance Company performed at Betty Brynn
- Hip Hop Workshop for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Organization group meeting
- Notre Dame Elementary afterschool program Latin Dance classes
- UCC Acosta Middle School Hip Hop workshops
- Hip Hop Workshop for Project Kindred
- Latin Dance at Canterbury Elementary in Greenfield
- Wilson Elementary School Girl Scout Dance Badge class
- Samson COA, indoor and outdoor creative movement classes
- Ebenezer childcare (Downtown and Oak Creek) creative movement and Jazz classes
- West Allis Rec Department Bollywood and Hip Hop classes
- Group ballroom classes for adults with MS at Marquette University, Wisconsin Metal Works
- Community Performances at Summerfest, No Studios Dancefest, UPAF Ride for the Arts
CONTACT
Contact Gabi Sustache, Studio Education Director, at 414.277.8480, or via email.
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