Stories

Since 1985, The Wooden Floor has impacted the lives of over 95,000 students. Reading the stories of our current students and alumni inspires us to move forward, together with our community, to make the dreams of more children possible.

Learn about the various ways you can support their 10-year journeys at The Wooden Floor.

DONATE

Cecilia, Class of 2023

Kevin, Class of 2028

Vincent, Class of 2008

Breeze, Class of 2027

Alfredo, Class of 2012

Danna, Class of 2027

Dr. Sarah Lopez

Maria, Class of 2027

Wendy, Class of 2022

Tatiana, Class of 2011

Jocelyn, Class of 2017

Miguel, Class of 2020

Julian, Class of 2028

Anthony, Class of 2019

Juanita, Class of 2022

Sylvia, Class of 1998

Xitlalli, Class of 2022

Emma, Class of 2017

CECILIA, ‘23

“The Wooden Floor provides a lot of opportunities. It allows you to be yourself, to get to know people, but also to get know yourself. You’re encouraged to reflect on how you feel and on how you can improve as a person and as a dancer.

Being here has helped me feel closer to my family. When my parents come and watch me dance or bring me to dance class, it makes me feel loved and supported.

When I dance, I feel inspired by the other people dancing around me. I feel expressive – whatever I’m feeling, I’m able to convey it into physical form. I feel heard and seen.”

-Cecilia, Class of 2023

Cecilia has been at The Wooden Floor since the 5th grade and currently has a 4.8 GPA. Her Academic Advisor at The Wooden Floor encouraged her to apply to the prestigious QuestBridge College Scholars Program, where she was accepted and will work towards getting matched in the highly competitive National College Match Program for a full-ride college scholarship. Cecilia’s dream school is UC Davis, where she hopes to study animal sciences to fulfill her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She is a role model for her peers and for her younger sister, Anahi, who is also at The Wooden Floor.

VINCENT, ‘08

“At The Wooden Floor, dance taught me the foundations of experimentation, collaboration, giving weight, and utilizing space. Through experimentation, I knew things of beauty and calm could be created from spontaneity. From collaboration, I learned how to work and partner with others to reach an end goal. Through giving weight, I learned that I could lean on people who I knew would serve as a foundation in my life. I could command a stage by utilizing space and letting those around me know I am here and willing. Dance taught me many life lessons that translated into my academic career and life.

Growing up in a family that did not have the tools to support academics created a gap that The Wooden Floor was able to fill. The Wooden Floor gave me the tools and the reinforcement so that I could go to college and be surrounded by a community of others who would go on to do the same. Seeing my peers at The Wooden Floor enter their universities provided a drive I never knew I needed. When I needed academic advice or supplemental financial aid, The Wooden Floor supported me.

I wish everyone knew how impactful and transformative dance could be for young people. The Wooden Floor is the epicenter of change for many lives in Orange County. My life would have been entirely different if it had not been for The Wooden Floor. I would not have learned my most vital life.”

-Vincent Perez, Class of 2008

Vincent is currently a Senior Creative Strategist at Salesforce. After graduating from The Wooden Floor, he attended San Francisco State University, where he earned both a BA in Dance and a BA in Liberal Studies. He worked with the San Francisco State Dance Department, Joffrey Ballet School West, American Dance Festival, and others. Vincent then went on to graduate from the University of Southern California in 2021 with a Master of Science in Integrated Design Business and Technology. He was the commencement speaker for both his undergraduate and graduate ceremonies and is on track to earn an AA in Creative Coding and Immersive Technologies from Portland Community College. His career highlights include fabricating a physical prototype that used light to reset the circadian rhythm of patients with PTSD; participating in OpenIDEO’s Education (Re)Open, which reimaged passion finding for students; as well as conducting ethnographic research with Apple Education to reimagine the in-classroom experience.

KEVIN, ‘28

“The Wooden Floor has taught me that as long as you keep working for something, it is not as hard as it seems. Slowly but surely you’ll get there. Most of what you learn in Annual Concert rehearsal is timing and trust. There are moments when you carry someone and they have to trust you and they have to believe in you. You have to trust everyone is going to do their job. As for timing – you have to learn what your cue is, to pay attention, and be aware of others without making much noise.”

-Kevin, Class of 2028

Kevin is in the 6th grade at Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School where he holds a 4.0 GPA. During remote learning, he gained confidence in dance and served as a leader in the class. He feels extremely fortunate to have been given a free laptop by The Wooden Floor so he could participate in remote learning. He loves attending the free one-on-one tutoring offered at The Wooden Floor, which his grades reflect. Kevin has a 100 percent attendance rate at The Wooden Floor and aspires to be the first in his family to gain higher education.

BREEZE, ‘27

“Before coming here I had only two friends. At The Wooden Floor I learned communication skills and I met a lot of new people. Now I have a big group of friends at school and at The Wooden Floor. I feel confident going into a new high school next year.

The Wooden Floor is like a second family. Once you get in, you are fully supported. It is part of you – you are not part of it. It is something so beautiful, breathtaking, comforting, and loving. The Wooden Floor – I thank you that I can be a part of this.”

-Breeze, Class of 2027

Breeze has been a student of The Wooden Floor since she was in 4th grade. She is currently in 8th grade at MacArthur Intermediate School, where she holds a 4.4 GPA. This is her first Annual Concert performance, and she gave up participating in her middle school promotion activities to be a part of the process and not miss any rehearsal time. Breeze was admitted into Sage Hill School, a prestigious college preparatory school in Newport Coast, where she will attend high school on scholarship starting this fall. The Wooden Floor has a long history with Sage Hill School, encouraging and supporting many of our most academically gifted students to apply and gain acceptance.

JULIAN, ‘28

“The Wooden Floor gives me a lot of inspiration and they help me be the best version of myself. I feel like dance helps me in school because when I’m stressed, I can think of myself moving in such a committed way and expressing myself, and it brings me peace. Without The Wooden Floor, I wouldn’t have as much confidence or the sense of pride I have in myself. The Wooden Floor helped me learn not to give up – even through the hardest times – and to keep pushing for my highest dreams.”

-Julian, Class of 2028

Julian has been a student at The Wooden Floor for five years. He currently holds a 4.3 GPA and dreams of attending UCLA. His goal is to work in the medical field because as he says, “I want to help out my community and discover new things that I’ve never learned before.”

DANNA, ‘27

“The Wooden Floor is the best. Honestly, it has helped me a lot over the five years I’ve been here. I feel very joyful during the Annual Concert rehearsals. It is truly wonderful we get to learn new things every day. When I first started, I was very timid and self-conscious. The Wooden Floor has helped me feel more confident, to become more open with people. It has also helped a lot with my feelings. It is hard to explain, but when I’m down I think of dance and my friends here, and that helps me.”

-Danna, Class of 2027

Danna is in 7th grade and holds a 4.3 GPA at Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School. She excels in dance and models The Wooden Floor’s values among her peers at all times. She was in The Wooden Floor’s site-specific Annual Concert in 2021. This will be her first time performing at the Irvine Barclay Theatre due to the pandemic. Danna dreams of being a history or social studies teacher.

DR. SARAH LOPEZ

“There really is nothing different or special in me that is not in each one of The Wooden Floor’s graduates. There are real ripple effects that will happen with each one of the students who is graduating. I am just a point of reference of what organizations like The Wooden Floor can do to impact generations and improve the community.”

Dr. Sarah Lopez, MD, MBA,
Chief Medical Officer, Zócalo Health and Alumna of The Wooden Floor

Dr. Sarah Lopez was born and raised in Orange County, California and she was one of the first students of The Wooden Floor, formerly known as Saint Joseph Ballet, where she learned to dream and thrive. She attended medical school at the University of California, Irvine and business school at UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business. She was part of UCI’s first cohort for “Program In Medical Education for the Latino Community” (PRIME-LC), a program focused on training highly qualified doctors who are culturally competent and dedicated to serving the diverse population of Southern California. Dr. Lopez also has a long history of advocacy through education. She started “Una Hora Con La Doctora” through MPNA GREEN, a nonprofit in Santa Ana, teaching parents about different health topics to empower them with knowledge. From 2019 to 2022, she was selected for the competitive California Health Care Foundation’s Health Care Leadership Fellowship. She has also served as an on-air medical expert on NBC, Univision, and elsewhere. Dr. Lopez delivered an emotional and inspiring keynote address at The Wooden Floor’s 11th Step Beyond Annual Breakfast in April.

JOCELYN, ‘17

“At The Wooden Floor I learned the importance of community. I have never felt such a strong sense of community anywhere like how it is at The Wooden Floor.

The students and staff care deeply for one another, and now being a faculty member myself, I realize how much care goes into each student. There are moments I see “a young Jocelyn” in my students, and I get quite emotional. I see my students and realize their potential is limitless and that I can now provide my perspective as an alumni, teacher, and role model. I hope my students can view me as an example that “from here you can step anywhere.”

-Jocelyn, Class of 2017

After graduating from The Wooden Floor, Jocelyn attended California State University, Long Beach, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance. She auditioned for the Limón Professional Training Program and was accepted with a scholarship, and moved to New York City during the pandemic to attend the program. Jocelyn returned to California and works as a faculty member at The Wooden Floor and also as an Assistant Manager and Instructor at Club Pilates. She dreams of attending a graduate program in the near future to receive a Master’s in Dance Education or Choreography.

TATIANA, ‘11

“After graduating from The Wooden Floor, I flew across the country to upstate New York where I attended Cornell University. As a first-generation college student, I moved with both ambition and caution. Ambition because I wanted to dream big and achieve those dreams. Caution because I knew what it took to get there.
I knew the sacrifices my parents made.

I can confidently say that I would not be where I am today, if not, in part, because of The Wooden Floor. See, The Wooden Floor doesn’t just impact the life of the student, they impact the families and communities and future generations. When a dancer graduates high school and college, and eventually launches into their career, the successes are not just their own. The entire family reaps the benefits too. We all win and move upward and forward together.”

-Tatiana, Class of 2011

Tatiana was a The Wooden Floor Sage Hill Scholar and went on to graduate from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics and Management in 2015. She says the free SAT and ACT test prep courses from The Wooden Floor were critical for her to gain admission to college, and while in college, she earned a yearly scholarship from The Wooden Floor. After graduating, she began her career as an absence consultant to innovate and implement best-in-class employee leave benefits. She also volunteers at The Wooden Floor as a part of the Alumni Professional Network, and Denver Kids where she mentors a young Latina teen. Tatiana is also a community leader, serving on the board of the Denver chapter of ALPFA, the Association of Latino Professionals for America, and leverages social media to inspire others to lead more confident and intentional lives.

MIGUEL, ‘20

“One of the most valuable things I learned at The Wooden Floor that I didn’t get anywhere else was the belief that my future was worth investing in. I discovered discipline, time management skills, and I truly felt supported by various individuals in the organization.

Dance taught me how to persevere through challenges. It also taught me the importance of teamwork, giving and receiving feedback, and sharpened my ability to think critically — all essential skills in S.T.E.A.M. Most importantly, it gave me an exceptional basis for learning new things and confidence in my own knowledge and ideas.

It is a mix of pride and responsibility knowing I get to represent a community that is often overlooked in these fields. It can be isolating at times, but it also pushes me to work harder and stay focused — not just for myself, but for everyone in our community who’s watching and wondering if they can do it too. I’ve realized that my background is a source of strength. Surrounding myself and learning from individuals in S.T.E.A.M. that share a similar background helps me realize that all of our dreams are possible. Having a place like The Wooden Floor cheering us on is a blessing, which I am always grateful for.”

–Miguel, Class of 2020

Miguel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in Public Health from Boston College. He plans to pursue medical school or a PhD Program in Molecular Biology and recently accepted a full-time position as a Research Associate in the Arias Group at the CZ Biohub San Francisco. Miguel is currently writing his first scientific publication about developing viral sensing technologies.

ANTHONY, ‘19

“An important lesson that I learned while attending The Wooden Floor was the importance of having the ability to take myself out of my comfort zone. Whether it be participating in the Annual Concert or being forced to engage in across the floor routines, The Wooden Floor frequently pushed me to escape my bubble.

Learning how to dance taught me the valuable lesson of stepping out of my comfort zone. Had it not been for my experiences at The Wooden Floor, I would have remained that same anxious and scared child that was too afraid to pursue any new opportunities out of fear of failure. In a way, learning how to dance taught me how to have confidence in myself and pursue career opportunities that I would have otherwise shied away from.

As a Latino man in S.T.E.A.M., it has been incredibly empowering to be breaking these barriers. It’s no secret that Latinos/as have always been severely underrepresented in S.T.E.A.M. and even more so in medicine. My journey has been and will continue to be defined, not by the many barriers I’ve faced, but by the exciting hope that all my efforts will contribute to a more inclusive healthcare field. I look forward to the day when a kid from Santa Ana can see their culture as a strength as they continue their path to medicine.”

-Anthony, Class of 2019

Since graduating from The Wooden Floor, Anthony received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He recently attended and completed a post-baccalaureate pre-med leadership program at Charle’s R. Drew University and plans to apply and matriculate into a US-based medical school program within the upcoming 2025-2026 application cycle, with hopes to attend a MD program. Anthony is currently a Clinical Research Assistant and Education Research Assistant in Los Angeles, California.

MARIA, ‘27

“Being here is relaxing and you can come out of your stress. Sometimes you can meet new friends who you can invite to your house for a sleepover.

Something I learned here is how the body works. Your muscles get better and can do more stuff. Once my teacher brought a skeleton to class. She showed us about the bones, and some of them I did not know about.

I want to go to college because I want to become a ballerina and a doctor.”

– Maria, Class of 2027

Maria has been at The Wooden Floor for two years and plans to be the first in her family to go to college. She currently attends Jim Thorpe Fundamental Elementary School and has a 3.0 GPA.

SYLVIA, ‘98

“The Wooden Floor helped me build real confidence in myself. It took me outside my comfort zone by giving me a space to take risks and realize that I was capable of more than I thought. That sense of confidence wasn’t just about dance, it carried into how I approached school, work, and eventually leadership. It’s something I still draw upon today.

Returning to The Wooden Floor this spring as a Career Day panelist was incredibly moving and a full-circle moment – proof that the foundation built here can lead to real success. It reminded me how powerful this space was for me when I was a child. Seeing how the organization continues to evolve and impact the lives of youth has allowed me to reflect on how important it is to share experiences with younger generations. It means showing youth that their goals are within reach and that they are part of a community that believes in them.

The Wooden Floor is so much more than a dance program. It’s a place where young people are empowered to dream big. It’s a place that builds confidence, the confidence needed to succeed in life. My career goals have always been rooted in public service, and I consider it a privilege to serve the community I call home.”

-Sylvia, Class of 1998

Sylvia Vazquez serves as the Deputy City Manager in Santa Ana, helping oversee key city operations and initiatives that improve the quality of life for residents. After high school, she pursued higher education and began a career in public service with the City of Santa Ana. She started as an intern and worked her way up over the years, serving in roles from Workforce Specialist to Economic Development Specialist. Sylvia earned her AA degree from Santa Ana College and her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton.

WENDY, ‘19

“Learning dance truly taught me about self-discipline, accountability, and how to work with others, which has helped support my career goals. I truly don’t believe I could have made it this far without The Wooden Floor. On top of the more than generous scholarship I received, all throughout high school, I felt as though I had a place where I belonged. I was able to receive help for not just school-related subjects, but I was able to receive mental health support as well. With SAT/ACT practice courses, tutoring sessions, and all the college prep programs I attended, I felt as though I was fully supported and was given all the proper tools I needed to get into college.

No words can ever be put together to describe the way that The Wooden Floor has changed the direction of my path in life. While I heard the slogan ‘From here, you can step anywhere’ almost every day I was there, I never really understood the impact of it until I left. I, like many other fellow graduates and current students, felt that I could only go so far with the cards I was dealt with in life. However, looking back now, my younger self would be so incredibly proud of the person I am today. The Wooden Floor staff never told me my goals were too big or that I couldn’t accomplish my dreams; they truly believed in me, and I will forever be grateful for the amazing staff.”

-Wendy, Class of 2019

Wendy earned a BS in Aerospace Engineering from UC San Diego in 2023 and currently works as a Reliability Engineer at PPG Aerospace. She is proudly a first-generation college graduate and the first engineer in her family. Wendy aims to gain more knowledge of the aerospace industry and explore the different pathways that her chosen career has in store for her.

ALFREDO, ‘12

“At The Wooden Floor, I learned that creativity and having your own way of portraying your personality can help set you apart from others. The great amounts of fun I had during Annual Concert season also helped me build more team working skills.

I was not the first in my family to attend college, but I was the first to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. The Wooden Floor prepared me for college and encouraged me to finish.”

– Alfredo, Class of 2012

Alfredo graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He is currently an Electrical Engineer with DHS Consulting. After gaining work experience, he plans to go to graduate school.

XITLALLI, ‘22

“As I start high school this fall, the thing I know foremost is that The Wooden Floor has really helped me. My parents hoped that by being here, I would be more social. I had to learn how to start talking to other people, and The Wooden Floor helped me think about how to accomplish that. Everyone cares so much about each person that comes here and their well-being.

If I wasn’t at The Wooden Floor, my life would be a totally different story. I wouldn’t really be thinking as much about my future as I do right now. Here, you really learn how to talk to each other. Before, if someone said “hi” to me, I would just turn and walk the other way. I wouldn’t have known the part of me who loves to dance and loves other people. This isn’t the ballet tutu pink thing, its modern dance, which really is different. It makes me really think – about my body, the space around me, myself as a human being, and ask myself spiritual, deep questions. In modern dance, our teacher asks us to just breathe and just be, to find connectedness, to look at our fellow dancers in the eye. I could never do that before. When talking to a person, if you don’t look them in the eyes, it doesn’t feel the same, you don’t connect. I’ve learned how to connect with others better. It has taken me 15 years, but I did it.”

– Xitlalli, Class of 2022

Xitlalli is entering Foothill High School as an 11th grader with a 3.6 GPA. The Wooden Floor’s Middle School Program supports our students’ academic and social-emotional transition to 9th grade, providing foundational support for success in high school, college, and beyond. Empowerment Workshops guide our students through two key transitions: from 5th into 6th grade, to focus students on closing the academic achievement gap during middle school, and from 8th into 9th grade, to ensure successful social-emotional transition to high school.

JUANITA, ‘22

“Dance taught me to roll with my mistakes and to keep going. I was always afraid to fail, but now because of The Wooden Floor, I know when you make a mistake, you can make it into something better or learn from it. That is the same in school – if I don’t get a good grade, I won’t get stuck on a problem, I will go back to see what I can learn from it. I learned how to undo the perfectionist in me. I learned your imperfections are what make you perfect.”

-Juanita, Class of 2022

Juanita joins her siblings in being the first generation in her family to be on track to obtain a college education. She has a 3.9 GPA and is “enamored” with coding and video game design. This fall, she will be attending Santiago Canyon College with the dream of transferring to USC because she is “very interested in their game design program as well as their campus.”

EMMA, ‘17

“I am living my dream as a pediatric nurse. I always knew I wanted to work with children and young adults and give back in ways that The Wooden Floor gave to me. I want to strengthen my skills as a pediatric nurse and work toward giving back to the communities around me.
At The Wooden Floor, I learned that family can have various meanings. It can be those you are directly related to, as well as the community you build your life with – and for me that was at The Wooden Floor. I also learned that strength, passion, and determination can be taught through movement, and I’ve let it carry me through every aspect of life to bring me where I am today.

To dance in a way that makes you feel your best requires strength, determination, and empathy. Those are some of the top supports that allowed me to be successful in STEAM. It’s a rigorous field to go into and I needed the skills that dance taught me, including empathy, to keep myself grounded in my determination and not lose my way, so that I could achieve my goals.”

-Emma, Class of 2017

Since graduating from The Wooden Floor, Emma has earned a BA in Biology from Smith College in 2021 and an MS in Nursing from Columbia University in 2023. She is a Registered Nurse working in pediatrics at New York – Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital – the top children’s hospital in New York.