ODC Theater

What you need to know

ODC has been making contemporary dance in San Francisco since 1971. The company built its own theater on Shotwell Street in the Mission District in 2005, a purpose designed space with 176 seats, sprung floors, and no proscenium arch. The audience sits close enough to hear the dancers breathe.

What to Expect

The programming centers on contemporary and modern dance. ODC’s resident company performs several seasons a year, and the theater hosts visiting companies and solo artists between runs. The work ranges from large ensemble pieces to experimental solos. Some of it is accessible on first viewing. Some of it requires patience. The company doesn’t shy away from challenging material.

If you’ve never seen contemporary dance and are curious, ODC’s annual holiday production, “The Velveteen Rabbit,” is a good entry point. It runs every December and draws families alongside the regular audience.

Visiting

3153 17th Street, Mission District. The theater shares a campus with ODC’s dance school and rehearsal studios. Performance schedules vary by season. Tickets typically run $25 to $50. The venue is small enough that most performances sell out or get close, so buying ahead is smart.

The surrounding block is residential and quiet. For food before a show, Valencia Street is a five minute walk west and has dozens of options.

Getting There

BART to 16th Street Mission, then a 10 minute walk south on Shotwell or along 17th Street. The 33 Ashbury/18th bus stops within a few blocks. Street parking is usually available on the residential streets around the theater, easier here than most of the Mission.

Skip this if you’re expecting a grand theater experience with chandeliers and intermission drinks. This is a working dance space. The intimacy is the point.

📍 Location: This activity is in The Mission District. Explore the neighborhood →