Danceworks Mad Hot Rhythm

Striking a pose at the 2022 Mad Hot Rhythm Competition.

Danceworks Mad Hot Rhythm (formerly Mad Hot Ballroom and Tap) is an innovative educational dance program, providing arts and physical education to youth in Milwaukee-area schools. Over the last 15 years, Danceworks Mad Hot has touched the lives of more than 33,600 students in grades 4-6 throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.

Mad Hot Rhythm’s Primary Goals:

• 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. Danceworks teaching artists provide two weekly one-hour virtual and/or safe in-person dance classes for 18 weeks – 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.

Check out the Mad Hot Rhythm 2020-21 Program Report

Danceworks Mad Hot Rhythm 2022-23 Programming is supported by:

(Donors $1,000 & up)

• Bader Philanthropies
• United Performing Arts Fund
• Brewers Community Foundation
• Forest County Potawatomi Foundation
• Wisconsin Arts Board
• STRATTEC Security Corporation
• Julia Uihlein
• Bob Balderson
• Amy & Dennis Connolly
• Martin Family Foundation

Click here for some great press Danceworks Mad Hot has received.