Mission · San Francisco, California
ODC School at ODC Dance Commons
Mission District contemporary dance institution founded 1971 by Brenda Way — ODC's 33,000 sq ft Dance Commons houses ODC/Dance company, ODC School, and 200+ weekly classes for all ages.
- Contemporary
- Ballet
- Children's Dance
How ODC School at ODC Dance Commons comes across
ODC School comes across as the educational wing of a large, multi-armed San Francisco dance institution rather than a standalone studio — it sits within ODC Dance Commons alongside a touring company, a theater, a health clinic, and a streaming platform. The scale is the headline: "ODC School and Rhythm & Motion Dance Program offer 150+ classes a week, 365 days a year for all ages and levels in styles ranging from Hip Hop, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Afro-Haitian, Pilates, Bellydance, and more." The company it serves was "Founded in 1971 by Artistic Director Brenda Way," lending deep modern-dance lineage. What distinguishes the self-presentation is breadth and access — youth and teen programs, a Healthy Dancers' Clinic, and an "Arts Access" subsidy "for those where price is a barrier." The overall impression is of an inclusive, high-volume creative campus where a beginner of any age or budget can find a class, anchored by a serious contemporary company but explicitly built for the whole community.
An editor's impression, drawn from the school's own website and public materials, 13 June 2026. Not a review — if it misses the mark, the school or a parent can tell us via the form below.
About the school
ODC (originally Oberlin Dance Collective) was founded in 1971 by Artistic Director Brenda Way and has operated from San Francisco's Mission District since 1976. In September 2005 ODC opened the 33,000 sq ft ODC Dance Commons at 351 Shotwell Street, which houses the ODC/Dance professional contemporary company, ODC School, administrative offices, and the Healthy Dancers' Clinic. The facility includes seven fully-equipped studios, two performance spaces, a Pilates center, gallery spaces, and a community lounge. ODC School + the Rhythm & Motion Dance Program offers 200+ classes weekly across all forms of dance — contemporary, ballet, hip hop, tap, jazz, Afro-Haitian, and more — alongside Youth & Teen programs and pre-professional pathways.
At a glance
- Address
- 351 Shotwell St, San Francisco, CA 94110
- Suburb
- Mission
- City
- San Francisco
- State
- California
- Disciplines
- Contemporary, Classical Ballet, Modern, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Tap, Afro-Haitian, Pilates, Belly Dance
- Approach
- Both
What stands out
- i.Founded 1971 by Brenda Way
- ii.33,000 sq ft Dance Commons (2005)
- iii.200+ weekly classes, 7 studios
Also in Mission
Dance Mission Theater
Mission District multicultural dance center founded by Krissy Keefer (co-founder of Dance Brigade), home to Grrrl Brigade youth program and 400+ children per semester.
Steppin' Out Dance Studio
Ages 2+
Mission District children's dance studio carrying the legacy of Betty May Studio (1930s), reformed 1995 by Angela Rose Dorantes, serving ages 2 through young adult.