Any parent knows that kids can and will surprise you.
For example, Danceworks' Mad Hot Ballroom program has challenged perceptions of what fifth and sixth graders in Milwaukee schools would love doing. But the success it has had at more than three dozen schools is a testament to the program and to the kids and their teaching artists.
For the sixth straight year, Danceworks has organized the Mad Hot Ballroom and Tap (MHBT) competition. The public event – free and open to all – takes place Saturday, May 12 at The Bradley Center, beginning at 10 a.m.
Nearly 2,000 kids from 43 schools will compete in Latin, swing and funky tap styles in the morning and they'll waltz, salsa and swing in the afternoon, beginning at 12:40.
"From our research, we found that the students entered the MHBT program with 'below average' EQ skills, and throughout the course of the program, made significant gains in their EQ skills," said Danceworks' Executive Director Deborah Farris, referring to an "EQ" (Emotional Intelligence) research study of MHBT students conducted last year and funded by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation.
"In fact, more than half (54%) of participating students experienced positive EQ growth from the beginning to the end of MHBT. This level of advancement among students starting with 'below average' EQ is an outstanding marker of Danceworks’ ability to stimulate growth in those students who may need the program the most."
Students spend 24 hours across 12 weeks learning from Danceworks' professional teaching artists.
I've seen that students at Maryland Avenue Montessori School, located near the OnMilwaukee.com offices on the East Side, love the competition. Even if some begin the program with a skeptical eye, they soon are drawn in by the fun, the music and the athleticism involved. It's infectious.
"We recognize how powerful dance can be in young people’s lives," Farris said.
"Dance develops the discipline for physical activity, which helps establish lifelong fitness habits and supports overall wellness. MHBT gives students new energy for the school day and offers a chance for students to engage with classmates, get moving and feel good about staying active."
The program was modeled after a similar one in New York City schools that was featured in the acclaimed documentary, "Mad Hot Ballroom."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
