About
The Wooden Floor is a long-term dance program where students take part in dance and performance activities. Throughout the year, students participate in performance opportunities such as the Annual Concert and Co-Creation Lab, working with renowned choreographers and production staff.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: The program makes a 10-year commitment to each student from third grade through high school.
• Price: Our holistic model serves 475 under-served students year-round with dance, academic, college and career readiness, and family support programs—free of charge.
The Wooden Floor was founded in 1983 and has impacted the lives of over 95,000 students. In 2019, The Wooden Floor’s second location, Depot at Santiago, opened to serve an additional 100 students. The organization’s mission is to inspire and transform the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education, and it supports the entire family through its holistic model. Since 2005, 100% of its seniors have graduated from high school on time and immediately enrolled in higher education, and students at The Wooden Floor consistently exceed their peers nationally in abilities, behaviors, and attitudes that lead to successful and healthy lives.
The Wooden Floor is led by CEO Dawn S. Reese and an Artistic Director. It is described as a national award-winning organization and one of the foremost creative youth development nonprofit organizations in the country. Its recognitions include Orange County Business Journal Best Places to Work 2023, 2024, and 2025; Spectrum and Ovation TV Stand With The Arts Award 2023; Nonprofit of the Year 2022; Grant Awardee 2023; and the Aim High Award 2021. The organization states “Dance is the Answer.®” and “From here, you can step anywhere.®” and focuses on transforming the lives of children from low-income communities through the power of dance and access to higher education.
Last updated July 13, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: The program makes a 10-year commitment to each student from third grade through high school.
• Price: Our holistic model serves 475 under-served students year-round with dance, academic, college and career readiness, and family support programs—free of charge.
The Wooden Floor was founded in 1983 and has impacted the lives of over 95,000 students. In 2019, The Wooden Floor’s second location, Depot at Santiago, opened to serve an additional 100 students. The organization’s mission is to inspire and transform the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education, and it supports the entire family through its holistic model. Since 2005, 100% of its seniors have graduated from high school on time and immediately enrolled in higher education, and students at The Wooden Floor consistently exceed their peers nationally in abilities, behaviors, and attitudes that lead to successful and healthy lives.
The Wooden Floor is led by CEO Dawn S. Reese and an Artistic Director. It is described as a national award-winning organization and one of the foremost creative youth development nonprofit organizations in the country. Its recognitions include Orange County Business Journal Best Places to Work 2023, 2024, and 2025; Spectrum and Ovation TV Stand With The Arts Award 2023; Nonprofit of the Year 2022; Grant Awardee 2023; and the Aim High Award 2021. The organization states “Dance is the Answer.®” and “From here, you can step anywhere.®” and focuses on transforming the lives of children from low-income communities through the power of dance and access to higher education.
Last updated July 13, 2026.
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