SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA / AGILITYPR.NEWS / February 28, 2020 / The Wooden Floor’s 37th Annual Concert: This Way Forward Celebrates Tradition of Thought-Provoking Dance with an Inspiring Vision That Breaks the Cycle of Poverty in Youth from Low-Income Communities

SANTA ANA, Calif., (February 28, 2020) – Youth dancers will take the stage to premiere new, collaborative dance performances for The Wooden Floor’s 37th Annual Concert: This Way Forward at Irvine Barclay Theatre from May 28-30, 2020 for four showings. Kendra Portier, Christina Robson, and The Wooden Floor’s Artistic Director Falon Baltzell are working alongside students throughout the dance-making process, where dancers have dedicated hundreds of hours that illustrate the organization’s dance education curriculum and the invaluable lessons of working with dance professionals. By bringing in choreographers that are shaping the genre of contemporary dance into an art-making process with under-served youth, The Wooden Floor’s students learn important values of discipline, collaboration, commitment, and achievement throughout the six-month experience.

“There has been national dialogue on how instrumental the arts are in developing young people to be prepared with career and life skills – something we have all known since our founding,” said Dawn S. Reese, Chief Executive Officer. “Our students learn through dance that having a big vision for their lives requires sacrifice, determination, and focus. Witnessing this in-person at our Annual Concert is a profound experience for audiences, and likewise for our students, recognizing that their big vision for themselves is supported by their community.”

This Way Forward reflects The Wooden Floor’s co-creation process between choreographers and youth dancers, and resonates with the organization’s emphasis on dance education as a catalyst for student success. “Trusting ourselves and others, that as a collective, we will arrive to our destination of success even if the way is unclear. And no matter which direction we venture, we are all moving forward together to set our students up for success in school and in life,” Baltzell said.

Meet the Choreographers

Event Details

Name: The Wooden Floor’s 37th Annual Concert: This Way Forward

When: 8:00pm May 28-30, 2020, 2:30pm May 30, 2020

Where: Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA 92612

Tickets: $20 General Seating; $10 seating for children under 13 and students; $50 Benefit Seating, which includes a $30 tax-deductive contribution

Available: On sale beginning April 1 at TheWoodenFloor.org/ThisWayForward

About The Wooden Floor

Founded in 1983, The Wooden Floor is one of the foremost creative youth development nonprofit organizations in the country. We transform the lives of young people in low-income communities through the power of dance and access to higher education. In Orange County and through national licensed partners, we use a long-term approach grounded in exploratory dance education to foster the confidence and gifts within each child to innovate, communicate, and collaborate – skills necessary for success in school and in life. 100 percent of students who graduate from The Wooden Floor immediately enroll in higher education. Our students become change agents and beacons of hope within their own families, their neighborhoods, our community, and our world.

###

To cover this event, schedule an interview with choreographers, or interview participating students, please call Payal Avellan at 714-541-8314 ext. 119 or e-mail Payal@TheWoodenFloor.org.

Cheat Tweets

“Nationally acclaimed choreographers and under-served youth collaborate for the premiere of four original dance pieces during The Wooden Floor’s 37th Annual Concert: This Way Forward.”

“Debut of four original dance works premiering at The Wooden Floor’s 37th Annual Concert: This Way Forward, reflecting the creative process between students and nationally acclaimed choreographers throughout the dance-making process.”

“Self-esteem, self-discipline, and a sense of accomplishment are just some of the values under-served youth experience during the dance-making process with nationally acclaimed choreographers for The Wooden Floor’s 37th Annual Concert: This Way Forward.”

“Inspired by strategic changes, adaptations, and new directions, The Wooden Floor premieres 37th Annual Concert: This Way Forward, an annual concert premiering four original dance works between nationally acclaimed choreographers and under-served youth dancers.”

The Wooden Floor’s Social Media Handles

@TheWoodenFloor – Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube