Youth and Teen Dance Classes

Youth and Teen Dance Classes

ODC School Youth & Teen Program

Embark on a journey of creativity and movement! Located in San Francisco’s Mission District at the ODC Campus, the ODC School Youth & Teen Program is a creative hub for ages 2–18. Students will be challenged and delighted by dance technique classes and performance opportunities in a supportive and body-positive environment.

From dynamic dance classes to imaginative intensives, young people will have a blast moving and shaking in age-appropriate, and FUN dance programs for all levels. Throughout the year, our curriculum offers creative movement, contemporary, hip hop, ballet, tap, composition, choreography and more!

Please submit a Youth & Teen Program Info/Enrollment Form so we can help you get started with communication and registration. Text the Youth & Teen Program or request a callback: 707-653-5541. Enrollment continues for available classes after the start of each session.

Enrollment is open for our Summer Session! Registration for the Fall 2025 Session and the full 2025-26 School Year starts June 1, 2025.

Email registration@odc.dance for any additional questions.


Enroll in Youth & Teen Classes
 

Scholarship Opportunities Available: APPLY HERE

Para obtener información acerca del programa de niños y jóvenes de la escuela ODC, incluyendo información sobre solicitudes de becas, por favor envíe un mensaje a registration@odc.dance
 

Youth & Teen Summer Program


LEARN MORE AND REGISTER for Summer

 

Calendar of Events: 2025/2026 Season

June 1, 2025
Registration starts for the 2025/26 school year
August 21, 2025
Placement Classes*
*Pre-registration required. Only required for new
ballet and contemporary students (Ages 9-18)
with prior dance experience.
August 21, 2025
Parent/Guardian Open House
August 26, 2025, 4-6 pm
Dance Jam,
Teen Contemporary
Dance Company Audition
Pre-registration required
August 27, 2025, 6-6:30 pm
Virtual Info Session
Please RSVP online
August 29, 2025
Scholarship Applications due
September 6, 2025
Fall Session begins
September 10, 2025, 4:30-6pm
SEEDS, Teen Hip Hop Dance
Company Audition
Pre-registration required
September 27, 2025
3:00-6:00 pm
The Velveteen Rabbit Audition
Pre-registration required
November 1, 2025
Registration opens for
Spring & Summer 2026 classes
November 24-30, 2025
Fall Break – No Youth & Teen classes
November 29-December 7, 2025
The Velveteen Rabbit Performances
December 7, 2025
December Showcase
December 14, 2025
Fall Session ends
December 15, 2025-January 9, 2026
Winter Break
January 10, 2026
Spring Session begins
April 11-12, 2026
Dance Jam Home Season
May 2-3, 2026
May Showcase & Step Onstage Performances
May 16-17, 2026
Seeds Home Season
May 17, 2026
Spring Session ends, last day of classes
June 6 - July 26, 2026
Summer Programs

 

School Policies

  • Registration Information/Beyond the Classroom Registration Fee

    ODC is dedicated to the lifecycle of the artistic process and aims to inspire audiences, cultivate artists, engage community, and foster diversity and inclusion through dance. ODC believes that just as the benefits of a dance class extend beyond the classroom, so does the learning. A $65 Beyond the Classroom Registration Fee is charged at the time of enrollment to each student to provide additional opportunities to cultivate the complete dancer. This fee helps cover administrative costs, health & safety procedures, and teacher training sessions. Depending on the student’s class and level, this fee will also help cover in-house field trips, student evaluations, props and materials for classroom use, production costs for performance opportunities, additional rehearsals, and special programming throughout the school year. The $65 Beyond the Classroom Registration Fee also includes a student ticket to a ODC School production where available (including the Velveteen Rabbit). Some classes qualify for a 10% tuition discount, which is available to students taking multiple, different classes in a session or siblings who are enrolling simultaneously. Classes with built-in discounts, as well as performance classes do not qualify for additional discounts. Registration is conducted on a first come, first served basis. Please register early, as many classes fill up. To register, please contact the ODC Youth & Teen Program administrative staff directly at registration@odc.dance, or call 415/863.6606 ext. 8520, or text, 707-653-5541.

    Fall, Spring, & Academic Year-Long Program

    Students in the Young Creative Program (ages 2-7) can select classes based on age and interest, and can choose to register for either the Fall Session, or Spring Session (the complete Spring schedule will be announced later this Fall). Classes in the Youth & Teen Program (ages 8-18) are structured to develop over the course of the academic school year. Students remain with the same class and level for both the Fall and Spring Sessions. Cross-training in different dance modalities is encouraged in our program for our students to develop their full potential. Prorated Spring only tuition is available for those joining us in January.

  • Absences

    Class attendance is crucial for a successful experience at ODC School. To report an absence, please email registration@odc.dance or text 707-653-5541. If an extenuating circumstance, injury, or sensitive personal matter arises, please contact the ODC School Youth & Teen Program administrative staff directly.

  • Payment Plans

    For classes that require academic year-long enrollment, the ODC Youth & Teen Program offers two types of payment plans. A current credit card must be provided and stored on-file in order to participate.

    • Two-Payment Plan: first payment due at time of registration, second payment due January 15, 2026 (5% service fee added to tuition).
    • Nine-Payment Plan: first payment due at time of registration, with eight payments automatically charged on the 15th of every month from October, 2025 through May, 2026 (10% service fee added to tuition).

     

  • Refunds & Mid-Year Withdrawal

    There are no refunds. Please select classes carefully! If a student becomes ill, injured, or is otherwise unable to remain in the program, an online withdrawal form must be completed. Please contact school staff to discuss options and to request a withdrawal form. The remaining tuition amount will be credited to your ODC account for future use. This credit does not expire and can be used in any classes in the School program.

  • Parent Guardian Observation Days

    Guardian observations are only available on designated days which are scheduled in advance by ODC staff and faculty. Observations are announced via email notification in the weeks prior to the set date for each class, and usually take place toward the end of the Fall and Spring sessions.

  • Dress Code

    Young Creative: Form-fitting clothing and bare feet. No jeans or tutus. Welcome to Hip Hop requires sneakers (sneakers must be reserved for studio use only in order to protect our floors from dirt).

    Contemporary: Form-fitting clothing – solid color leggings with a solid color leotard or tank top. Classes are taken barefoot. Further instruction on the preferred attire will be given by the teacher at the start of the session.

    Ballet: Pink convertible tights and ballet slippers with solid color leotard based on the student’s level. Or white, black, or solid color t-shirt/tank top based on the student’s level and black, gray, flesh- tone tights or leggings with ballet slippers.

    Youth Beginning Ballet, Teen Ballet I, II: Black

    Pre-Ballet: Pastels
    Ballet I: Pink
    Ballet II: Light Blue
    Ballet III: Dark Blue
    Ballet IV: Green
    Ballet V: Red or Purple
    Ballet VI: Classic leotard in any solid color

    Further instruction on the preferred attire will be given by the teacher at the start of the session.

    All other classes: Form-fitting clothing. No skirts, jeans, or baggy clothing. Sneakers for Hip Hop (sneakers must be reserved for studio use only in order to protect our floors from dirt). Tap shoes for Tap classes. Dance Around the World will have specific requests according to the style being studied. Details will be announced by the teacher during class. If you have questions about the dress code or would like to explore different options, please contact Youth & Teen Program staff directly at registration@odc.dance

  • Placements

    For students of ballet and/or contemporary who are enrolled in the year-long program (ages 7 and up), instructors will provide a student evaluation form with the student’s placement for the following year. The form will be sent to families by the school staff before the start of enrollment for the following school year. All placement decisions are made at the discretion and professional opinion of faculty, and take into account the best interest and progression of the student.

  • Prospective Students

    For prospective teen students with prior experience in ballet and/or contemporary who wish to continue their training with the ODC Youth & Teen Program, a placement class is required. Students must pre-register for the placement class, scheduled for August 21, 2025. The fee for the placement class is $35. Prospective students in ages 9-11 with previous experience will be placed by school staff on a case-by-case basis. Other students can select an appropriate class based on age and interest.

  • Policy of Inclusion

    Policy of Inclusion ODC staff and faculty instill a culture of inclusion and kindness in the studio from the very start of the session. The ODC Youth & Teen Program has a zero-tolerance policy pertaining to bullying or exclusion of any kind.

  • Student Conduct

    Students are expected to attend all classes and are strongly encouraged to participate in performances. Students must arrive promptly for class, wearing proper attire, and be prepared, respectful, and eager to learn. Any form of inappropriate behavior will jeopardize participation in the Youth & Teen Program.

  • Arts Access Scholarship Information

    Each year, ODC school aims to make dance accessible to everyone in the community. We fundraise throughout the year to offer scholarships to a large number of students in our program. Please help us by donating to the scholarship fund at odc.dance/scholarships. Scholarships are awarded to students based on financial need, motivation, and commitment. Scholarships are available to students (ages 8+) who seek to enroll for the academic year-long program. Scholarship students are held to a high expectation of commitment, attendance, and behavior. Inconsistent attendance will jeopardize a student’s scholarship status. Scholarship information and applications are available here.


    Deadline for scholarship application submission:
    Fall 2025: August 29, 2025
    Summer 2026: May 29, 2026

  • Parent Advisory Group

    At ODC we are always looking for people who want to get more involved. The Parent Advisory Group is formed of members of our community who are ambassadors to our programs, providing feedback about our policies, curriculum, and operations. They help in our fundraising efforts making connections in the community, spreading the word about the Mission of ODC. Please contact the school office for information or to get involved.

  • ODC School Staff

    ODC School Director
    Kimi Okada

    ODC Director of School Programming
    Carlos Venturo

    ODC Youth & Teen Program Coordinator
    Michelle Lynch

    ODC School Administrative Associate
    Natalie Gutierrez

    ODC School Operations Manager
    Molly Matutat

    Ballet Program Director
    Christopher Lam

  • Save the date to join us for our Summer 2026 programs

    Registration starts on November 1, 2025

    Summer Weekend Classes (Ages 2-17)
    June 6-July 26, 2026

    An 8-week session offering a wide variety of dance styles and levels welcoming to beginners and mixed-levels.

    Summerdance (Ages 8-12)
    July 6-24, 2026
    Each day offers an array of different styles of dance, music, and composition, as well as built in breaks for lunch and snacks. At the end of each week, we have a mini performance.

    Summer Teen Lab (Ages 13-17)
    June 8-July 3, 2026
    A 4-week intensive for students with at least 3 years of experience. Each week offers technique classes in contemporary, ballet, hip hop, composition/choreography, musical theater dance, jazz, and more! Each week is unique and includes creative components as well as tech.

  • Información en español

    Para obtener información acerca del programa de niños y jóvenes de la escuela ODC, por favor envíe un mensaje a registration@odc.dance. La solicitud de beca se encuentra aquí.


    Fecha límite para la solicitud de beca:
    Otoño de 2025: 29 de agosto de 2025
    Verano de 2026: 29 de mayo de 2026

Accessibility at ODC

ODC is ADA Accessible. Additional wheelchair seating is provided for select shows. Getting to second floor studios in the ODC Dance Commons and ODC Theater involves riding an elevator or climbing one flight of stairs. The majority of the ODC Annex is carpeted. ODC Theater and ODC Annex restrooms are All-Gender, and in the ODC Dance Commons, All-Gender restrooms are located on the second floor. For all ODC/Dance and ODC Theater presented performances, ASL is provided for shows with performed text for at least one performance during the show run.

Land Acknowledgement

ODC is on the ancestral lands of the Ramaytush People in Yelamu. We pay respects to elders past and present, who are still here and part of our community. We recognize that regenerative land management is not new, but is a continuation of practices from Native cultures and from our own ancestors. It is our responsibility to steward the land with care, as our elders did before us.