"Dance Up" Summer 2010

Providing Hope and Opportunity Through Dance, Academic and Family Programs

summer 2010

previously known as Saint Joseph Ballet

MELANIE RÍOS GLASER, EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

In The First Person Fernando Calderon, age 10 “On Thanksgiving, The Wooden Floor gave our family a food basket with yogurt to make my little brother’s bones strong. This place has helped my parents a lot. This is my second house, and my favorite place to be. I like that this is a TV-free place, and so we really get a chance to use our imagination. My favorite part about coming here is rehearsing for concert.

I like knowing that if I work hard and practice, people will want to come and see me. Dancing makes people free, and gives kids pride and peace.”

Jorge Calderon, age 12 “At The Wooden Floor, I get to be creative, work hard, be strong, and feel powerful. This place persuades me to grow inside, and just dance, dance, dance, so I can make my parents proud. This is my favorite place to be. I would like my two baby brothers to come here one day, so they can be like me and Fernando – grow strong, be healthy, and have good thinking.”

Friday May 15, & Saturday May 16

Thursday June 3 – Saturday June 5

Saturday October 9

MinEvent at the Studio at Sage Hill

An Open Space at the Irvine Barclay Theatre

Keep The Promise, A Wine Tasting Benefit

Experience an uninterrupted sequence of excerpts drawn from Merce Cunningham’s acclaimed Roaratorio (1983) staged with The Wooden Floor’s dancers.

Tickets are $10 and available at www.TheWoodenFloor.org

The Wooden Floor’s 27th Annual Concert is an evolution of the inspiring choreography that sold out performances and received a standing ovation at Walt Disney Concert Hall’s REDCAT. Tickets available at www.TheBarclay.org

Save the date for an evening of inspiring stories, exquisite wine, and gourmet hors d’oeuvre pairings. For early reservations and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ellen Reader at 714.541.8314 ext. 124

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

LETTER FROM MELANIE RÍOS GLASER EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

In 2000 I started work on my first choreographic commission for The Wooden Floor. All Heaven Broke Loose had a cast of over 100 of the younger dancers.

I will call one of them Camila to protect her privacy.

At 15 years old Camila was grouped with the younger dancers because she had made little progress in her dance training. She felt uncomfortable in her larger body, which she took great pains to cover. Most striking, it was almost as if she wasn’t in her body. Her face held no expression; she was absent. My caring

rehearsal assistant Rebeca Ramos and I tried everything we could to breathe life into her. We encouraged her; we went through things patiently over and over again. We became exasperated and decided that we needed to change our strategy and be more demanding. One day she stopped coming.

We learnt her problems at home were large and in order for her parents to work double shifts she was forced to take care of her 5 younger siblings. At The Wooden Floor the team was able to help the family

min·e·vent [min-ih-vent] – noun an uninterrupted sequence of excerpts drawn from the work of Merce Cunningham

Supporter Spotlight

Don Crevier In addition to his passion for cars, Don Crevier, the man behind Crevier BMW/Mini, is known for being a tireless advocate for underserved youth. About two decades ago, Crevier sat on the Board of Directors for Career Beginnings, a mentoring program for high school youth in Santa Ana. He wanted to expand his mentoring of youth, and a fellow Career Beginnings Board Member recommended that he look into The Wooden Floor, then known as Saint Joseph Ballet. He attended an Annual Concert performance, and that one evening launched twenty years of relentless, loving support from Crevier as a Dance Partner with The Wooden Floor.

“I like the mentorship the program provides,” Crevier explains, when asked why the Dance Partner program has been rewarding to him for so many years. Dance Partners enjoy a guided one-onone relationship with a student at The Wooden Floor, allowing Partners to witness the personal growth their support makes possible. Crevier has also become a steadfast supporter of The Wooden Floor’s Annual Concert, which is the culmination of yearround programs that encourage creativity, subjectivity and expression of self, resulting in positive change, including increased selfdiscipline and commitment. “I love the whole idea of bringing such a high level of art to these kids.

They gain self confidence, and it helps them think a little bigger than from where they started.”

Another facet of Crevier’s support is how he has encouraged others to get involved at The Wooden Floor. “We encourage everyone at Crevier BMW/Mini to try to take an interest in organizations that can offer help to people who are less fortunate. We have a dedicated group of people within this company that have offered their time and their influence to many organizations. We love to help people with their automotive needs. The more fun we have with that, the more we can help others.”

2 The Wooden Floor | summer 2010

The Wooden Floor collaborates with the iconoclastic Merce Cunningham Dance Company in a MinEvent on May 15, at 7:30pm, and May 16, at 2:00pm, at The Studio at Sage Hill. It is a rare opportunity to witness an uninterrupted sequence of excerpts drawn from Merce Cunningham’s acclaimed Roaratorio (1983), set against the stark tenderness of The Wooden Floor’s highly regarded young dancers. A projection of a video work by leading media artist Bill Viola accompanies this unique collaboration. The MinEvent is constructed and staged by Jean Freebury, former Merce Cunningham Dance Company member, and also features a screening of Beach Birds for Camera, an award winning film version of Cunningham’s breathtaking work, Beach Birds, from 1991.

The event is an exceptional opportunity for the

young dancers of The Wooden Floor to learn the Cunningham work experientially, by dancing it.

The Wooden Floor is honored to come together with Sage Hill School for this project, and for their support of our students in general. Since 2000, Sage Hill School has offered multiple scholarships for The Wooden Floor’s dancers, allowing them access to a unique educational opportunity.

The Wooden Floor / Merce Cunningham Dance Company MinEvent May 15, at 7:30pm, and May 16, at 2:00pm.

At The Studio at Sage Hill 20402 Newport Coast Drive Newport Coast, CA 92657 $10 General Admission, $5 for students Tickets available at www.TheWoodenFloor.org

From Here, You Can Step Anywhere Every student in The Wooden Floor’s class of 2010 will graduate high school on time, and 100% of them will also enroll in college. Their college enrollment rate is an astounding three times the national average for their peers! These youth are all the first generation in their family to pursue higher education. Based on their GPA’s, 15 of the 19 graduates will receive 4-year scholarships from The Wooden Floor, totaling $4,000-$10,000. The class of 2010’s fortitude, courage, and hard work inspires us all. Where they are today is a remarkable step forward from where they started. It is a testament to their ability to beat the odds, and our ability as their advocates to provide them a powerful platform from which to do so.

INTRODUCING THE CLASS OF 2010, AND THE COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES THEY HAVE RECEIVED THUS FAR: DANIEL ARREOLA BRENDA ARROYO KATHERINE AVILA MARIO CHAVEZ

Santa Ana College, Orange Coast College* Irvine Valley College San Francisco State, Humboldt State*, CSU East Bay Orange Coast College, Santa Ana College*

and we got her back in rehearsal. Still no progress-we could hardly get her to move, let alone talk or smile. Jenny Vaughan, our costume designer, made her a special costume that flattered her. When asked if she liked it, she nodded shyly. I have to confess, we had almost given up.

The curtain went up on opening night and there was Camila trying as hard as she could. She was doing the steps, but most incredibly there was life in her face—she was expressing joy. We started weeping. We rushed backstage to celebrate her accomplishment—we were praising her and she was beaming. She had been witnessed and applauded

by many. For the run of the shows at least she did not feel invisible.

When you attend our annual concert you will see sophisticated work and dancers who are fully present, but you will also see some Camilas. They might be feeling alive and visible for the very first time. Come, be moved, and support the joy.

27th Annual Concert The Wooden Floor’s Annual Concert draws an audience that includes the dance community, critics and diverse audiences. Our young artists understand that they are not pretending or playing at making art—they are part of the real deal, truly participating in the discourse of the art world. Collaborators for The Wooden Floor’s Annual Concert, An Open Space, include choreographers Mark Haim, a noted Fulbright Senior Specialist, and Nami Yamamoto, a Creative Capitol Grantee. Our world class designers also return this year, including lighting designer, James F. Ingalls, costume designer, Jennifer Vaughan, and scenic designer, Luke Cantarella. At The Wooden Floor, there is a long history of partnering with interesting and recognized choreographers and other top-in-theirfield artistic collaborators. They create new work in partnership with our youth, resulting in unexpected contemporary dance that is layered, idiosyncratic and sophisticated. Through the assumption that youth are not to be condescended to, the performances break down ethnic, gender and age stereotypes about who can inspire, create, perform and contribute to the genre of contemporary dance. The creativity, subjectivity, and expression of self developed through our year-round programs all culminate in the inventive art making of Annual Concert, which acts as a catalyst for real, sustained, positive change. Our young artists’ experience in the studio is one of adventuresome art-making, fed by years of study in improvisation, where the subjective experience and a growing sense of self awareness contributes to the work.

It is the single most powerful experience reported by our students and alumni. It is also a uniquely moving experience for the audience.

Original. Inventive. Moving.

Four performances only!

June 3 to 5, 2010 An Open Space is an evolution of the inspiring work from accomplished choreographers Nami Yamamoto, Mark Haim and Melanie Ríos Glaser, which sold out performances at Walt Disney Concert Hall’s REDCAT. Now expanded to feature a cast of 125 dancers!

Irvine Barclay Theatre Tickets start at only $20 949-854-4646 www.TheBarclay.org www.Ticketmaster.com

PAULETTE MORALES RUBI MORALES ARELI PELAXTLA ANAYS RAMIREZ ZAZHIL ROJANO YESENIA SANCHEZ DAISY TAPIA JESSICA TORRES YESENIA VALDOVINOS STEPHANIE VILLALOBOS

June 19 26 youth from The Wooden Floor head off to two different sponsored summer camps. Many of these students have never before experienced being in the wilderness. They will be at camp for nearly two weeks.

June 2 Our 125 “stars” will arrive for dress rehearsal of An Open Space at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Shining under the bright lights of their dressing room mirrors, the children will see their names on large silver stars.

Thank you to our Concert and Star Sponsors for helping to create this unforgettable moment.

May 17 Rehearsals for An Open Space are heating up! Choreographer Nami Yamamoto and Puppeteer Matt Acheson are in residence to prepare for The Wooden Floor’s Annual Concert at the Irvine Barclay Theatre June 3-5. The kids are excited to have them back!

May 6 Former Merce Cunningham Dance Company member, Jean Freebury is in residence with our youth for one week, to stage the upcoming MinEvent on May 15 & 16.

Tickets and info are online at www.TheWoodenFloor.org.

April 24 17 of our students will be taking the SAT practice test in The Wooden Floor’s Hutton Education Center. The practice test and Kaplan SAT prep classes are offered free of charge to all high school aged students of The Wooden Floor.

an open space

BRIANNA CUOZZO ANAHIZA GOMEZ STEPHANIE GONZALEZ YOLANDA HERNANDEZ BRANDON LOPEZ

the wooden floor news feed

April 5 80 Families attended a four week Understanding Your Adolescent workshop. Parents explored topics such as keeping communication open with their teenager, how to talk about drugs to their student, and the signs of a stressed student and how to help.

March 31 The Wooden Floor is a winner of YouTube’s 4th Annual Nonprofit Video Awards! Ours was one of four winners selected, chosen from 750 videos submitted by more than 450 nonprofit organizations in 4 countries!

Check it out online at www.YouTube. com/TheWoodenFloor

UC Riverside CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Fullerton, UC Riverside, University of Redlands* CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Fullerton, Santa Ana College* Humboldt State*, CSU Fullerton, San Francisco State* CSU Fullerton, Concordia University UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside* San Francisco State, Concordia University*, CSU Fullerton, CSU Dominguez Hills Santa Ana College*, Orange Coast College Santa Ana College, Orange Coast College* CSU Fullerton, Orange Coast College* CSU Fullerton, San Francisco State, Humboldt State University, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, University of Redlands* UC Davis*, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, University of Redlands CSU East Bay, Whittier College, Northern Arizona University, Orange Coast College, University of Redlands* *Indicates the Fullerton College, Santa Ana College* student’s first Orange Coast College, Santa Ana College* choice.

March 18 The Wooden Floor’s Executive and Artistic Director, Melanie Ríos Glaser was recognized at Senator Lou Correa’s Women Making a Difference reception.

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

www.TheWoodenFloor.org 3

Non Profit Org. US Postage

previously known as Saint Joseph Ballet

PAID Orange, CA Permit No. 356

1810 N. Main St. Santa Ana, CA 92706 714.541.8314 www.TheWoodenFloor.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

The Wooden Floor Board of Directors 2009-2010 ERNESTO VASQUEZ, Board Emeritus AIA and Vice President, McLarand, Vasquez, Emsiek & Partners SOCORRO VASQUEZ, Board Emerita Community Leader DAMIEN JORDAN, Chair Senior Vice President, General Manager, The American Funds Service Company JIM SLAUGHTER, Vice Chair Attorney at Law, Slaughter & Slaughter LLP

Sponsor a Star

FRANK FOSTER, Secretary Principal, Residential Strategies, LLC RICHARD C. HUNSAKER, Treasurer President, Hunsaker Management GLENNDA ADAIR Wellness Retreat Weekends/ Cordelia Knott Foundation JOAN BEALL Community Leader BETH BURNS Saint Joseph Ballet Founder and Artistic Director (’83-’05) CATHERINE CHASE Senior Vice President, Credit Suisse ARLENE CRAIG President, The Betty L. Hutton Title Holding Co.; Vice-President, The Hutton Foundation JIM DRISCOLL Community Leader JAN FOSTER Community Leader FRANK HALL Vice President, Resource Development St. Joseph Health System SHARON HARTSHORN Community Leader GINNIE HUNSAKER Community Leader YVONNE M. JORDAN Community Leader JUAN LAGUNA Attorney at Law, Parent Representative CATHERINE MACIVER Senior Vice President Bank of America Insurance Services Group DONALD MCKAYLE Professor of Dance, University of California, Irvine YVONNE R. O’NEILL CPA, O’Neill Financial Management CYRUS PARKER–JEANNETTE Chair, Dance Department California State University, Long Beach SAMUEL RUIZ Machine Maintenance Manager ERAN Engineering, Parent Representative LARRY STOFKO Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer St. Joseph Health System

On June 3, 125 students will arrive at Irvine Barclay Theatre for opening night of The Wooden Floor’s 27th Annual Concert, An Open Space. Shining under the bright lights of their dressing room mirrors, the children will see their names on large silver stars.

The Wooden Floor uses dance to engage our students, nurture their creativity, and unlock a passion to excel in school and beyond. For our students, their Annual Concert performances are the culmination of years of dedication and months of intense rehearsals. Performing for an audience affirms to these youth that they matter, and that their hard work is appreciated and celebrated. It is a life changing experience that is retold many times by our students and alumni.

Your generous Star Sponsorship of a student supports the creation, production, and presentation of a remarkable moment in a child’s life. Please support this experience and its powerful effect on our youth.

SPONSORSHIPS CAN BE MADE: ✪ Online at www.TheWoodenFloor.org. Click on the “Make a Donation” button, select “The Star Campaign” as your fund ✪ By returning your sponsorship in the enclosed donation envelope ✪ Or, contact Ellen Reader at 714.541.8314 ext. 124

SUSAN WHITTAKER Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer St. Joseph Health System FERNANDO VIVANCO Director of International Communications Boeing IDS Support Systems BARBARA YINGLING Community Leader WILLIAM YINGLING III Community Leader Photography by: Kevin P. Casey and Omar Galvez and Johnny Hernandez.

The Wooden Floor thanks Pickle Group for graciously underwriting a portion of the cost of this newsletter.

4 The Wooden Floor | summer 2010

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