Dance is the Answer.™

The Wooden Floor’s mission is to inspire and transform the
lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education.

Dance moves our youth. Forward.

We love dance. It’s powerful. It has the ability to encourage our

youth to think differently about themselves, to push through

obstacles, and emerge as strong and confident leaders.

Prepared for higher education.

The Wooden Floor makes a 10-year commitment to our
students from third grade through high school and guide
them through their long-term journeys to higher education.

We support the entire family.

The Wooden Floor provides a safe space for our
under-served students to ensure they are supported
in their personal and family lives. Through their journeys,
creativity is fostered, commitment is fundamental, and
discovery occurs every day.

Dance is the Answer.

We transform the lives of children from low-income communities through the power of dance and access to higher education.

Dance moves our youth. Forward.

We love dance. It’s powerful. It has the ability to encourage our youth to think differently about themselves, to push through obstacles, and emerge as strong and confident leaders.

Prepared for higher education.

The Wooden Floor makes a 10-year commitment to our students from third grade through high school and guide them through their long-term journeys to higher education.

We support the entire family.

The Wooden Floor provides a safe space for our under-served students to ensure they are supported in their personal and family lives. Through their journeys, creativity is fostered, commitment is fundamental, and discovery occurs every day.

Newsletter Summer 2025

Stay up to date on the latest news from The Wooden Floor

42nd Annual Concert: Curious Currents of Possibilities

A powerful, must-see contemporary dance performance.

125 Most Influential People in Orange County

The Wooden Floor CEO Dawn S. Reese was named among the 125 Most Influential People in OC!

Orange County Business Journal 2024 Best Places to Work

The Wooden Floor was awarded 2024 Best Places to Work Award for the second year in a row.

Step Forward Endowment Fund Campaign

The Wooden Floor’s Endowment Fund Campaign

Student and Alumni Stories

Since 1983, The Wooden Floor has impacted the lives of over 95,000 students. Our current students and alumni inspire us to move forward as one community to help more children make their dreams for themselves a reality.

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WE ARE CREATING
GENERATIONAL
CHANGE THROUGH

THE POWER OF DANCE

We give young people the tools and guidance to follow a path to higher education by serving students, grades 3-12, after-school for up to 10 years with a comprehensive strategy that is grounded in dance and long-term mentoring relationships.

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In 2022, only 17.8 percent of Latino adults in Santa Ana had a college degree.*

*2022 American Community Survey

Here is how The Wooden Floor wants to
change the future of Orange County.

Theory of Change

Our holistic model serves 475 under-served students year-round with dance, academic, college and career readiness, and family support programs—free of charge.

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See the Children in Motion

Throughout the year, students have the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers and production staff during performance opportunities such as the Annual Concert and Co-Creation Lab.

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Our History: Four Decades of Impact

In 2018, The Wooden Floor’s second location, Depot at Santiago, opened to serve an additional 100 students.

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Since 2005, 100% of our seniors have graduated from high school on time and immediately enrolled in higher education.

In 2019, only 14% of Latino adults in Santa Ana had a college degree*.

*TownCharts.com

Here is how The Wooden Floor wants to change the future of Orange County.

Theory of Change

Our holistic model serves 475 under-served students year-round with dance, academic, college and career readiness, and family support programs—free of charge.

LEARN MORE

See the Children in Motion

Throughout the year, students have the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers and production staff during performance opportunities such as the Annual Concert and Co-Creation Lab.

LEARN MORE

Three Decades of Impact

In 2019, The Wooden Floor’s second location, Depot at Santiago, opened to serve an additional 100 students.

LEARN MORE

Since 2005, 100% of our seniors have graduated from high school on time and immediately enrolled in higher education.

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WITH YOUR HELP,

Students at The Wooden Floor consistently exceed their peers nationally in abilities, behaviors, and attitudes that lead to successful and healthy lives.

SEE MORE OF OUR IMPACT

You can make a difference.

Here’s how you can get involved.