Program areas at ODC
In 2022 Odc strengthened its status as one of the most active and impactful centers for contemporary dance on the west coast. It took significant action to prepare its own programs, facilities and the bay area dance ecosystem to weather upcoming challenges. Odc predicts that 2023 will be one of the most financially challenging in the organization's history due to: - the glacially slow pace of audience and patron return to participation in the arts post pandemic - extensive relocation out of san francisco of audience and artists as well as the creative professionals required for performing arts production -constraints in san francisco's financial environment (fueled by expected continuation of negative press, population exodus, inflation, volatile markets) -the conclusion of all state and federal covid relief funding despite a slow recovery from the dynamic impacts of the pandemic. To prepare for these anticipated challenges in 2023, Odc invested in staff, programs and capital with resources available exclusively in the 2022 calendar year. Most significantly, Odc responded to the pivotal opportunity to acquire the building adjacent to its current theater, purchasing 3175-3177 17th street on november 18, 2022, to provide enhanced function of its theater and increase the size of its existing campus by 14,400 square feet-a 40% expansion of the current campus square footage. Honoring its commitment to nurture and strengthen the bay area's arts ecosystem,odc continued its queer bipoc space residency program and strengthened its rental discount initiative (curated by a panel of guest artists and community leaders), granting 100s of hours of discounted and fully subsidized studio and meeting space access to artists, peer arts organizations, and fellow, local non-profits. Odc remains one of just five total organizations in the greater san francisco bay area renting studio space at or below 25 per/hour. Odc began the long and costly process of rebuilding its in-person class offerings for students of all abilities and ages in its school and its health program. It recruited and re-hired faculty and nearly doubled its schedule of in-person class offerings from the 2021 year, and extended the time period in which classes are subsidized and incubated before final roi evaluation determines continuation or conclusion in the schedule based on impact on mission delivery, attendance and fiscal sustainability. Prior to the pandemic, Odc school offered more than 125 classes per week in a wide variety of genres. The student base is normally 16,000 annual participants ranging in age from 2 years-old to 90+ and representing all abilities. 2022 saw enrollment far below these figures, but we continued to rebuild class offerings and have increased investment and staff resources to expand promotion with goals of attracting new sf and bay area residents as students, and encouraging return of former students as they are comfortable coming back to in-person dance and movement class. Odc school's scholarship program continued to support access to creativity and dance for 10% of its youth and teen participants receiving some level of scholarship support. A total of 54,877 in scholarship assistance was awarded to those (combined) youth and teen participants in 2022 in response to the disproportionate and long-term impact of covid on its professional dancers (specifically loss of work opportunities), Odc maintained its commitment to keeping its 11-member, professional dance company hired year-round, without the layoff periods that are customary for nearly all dance companies in the united states. In order to support its dancers in this unique and demanding schedule, Odc looked to professional sports teams for models and then designed and implemented rest and recovery periods along with cross training and strength and conditioning programs. Odc continued its 36-year tradition of presenting its original family holiday ballet, "velveteen rabbit," as part of the organization's commitment to access and community engagement. The company traditionally serves more than 2,000 students and educators from underserved local schools with admission-free performances of "the velveteen rabbit- and companion outreach activities: 7+ hours of standards-based lessons/educational materials for educators and students. In 2019, the organization translated educational guides and supporting activity books for students into multiple languages. In 2021 Odc took advantage of its ability to convene dancers to perform live (even when full audiences were not allowed in municipal owned theaters in san francisco) by capturing a professional filmic staging and capture of "the velveteen rabbit." This dance film asset will allow the organization to provide both paid, public access to the performance on its digital platform for audiences across the country long-term, and provide meaningful, enriching and standards-based arts content in on-demand digital format for school students across the country. In 2022, Odc released this digital version on its connect platform, and as part of its educational offerings for elementary schools locally, regionally and nationally. Odc further developed its digital platform, connect, to diversify the organization's audience and build Odc's capacity to deliver both in person and remote activities. Though the platform is not expected to break even until 2023, the organization invested in the capture and creation of new, original content for the platform's library to fuel its future growth and value. Since its founding, Odc's professional dance company has performed for more than 2 million people in 43 states and 13 countries. "built on risk and nerve" (new york times), Odc has a long tradition of developing and premiering original works by choreographers brenda way, kimi okada, and resident fellow kt nelson and guest choreographers including kate weare, dexandro montalvo, amy seiwert and mia chong as well as showcasing a wide range of award-winning repertory which currently consists of more than 145 works. Before the pandemic's shelter in place mandates shut down live performance in march of 2020, Odc was presented at the renowned joyce theater in new york, and appeared at the 2020 apap showcase also in new york city. In 2022 Odc was able to continue its limited return to live performances in san francisco and destination cities, though opportunities to tour remain extremely limited by concerns of covid outbreaks and financial constraints for most regional and national presenters.