ODC

ODC was founded in 1971 by Brenda Way, who studied under legendary George Balanchine and was a faculty member at Oberlin College. Way established ODC with the goal of creating a dance collective rooted in dynamism, pluralism, and the urban setting of San Francisco. In 1979, ODC made history as the first modern dance company in the United States to own its home facility. Additionally, it was one of the first American dance companies to incorporate a post-modern sensibility into a virtuosic contemporary dance technique.

Today, ODC's ten-person company performs for more than 50,000 people annually and has been widely recognized for its unique and rigorous technique. The collective also oversees the ODC Dance Commons, which includes the ODC School (where 16,000 students of all ages have trained in many genres), a youth program, and a Rhythm & Motion program, which offer a combined 200 classes per week. In both its performances and its educational programs, ODC embodies the belief that dance should be visible, accessible, and joyful.