Positively Milwaukee

Underprivileged youth exposed to the arts through dance project

By Carole Meekins

CREATED Feb. 11, 2013

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  • Above the Clouds is a project that is Positively Milwaukee. Video by tmj4.com

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MILWAUKEE - Some local students may not be dancing with the stars yet, but one day they might.

They're being exposed to the arts, through a program called "Above the Clouds.”

Linda Wade came up with the idea after touring prisons with a dance troupe. She realized the best way to turn around troubled lives was to start with kids.

"I knew I wanted to establish a safe place for children where they could experience the arts free of charge," Wade said.

So she came up with "Above the Clouds”, a program that offers free arts classes to kids from troubled neighborhoods. Most come from broken homes.

"Above the clouds is not only a free arts program but it's racially diverse,” Wade said.

The kids get trained in various arts including dance drama and music. Classes are taught by trained educators.

"Above the Clouds" is funded by the Helen Bader Foundation. Maria Lopez Vento is a Program Officer and Manager for the Foundation.

"We wanted to help them grow so they can have a greater impact on the community they serve,” said Vento. “Part of the mission of the Helen Bader Foundation is to support the arts."

Thanks to Linda Wade and Helen Bader Foundation, young people are expanding their horizons with a change to go above the clouds and reach for the stars.

For a full listing of classes go to AboveTheCloudsMilwaukee.com