Madison’s Premier Latin Dance Gala to Prevent Child Abuse & End Violence
Thank you!
Together we danced, celebrated, and filled the Exhibition Hall at Monona Terrace on Friday, September 18, 2026! 💃🏽 Thank you to all our new and returning sponsors, volunteers, judges, dancers, guests, and community members. We can’t wait to see you on the dance floor again! Meanwhile, please save the date, subscribe for the latest Rhumba 4 Rainbow news, or get involved.
Relive the night!
Watch the full event video. Video courtesy of Hinckley Productions & The Rainbow Project.
View the photo gallery or tap the artists name below to see more. Photos courtesy of Hedi Lamarr Photography & The Rainbow Project.
Barrio Dance recently performed on the America’s Got Talent Stage! We saw their incredible talent light up the Rhumba 4 Rainbow dance floor!
2025 World Elite Salsa Champions
Salsabrositas
Salsabrositas began as a small group of passionate dancers with a shared love for Latin music, movement, and culture. What started as a performance-focused collective has grown into a full dance studio and community hub in Milwaukee. Our mission as a studio is to create a space where people feel confident, supported, and inspired on and off the dance floor. We believe dance is more than movement; it is expression, connection, and empowerment.
Our celebrity dancers LIT UP the dance floor this year! Thanks to their wonderful dedication, weeks of training, hard work and talent, this year’s contest was brilliant and unforgettable! Mike Moh fought off the competition and brought his signature martial arts moves to the contest. Gracie Tuohy came in a close second! Congratulations, Mike, Gracie, Maria, Alaina, and Binta!
Binta Ceesay is a community builder, advocate, and lifelong learner who is passionate about languages, the empowerment of women and children, social justice, and creating opportunities that help people and communities thrive. A Communication graduate from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, her strengths include communications, media, community outreach and engagement, and public speaking. She is committed to supporting women, empowering the next generation of leaders, and fostering inclusive communities through her role as Community Engagement and Resource Specialist at the African Center for Community Development.
Mike Moh is the CEO and Founder of LVLUP Martial Arts and Go Ninja, with locations in Waunakee, East Madison, and Verona. A 6th-degree black belt and professional actor, Mike is best known for portraying Bruce Lee in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His mission is to help families level up their lives through martial arts and movement. Mike lives in Wisconsin with his wife Richelle and their three children.
Maria Redmond, with over 25 years of service to the State of Wisconsin, currently serves as the Director of the Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy. She is focused on leading the implementation of the state’s first-ever Clean Energy Plan. Redmond leads on policies, projects, and collective action instrumental in ensuring an equitable energy transition, accelerating multi-sector deep decarbonization, and supporting the state’s transition to a clean energy economy.
Alaina is a reporter/anchor with WMTV and is so excited to be apart of Rhumba 4 Rainbow! She’s a Wisconsin native who recently moved to Madison last spring after living in Colorado Springs, so she’s excited to already be getting involved with the community! Alaina grew up dancing competitively and is so excited to be back on the dance floor, especially for such a good cause!
Gracie Tuohy joined the 27 News team in July 2025 as the Wake Up Wisconsin reporter and fill in anchor. She is a proud graduate of the University of Arkansas, where she earned her degree in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science. Originally from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Gracie is excited to be back in the Midwest! Outside the newsroom, she loves staying active and catching live music whenever she can.
Our Celebrity Dance Challenge has a history
Rhumba 4 Rainbow has been the home of Madison’s Celebrity Dance Contest for years! Explore our archive of competitions past. You may just learn which of our 2026 contestants is dancing to outshine their husband’s dancefloor performance!
2026 Extra Mile Award Winners
Every year, The Rainbow Project selects individuals and organizations from our community to honor because of their exceptional impact, advocacy and support for children and families. See photos from the awards ceremony in our 2026 Rhumba 4 Rainbow gallery.
Tanner Bommersbach, MD, MPH
Abha Thakkar
Systems Facilitator, Owner of Mosaic LLCChild and Adolescent Psychiatrist & Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Aissa Olivarez
Legal Director/Attorney, Community Immigration Law CenterJordan Schulz
President and Co-owner, Huffman Keel Partners
Live Music Performed by Orquesta Madi-Son
Orquesta Madi-Son was born out of a collective of musicians from Madison Wisconsin in 2023. Featuring a plethora of some of Madison's finest musicians, the group boasts a line up that is as diverse in music as it is in each of the members' cultural backgrounds. With members from Rebulu, La Combi, Tin Mas, Latin Pride Orchestra, Grupo Candela, Mr. Chair, Mama Digdown's Brass Band, Youngblood Brass Band, Phat Phunktion, Charanga Agoza and Sal Soul del Mad, this is truly an all star collective. The group has performed tributes to Willie Colon (Colon Y Mas) and celebrated Celia Cruz's centennial, as well as playing in smaller formats at Lucille and the Bur Oak performing latin jazz and fusion as Madi-Son Latin Project.
Under the co-direction of Jose Madera and Darren Sterud, as well as the musical direction and arranging of Nat McIntosh and Darren Sterud, the collective continues to grow its repertoire and expand into new venues. They hope to continue to reach latin music fans of all ages and backgrounds and to introduce new groups of people to latin rhythms and music all across the region.
Members Include:
Vocals: Betty Guerrero, Yanzel Rivera, Miguel Fred, Mario Mendoza • Percussion: Paddy Cassidy, Jose Madera, Yorvanis Duran, Salar Salay, Johan Galindo • Drums: Brayan Riascos • Bass: Ben Ferris • Piano: Edu Ravelo, Paul Muench • Trumpet: Jon Schipper, Jeff Maddern, Ben Bell-Bern • Trombone: Darren Sterud, Nat McIntosh, Steven Beda, and Jamie Kember
Live Performance by: Angela Puerta
Angela Puerta is a Colombian-born artist, singer, and dancer based in Madison, Wisconsin. Her performances blend music, movement, and cultural storytelling, bringing together the rhythms and energy of Latin music with her own artistic expression. Inspired by artists like Shakira, Angela celebrates the connection between voice and dance, using performance as a way to connect with audiences and share the joy, passion, and diversity of Latin culture.
2026 Event Sponsors
Thanks to the generosity and support of our sponsors, Rhumba 4 Rainbow was a success and The Rainbow Project will continue to reduce wait times for trauma-informed care and continue to grow our long-lasting impact. These organizations and individuals are investing in our community and mission to help Dane County children and families heal from trauma and thrive. Thank you!
Strategic Sponsors & Co-hosts
Ultimate Salsa
Bold Bachata
Super Rhumba
Major Merengue
Ismael Ozanne
Pelin Cengiz
Sandra Rivera
Mighty Mambo
Hot Chile Cha Cha
Mike Moh
Ben Pogle
Dr. Jonathan. Vu & Dr. Heidi Huang
Kathleen Mallach & Chuck Stonecipher
Silent Auction
🌟 Thank you for bidding!
Guests bid on one-of-a-kind offerings in the 22nd annual Rhumba 4 Rainbow silent auction! From a transformative trauma-informed therapy notebook set to tickets to Packers game at Lambeau Field, these packages provided lasting support for stronger relationships, resilience, and healing. Thank you for browsing, bidding, and winning!
If you have any questions about silent auction item pickup, email us at rhumba@therainbowproject.net
Silent Auction Donors
Each year, the Rhumba 4 Rainbow silent auction receives generous donations from local businesses in Madison (and beyond)! We’d like to specially thank the business communities who care and for making our fundraising silent auction possible. Thank you!
Recognition 4 Rhumba
Thank you for recognizing the Rhumba 4 Rainbow and our community.
Tap each proclamation to read it in full.
Rhumba 4 Rainbow is more than a fundraiser…
Your donation brought energy to the dance floor and healing to local children and families.
Funds raised by the 2026 Rhumba 4 Rainbow benefit gala help us to:
Serve more children and caregivers.
Reduce wait times for urgent cases.
Expand early‑childhood and school‑based supports.
Strengthen long‑term outcomes for the families who trust us.