Dear Friends and Family, As you all most certainly know at this point, dance is a huge part of my life. I’ve been dancing at ODC for the past 10 years, and it has become a second home to me. This year, I was given the opportunity to begin dancing with the ODC Dance Jam, our studio’s teen company. The Jam is a pre-professional program with a demanding and rewarding schedule. We train for 14 hours every week, taking classes in ballet, contemporary, Pilates, and composition, in addition to rehearsals. We are also lucky enough to produce our own home season and gain lessons in fundraising, marketing, and ticketing – skills we will all carry beyond our years in the Jam. This year, our company is composed of six members, all of whom are now like family to me. Spending so much time together, we inevitably grow close; however, what makes our group particularly special is our shared commitment to our collective growth and art. Truly, my fellow members are some of the most hardworking and talented people I know. It is with their support, as well as that of our directors, Doug and Kimi, that I feel I have been able to progress immensely and deepen my love for dance this year. This year, our home season, titled Reminiscence, will take place on April 4th and 5th. We are all tremendously excited to showcase the pieces we have been working on, and I hope to see many of you there. Your donations, along with ticket sales, help fund our flyers, programs, lighting design, videographers, and reception, among other parts of the production. Your support will help make this season possible and ensure that the ODC Dance Jam can continue to provide young dancers, like me, with meaningful and transformative experiences. Any contribution, large or small, is deeply appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for supporting both the Jam and me. I hope to see you in April! With love and gratitude, Natalie Rovner
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.