{"id":2717,"date":"2014-06-17T14:08:45","date_gmt":"2014-06-17T21:08:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/alumni\/2014\/06\/17\/breaking-the-cycle-of-poverty-through-dance\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T06:43:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T06:43:23","slug":"breaking-the-cycle-of-poverty-through-dance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/alumni\/2014\/06\/17\/breaking-the-cycle-of-poverty-through-dance\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking the Cycle of Poverty through Dance"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nWhen Chapman alumnus Craig Shields, B.M. instrumental performance\/education ’12, joined the musician staff at
\nThe Wooden Floor<\/a>
\n, he didn\u2019t realize the job would be a life-altering experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy worldview has definitely expanded since I started working at The Wooden Floor,\u201d says Craig.<\/p>\n

The Wooden Floor, located in Santa Ana, is a nonprofit organization that annually gives 375 under-served local youth the tools to live fuller, healthier lives through a unique approach grounded in dance. The Wooden Floor is not a dance studio, but rather an innovative nonprofit that breaks the cycle of poverty by giving students a positive artistic outlet combined with academic, college preparatory and family services. Because the children that walk through their doors are typically living near or below the poverty line, all of the services are offered free of charge. Without The Wooden Floor, these children would have very little\u2014if any\u2014access to art.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a more patient person now because I have to consider where our students are coming from, what they might be dealing with at home or at school, or whether they have a place to sleep at night,\u201d says Craig
\n. <\/strong>
\n\u201cI see things from a new perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

Helping Children Leap toward a Better Future<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dodge students showcase life-changing impact of dance<\/h3>\n