Dear Family and Friends, As you all may know, I am very passionate about dance. My whole life, I have studied dance, and it has become something I want to dedicate my life to. I love every aspect of dance. From performing, practicing technique, to choreography and improvisation, it’s an outlet for my creativity and self expression that truly brings me joy. Since I was two years old, I have been dancing at ODC. Rooted in the Mission District of San Francisco, ODC is a home for dance, but has also become a home for myself. This past year, I was lucky enough to start dancing in the ODC Dance Jam, ODC’s teen company. The Jam is a rigorous, pre-professional dance training program where we work 14 hours per week with classes in contemporary, ballet, pilates, as well as dedicated rehearsal time. In addition to our technical and artistic training, the Jam also produces our own home season. In order to do this, we are guided by mentors in marketing, fundraising, and ticketing. Although I have always had a special connection with dance and with ODC, since joining the Jam, I have gained remarkable relationships with my fellow dancers, as well as our teachers and directors, and my love and passion for dance has only continued to grow. This year, our Home Season, Reminiscence, takes place on April 4th and 5th. These shows are our chance to showcase what we have worked on over the past year. We will be performing five pieces, including one new work and one ODC company repertoire. We are also accepting donations, which help support the production of our season, and allows the ODC Dance Jam to continue providing this experience to teens like myself, who are passionate about dance. Any contribution is greatly appreciated. Thank you all so much for your support of the Jam and of myself and I hope to see you at our Home Season! With appreciation, Nina Delos Ryes-Webb
Under the leadership of School Director Kimi Okada and Dance Jam Associate Director Doug Gillespie, the ODC teen contemporary dance company performs work by the choreographers of the professional company, ODC/Dance, as well as renowned guest choreographers. Members of the Dance Jam are challenged with the creation of new works and the complexities of training in multiple dance techniques through a 5-day per week training schedule. With mentorship from ODC staff, the Dance Jam produces all aspects of their annual home season in ODC Theater, richly expanding their skill sets and understanding of work both on and offstage within a professional setting.
Please support this community of young dancers with a donation of any size to help produce their April 4 & 5th, 2026 performances.
"You won't want to miss this evening of glorious dancing and bracing choreography performed by a dynamic talented team of youthful artists! Come experience the future of dance." - Brenda Way, ODC Founding Artistic Director
As part of their home season performances, the Dance Jam will perform a full program of works including a world premiere by Doug Gillespie. Repertory works include Deep Ascent, choreographed by Babatunji Johnson, Specifically Particular, choreographed by Dexandro Montalvo, Foreign Postmark, choreographed by Kimi Okada, and the ODC/Dance company repertory piece Breathing Underwater, choreographed by Brenda Way.