Oakland · San Francisco, California
Destiny Arts Center
North Oakland anchor arts nonprofit founded 1988 by Kate Hobbs, Anthony Daniels and Sarah Crowell. 7,800 sqft facility with 3 dance studios and sprung wood oak floors. Combines movement, martial arts and social-change pedagogy for youth and adults.
- Children's Dance
- Hip Hop
- Contemporary
How Destiny Arts Center comes across
Destiny Arts Center comes across less as a dance school than as a youth-development organization that happens to teach movement with real seriousness. Its stated purpose — to "inspire and ignite social change through the arts" — frames everything, and it describes itself as a "creative youth development organization that equally values mastery of movement arts, inclusive communities, and cultivating advocates for peace." The programming reads as evidence rather than slogan: a Street Dance Curriculum, Teen and Junior performance companies, an Elders Project, summer programs, and a C.A.R.E. Team suggest dance is woven into a broader mission around safety and belonging in Oakland. The impression is of a place where craft and community are deliberately held as equal aims — a parent seeking competitive technique might find the emphasis elsewhere, but one looking for confident, expressive training inside a values-driven, peace-centered environment would likely find it a strong fit. It reads as movement in service of formation.
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
Destiny Arts Center is a 7,800 square foot dance and martial arts center on Grace Avenue between Market St. and San Pablo Avenue in North Oakland. Founded in 1988 by Kate Hobbs, Anthony Daniels and Sarah Crowell as a small storefront dojo on San Pablo Avenue, the organization grew into one of Oakland's anchor cultural institutions over 35+ years. Three large dance studios totaling more than 3,000 square feet feature sprung wood oak floors, mirrors, integrated sound, central air, changing rooms and restrooms. Programming combines dance, martial arts, and the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company (DAYPC, founded 1993) under a mission of social change through the arts.
At a glance
- Address
- 970 Grace Ave, Oakland, CA 94608
- Suburb
- Oakland
- City
- San Francisco
- State
- California
- Age range
- 3+ years
- Disciplines
- Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Modern, Martial Arts
- Approach
- Recreational
- Price band
- Budget
What stands out
- i.Founded 1988 — Oakland anchor cultural institution
- ii.7,800 sqft facility with 3 sprung-floor dance studios
- iii.Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company (DAYPC) since 1993
Also in Oakland
Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts
City of Oakland multicultural performing-arts complex in a restored 1920s building. 400-seat theater plus 5 rehearsal/class studios hosting African dance, ballet, contemporary and drama. Renamed 2004 for Cameroonian dance artist Malonga Casquelourd.
Oakland Ballet School
Ages 3+
Piedmont Avenue ballet school affiliated with the 60-year-old Oakland Ballet Company. Founded by Ronn Guidi in 1968 to train dancers for OBC and other US and European companies. Pre-professional ballet training in classical technique and musicality.
Tutu School Montclair
Ages up to 8
Montclair Village storybook ballet studio for children 6 months to 8 years. Part of the established Tutu School franchise (Tutu School Mill Valley founded 2008 by Genevieve Custer Weeks).