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

Natalie Rovner

Dear Friends and Family,

	As some of you may know, for the past four years, I have been a part of ODC’s pre-professional company, the Dance Jam. Participating in the Jam has been one of the highlights of my high school experience, as it is the group with whom I express my creativity, challenge myself physically, and from which create a family of like-minded peers. I come to ODC everyday after school, and I build upon my technique, artistry, and individuality. These past four years, I have learned not only about the specifics of dance, but also how to act and carry myself like a professional. This teen company, with lessons in schmoozing, fundraising, and professionalism, has prepared me to move on to the next chapter of my life. 

	While I am heartbroken that my experience in the Jam is coming to an end, I also acknowledge that that is what makes this year’s show so special. On April 4th and 5th, we will be performing Reminiscence, a production that celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Dance Jam. This show will consist of Jam repertoire, an ODC professional company quartet, and a new piece choreographed on us this January. I’m excited to dance my heart out for what some could call my last hurrah, and I hope all of you will be able to come.

Our group of six dancers works hard all year to create our season. Besides our 14 hour a week, Monday through Friday schedule, of Ballet, Contemporary, Composition, Pilates, and rehearsal, we also produce the entire show. We are responsible for marketing, fundraising, ticketing, PR, printing programs and flyers, hiring videographers, lighting design, and creating a beautiful reception. The process teaches us what it is like to be in a professional dance company, and the true costs of everything that comes with it. Thus, any donation, big or small, would be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in supporting ODC's teen company, you can donate here.

And lastly, I want to thank each and every one of you who donated and/or came to our season, From the Ground Up. Your donation played a valuable role in producing last year's show and your presence meant the world to me. 

With so much love and gratitude,       
Ever

Ever Keegstra

Dear friends and family,

As many of you know, dancing has always been a serious passion of mine, and I have been dedicating my free time to it ever since I was eight. Dance has become particularly special for me ever since I joined ODC Dance Jam in 2022. The Jam is a teen dance company that trains for over thirteen hours a week in ballet, contemporary, composition, and repertory. In addition to our training, we are also given mentorship and useful life lessons in fundraising, marketing, and ticketing.

This year there are six dancers in the Jam including myself, and together we have been growing as dancers and people by exploring our artistry, improving our technique, and increasing our knowledge. Dance has always been an outlet for my creativity, and getting to share my love for it with my fellow Jam members has only made me appreciate it more. 

This Spring, we get the chance to showcase our love for dance in our Home Season, Reminiscence, on April 4th and 5th. Your donation to support this production would be greatly appreciated, as it would help provide videographers, lighting design, flyers, programs, and a beautiful reception. Your contribution will allow the ODC Dance Jam to continue to help teenagers express themselves, as it did for myself and the rest of the Jam. 

With overwhelming appreciation,
Ruby Chen

Ruby Chen

Dear Family and Friends,

As you probably know, I have a deep passion for dance. From the age of 7, I’ve grown up taking classes in the studio and performing onstage, refining skills in technique, choreography, and work ethic. Since then, I’ve found that dance is more than an engaging activity to me; it is a form of art that brings me joy, allowing me to explore and express myself through movement.

In my final year as a senior, I get the privilege to be in my second year with the Dance Jam. In this company, I dance every day after school for about 15 hours per week. The curriculum involves training in ballet, contemporary, and pilates classes, as well as dedicated hours towards composition and rehearsal. In the Jam, we not only work in the studio and learn advanced repertoire, but we also produce our own home season. From funding and marketing to the program and tickets, we manage every component of our show. This has taught me the true fundamentals of being in a professional dance company.

The Jam’s rigorous program has revealed to me the importance of being diligent, meticulous, and persistent. In developing both technically and artistically, I have found the drive to further pursue dance past high school. Moreover, I’ve gained opportunities to work with incredible instructors and artists while forming lasting friendships. The Jam has truly become a second family.

This year, I’m excited to announce the coming of our home season, Reminiscence, which falls on the weekend of April 4th and 5th. In celebration of the Dance Jam’s 30th anniversary, we will showcase five unique pieces, including an ODC Company work and new composition. Any amount you give makes a huge impact because it helps to subsidize our performance, lighting design, videographers, and beautiful reception. Every contribution is sincerely appreciated.

In a production titled Reminiscence, I can’t help but look back on my own dance journey. As a graduate, I can see the ways I’ve grown from when I first stepped foot on the stage as a young kid. Every movement, every class, and every show has meant one more step towards where I’m at as an artist today. Yet, I couldn’t have done it without your support for me and my passion, so I want to express my deepest gratitude. Thank you for your presence and thank you for your encouragement; it has truly meant the world.

With love and gratitude,
Rylan-Christian Pon

Rylan-Christian Pon

Dear Friends and Family,

I’m excited to announce the ODC Dance Jam’s 2025 home season Reminiscence on April 4th and 5th! The dance Jam will be presenting five dance pieces by award winning choreographers, including one world premiere. For those that don’t know, the Dance Jam is a contemporary teen dance company located at ODC Dance in the Mission. For over 20 years teen dancers have trained and worked tirelessly on performing and producing a home season. We are responsible for all aspects of the show including the programs, flyers, press release, marketing, fundraising and ticket sales. The price of tickets does not cover all the costs of putting on this production so to make our season come to life please consider giving an additional donation. We appreciate your support in any amount. Most of all, your presence at the shows would mean a lot to me and I would love to see you all there.

Warmly,
Ella Ford

Ella Ford

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

Nina Delos Reyes-Webb

Dance Jam Company Members

Please support this community of young dancers with a donation of any size to help produce their April 4-5, 2026 performances.

ODC Dance

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 

, choreographed by Kimi Okada, and the ODC/Dance company repertory piece 