spring 2010Providing Hope and Opportunity Through Dance, Academic and Family Programs

Thursday April 8, 6:00pm“Inside the Studio”

A captivating look at how our esteemed choreographers and spirited young dancers approach their art-making collaboration for The Wooden Floor’s Annual Concert. Please RSVP to Kelly at 714.541.8314 Ext. 140.

Thursday June 3 – Saturday, June 527th Annual Concert

Choreographers Mark Haim, Melanie Ríos Glaser and Nami Yamamoto restage the sold-out January production which brought standing ovations to REDCAT. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster starting April 5th.

SaturdayApril 24, 10:30amGraduates’ BrunchJoin the Neighbors giving group for one of the most heartwarm-ing events of the year. Show the Class of 2010 that their commu-nity is behind them as they share their hopes for where they will go from here. Please RSVP to Ellen at 714.541.8314 Ext. 124.

Complete information on events featuring the students of The Wooden Floor is available online at www.TheWoodenFloor.org

danceupI first heard about The Wooden Floor through a friend when I was 9 years old. I was an active kid and loved sports so I looked at dance as just something to try, even though I wasn’t a fan of ballet. My parents didn’t have extra money for activities like this and I was able to attend for free. Little did I know how this decision would affect my life.

I made a lot of friends, went to summer camps, and had opportunities to perform. I remember when I was little and in my first concert. Melanie gave us nicknames and my group, the youngest dancers, were called the “Pop Tarts.” Even now, she sometimes calls me her Pop Tart, even though I’m not so little anymore. The Wooden Floor was my home away from home. But everything changed when I was in the 5th grade.

My parents went through a divorce and my sister and I went to live with my grandma. My parents were fighting and I didn’t have a good relationship with my dad. I was angry and started acting out and by the 6th grade I was suspended and almost kicked out of school. I was hanging around the wrong people. I had lost hope, didn’t care that I was failing school and I wanted to drop out of The Wooden Floor.

My mom pleaded with me and told me, “This is a place that can help you. I

don’t have the resources.” With the encouragement of the staff and my mom, I started meeting with Teresa in Family Services. Those counseling sessions went on for 3 years. I knew I could go to Teresa if I needed to talk, and Melanie and the staff never gave up on me. I started receiving tutoring in the Education Center and was able to bring my grades up. I even signed up for some college prep classes at The Wooden Floor.

I was on the wrong path and The Wooden Floor helped me find my way. Through all of this, dance was a constant in my life. Expressing myself on the dance floor and making something beautiful was something I could accomplish with hard work and discipline. It was an outlet for me and got me thinking about other goals for my life.

Great news came two weeks ago. I have been accepted to Humboldt State and Cal State East Bay and I’m still waiting to hear from two more colleges. My parents are very proud. I will be the first in my family, on both sides, to attend college. And I am a role model for my little sister, who is also at The Wooden Floor. One day, she will go from being a “Pop Tart” to being the second in our family to attend college.

in the first person: Kathy Avila, age 17from here you can step anywhere

TheTheWoodenWoodenFloorFloor

MELANIE RÍOS GLASER, EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Previously known as Saint Joseph Ballet

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2 The Wooden Floor | spring 2010

“It is very obvious The Wooden Floor is succeeding, with 100% of their graduates going on to college, many the first in their families to do so. This falls right into line with Zonta Club’s mis-sion of advancing the status of women through education,” Gerry Gerken says in her quietly passionate way. Gerry serves on the altruistic front lines for the Zonta Club of Newport Harbor, which was chartered in 1948. It is the 210th club of Zonta International, a worldwide ser-vice organization dedicated to advancing the status of women since 1919 through service, edu-cation and advocacy. Gerry has been a member of Zonta for 53 years, and has “served the club in every capacity.”

In 2008, having read and heard about The Wooden Floor, then known as Saint Joseph Ballet, Gerry decided to inves-tigate ways the Zonta Club of Newport Harbor might be able to help the organization’s mis-sion. Immediately, the club got to work on a Career Day to inform students of The Wooden Floor about the wide variety of career choices out there. “We had thir-teen speakers, which included an Anthropologist, a Rocket Scientist, a City Treasurer, a Hollywood Make-Up Artist, a CPA, an Obstetrician and Gynecologist and many others.” The Career Day opened student’s eyes to many paths of employ-ment that they had previously not been exposed to. Also in 2008, the Zonta Club provided five complete Thanksgiving dinners for families of The Wooden Floor. The club has also made a tradition of providing a Christmas tree, with all the trim-mings, for a family that would normally never be able to afford one. The list is long of meaning-ful ways The Zonta Club has con-tributed to the lives of students, including providing grants to help keep the programs offered at The Wooden Floor going strong.

Personally, Gerry has inspired others close to her with her pas-sionate support of The Wooden Floor. “I have had my family, my daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons involved with the Christmas trees, and attending the annual dance program at the Barclay Theatre. They have been very inspired when meeting the students and hearing their plans for the future. My family backs my participation at The Wooden Floor, one hundred percent.”

IMAGINE

Often as a result of socio-economic status, we witness the adversity that the students and families of The Wooden Floor face. I will call a spade a spade: some of our students have lived through neglect, deprivation, abuse, and have even been victims of crime inside and outside their homes. Many of them live with

a single parent or in a dysfunctional environ-ment. Others are children raised by responsi-ble parents who nonetheless struggle to make a living.

The Wooden Floor has a strong Social Services Program and works with the students and their families on solving any issue affect-

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SupporterSpotlight

A LETTER FROM MELANIE RÍOS GLASER

I

27th Annual ConcertWitness the inspiring choreography that sold out performances and received standing ovations at Walt Disney Concert Hall’s REDCAT. At The Wood-en Floor’s 27th Annual Concert, Choreographers Mark Haim, Melanie Ríos Glaser and Nami Yama-moto restage the sold-out January production which forged new perspectives on the stage and in the audience. According to OC Arts and Cul-ture writer, Napoleon Gladney, “…it is a true gift to be able to watch the wise-beyond-their-years youth bare it all through movement...

The tears, laughter, and fi nal standing ovation were all well deserved by this remarkable group of young people.”

The Wooden Floor’s 27th Annual Concert June 3 through June 5, 2010 Irvine Barclay Theatre

Tickets on sale April 5th through The Irvine Barclay Theatre Box Offi ce, 4242 Campus Drive in Irvine949.854.4646 and www.TheBarclay.org

The dance we value at The Wooden Floor is about possibility and expansion. We use dance to engage our students, nurture their creativ-ity, and unlock a passion to excel in school and beyond. For our dancers, their Annual Concert performances are the culmination of months of rehearsals and dedication. Being witnessed by an audience demonstrates to these young people that they matter. They start to realize that they are deserving of collaborations with internationally celebrated choreographers and designers. They internalize higher standards because they showcase their work to so many. It

is a life changing experience that is retold many times by our students and alumni.

Our annual Star Campaign celebrates this triumph with a tangible marker. Next to the bright lights of their dressing room mirrors, the children see their names displayed on large silver stars. Your generous Star sponsorship of a stu-dent supports the creation, production, and pre-sentation of this remarkable performance. Every student should see their name on a Star! There are Star sponsorship opportunities for every level of giving, from $25 to $2,500. Please sponsor a Star today by sending a gift in the enclosed envelope, or contacting Ellen Reader at 714.541.8314 Ext. 124.

SPONSOR A STAR

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Also through Ticketmaster at 714.740.7878 andTicketmaster.com

For Sponsorship details, please contact Kelly at 714.541.8314 Ext. 140.

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ing their wellbeing. They come here first because they trust us. One way we help is through our counseling and crisis intervention programs. If it is outside our scope we have a wealth of resources and collaborators that we can refer them to.

We are pained when we learn that a child is living through unimaginable hardships. However I am comforted that through these programs and plenty

of love from the staff and volunteers, we have seen the children get up and recover. Eventually, on the dance floor, the fear, sadness or indifference is replaced by joy and liveliness.

Imagine SuccessIf no one in your family ever attended college, striving for higher education is a difficult thing to fathom. The newly launched “Imagine” workshop for 7th and 8th grade girls lays the ground work for success-oriented thinking. The four-week workshop is lead by Gladys Teske and Sara Sierra-Valinsky; both are licensed social workers with a long history of facilitating workshops for students of The Wooden Floor. “Our grounding philosophy for the Imagine workshops is that self-awareness brings growth, understanding of oneself, and increases the potential of the individual,” said Sara. Objectives for the workshop include:

SUPPORT THE MISSION AND VALUES of The Wooden Floor through processes and content that challenge students to reach their highest potential.

PROVIDE WEEKLY OPPORTUNITIES to increase self -awareness.

PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES for students to address the link between current choices (decision making) and future goals.

Another unique feature of this workshop series is the use of alumnae of The Wooden Floor in our sessions. Three graduates of The Wooden Floor will provide insights on their life experiences as relating to each weekly topic. After the workshop’s first session, Sara excitedly reported that the participating students “shared of themselves and gave insightful responses. They were able to connect with the content and relate it to their lives.  We are so looking forward to seeing the girls grow over the next 3 weeks.”

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February 24 - 27The short video, “Introducing the Wooden Floor” has been selected for the San Diego/Tijuana DANCEonFILM Festival Educational Program. This program is geared for young people and will be presented to schools in Tijuana, Mexico.

February 4 & 5A new academic workshop for all eighth graders was launched to prepare students to think about their future in higher education and provide them with the skills to successfully transition into high school. Workshops include topics such as time-management, college and career prepared-ness, and study skills.

January 25 & 29The Wooden Floor’s newest students participated in one of their first rites-of-passage as they finished their first semester and were bestowed with their very own set of dancewear. Dancewear is provided to students free of charge, and volunteers Glennda Adair, Dennis and Diane Baker, Valerie Brasher, Sharon Hartshorn, Gena Way, and Barbara Yingling participated in helping students get fitted and making the event memorable.

January 28The Wooden Floor management and staff fine-tuned the tactical execution portion of the Board-approved strategic plan by reviewing and refining the language within the three-year road map’s goals and objectives.

January 2568 Families attended the Family Services 101 workshop where first year parents learned to take advantage of the many services offered at The Wooden Floor.

January 23The popular DanceFree Days Saturday program of free African Dance and Drumming classes resumed with three more sections to be held over the next 6 months. As a service to the community, DanceFree Days has been offered as an alternative to those youth not admitted to The Wooden Floor’s core dance program for the first time.

January 15 & 16The Wooden Floor at REDCAT was an overwhelm-ing success! Both performances were sold out, and dancers received standing ovations. Our young dancers galvanized the attention of the media as well as the Los Angeles art world!

January 13Thirty-one individual counseling sessions were conducted by The Wooden Floor staff in the past quarter. This includes in-house, walk- in, and cri-sis intervention counseling, as well as referrals to community food banks, emergency shelters, legal aid, community clinics, and unemployment services.

January 11The Wooden Floor was one of the two organiza-tions in the nation to win the Arts Presenters/MetLife Arts Access Award for Engaging Underserved Communities given out at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters’ Annual Conference in New York City.

Stay up to date – follow us on Twitter at TheWoodenFloor or find us on Facebook!

Melanie Ríos Glaser

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“

The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers.” MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

At The Wooden Floor, there is a dynamic group of support-ers dedicated to providing uplifting, creative opportunities to our youth – they are called Neighbors. Neighbors can be found chaperoning fieldtrips, helping backstage at the Annual Concert, hosting a brunch celebrating the successes of our graduating class, and introducing new friends to The Wooden Floor. The giving levels and involvement levels of each Neigh-bor is individual; however, each is bound by a deep desire to help bring about a generational change. Neighbors serve as a foundation to inspire our young people to pursue their goals and break the cycle of poverty though education, so that

success is based on talent and determination, rather than where they live. Engagement from Neighbors lets our stu-dents know they are supported by an entire community. Join Neighbors and help make a difference.Since 2005, 100% of graduates from The Wooden Floor have gone on to college. 96% of our 388 year-round students come from low income families, and attend The Wooden Floor free of charge. With the support of Neighbors, students at The Wooden Floor are gaining the self-awareness and confidence to pursue their goals. We invite you to help low-income youth chart this new course in their lives.

Levels of Support: Associate $125 Friend $250 Partner $500 Patron $1,000 and above

To become a Neighbor, please send your gift in the enclosed envelope, or contact Ellen Reader for more information, at 714.541.8314, Ext. 124 or Ellen@TheWoodenFloor.org.

Non Profi t Org.US Postage

PAIDOrange, CA

Permit No. 356

ERNESTO VASQUEZ, Board EmeritusAIA and Vice President, McLarand, Vasquez, Emsiek & Partners

SOCORRO VASQUEZ, Board EmeritaCommunity Leader

DAMIEN JORDAN, ChairSenior Vice President, General Manager, The American Funds Service Company

JIM SLAUGHTER, Vice ChairAttorney at Law, Slaughter & Slaughter LLP

FRANK FOSTER, Secretary Principal, Residential Strategies, LLC

RICHARD C. HUNSAKER, TreasurerPresident, Hunsaker Management

GLENNDA ADAIRWellness Retreat Weekends/Cordelia Knott Foundation

JOAN BEALLCommunity Leader

BETH BURNSSaint Joseph Ballet Founderand Artistic Director (’83-’05)

CATHERINE CHASESenior Vice President, Credit Suisse

ARLENE CRAIGPresident, The Betty L. Hutton Title Holding Co.; Vice-President, The Hutton Foundation

JIM DRISCOLLCommunity Leader

JAN FOSTERCommunity Leader

FRANK HALLVice President, Resource Development St. Joseph Health System

SHARON HARTSHORNCommunity Leader

GINNIE HUNSAKERCommunity Leader

YVONNE M. JORDANCommunity Leader

JUAN LAGUNAAttorney at Law, Parent Representative

CATHERINE MACIVERSenior Vice PresidentBank of America Insurance Services Group

DONALD MCKAYLEProfessor of Dance, University of California, Irvine

YVONNE R. O’NEILL CPA, O’Neill Financial Management

CYRUS PARKER–JEANNETTEChair, Dance DepartmentCalifornia State University, Long Beach

SAMUEL RUIZMachine Maintenance ManagerERAN Engineering,Parent Representative

LARRY STOFKOSenior Vice President, Chief Information Officer St. Joseph Health System

SUSAN WHITTAKERSenior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer St. Joseph Health System

FERNANDO VIVANCODirector of International CommunicationsBoeing IDS Support Systems

BARBARA YINGLINGCommunity Leader

WILLIAM YINGLING IIICommunity Leader

Photography by: Kevin P. Casey and Omar Galvez The Wooden Floor thanks Pickle Group for graciously underwriting a portion of the cost of this newsletter.

The Wooden Floor

Board of Directors

2009-2010

THANK YOU TO THE CORPORATE SPONSORS WHICH HAVE COME FORWARD THIS SPRING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS OF THE WOODEN FLOOR.

4 The Wooden Floor | spring 2010

Neighbors Needed

1810 North Main StreetSanta Ana, CA 92706714.541.8314www.TheWoodenFloor.org

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

from here you can step anywhere

TheTheWoodenWoodenFloorFloor

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