Discover Dance

The Discover Dance Program

A large part of Oakland Ballet Company’s mission is to bring the joy of dance to everyone in our community, especially East Bay students. Oakland Ballet’s Discover Dance educational program helps to fill the gap in arts education in East Bay schools and fosters an appreciation of dance through in-school educational programs, open rehearsals, free community performances, scholarships to our training programs, and ticket donations.

2 Nutcracker dancers perform for young, student audience.

In-School Assemblies

Each season, Oakland Ballet dancers visit Oakland and East Bay schools to present special, educational dance assemblies. 

Nutcracker and Mouse King battle.

In-Theater Assemblies

Students and teachers from local K-12 schools are invited to attend special, educational versions of upcoming OBC performances.

Young students perform jump with hands up high.

You Can Dance!

An in-school residency program where students explore creativity, problem solving, and collaboration through dance.

Young students perform jump with hands up high.

Summer Academy

Accelerate your training with one of the Bay Area’s leading professional dance companies in a fun, challenging, and nurturing environment. 

“..an opportunity to engage and inspire the youth of our community through the experience of theater. Often our young audiences gasp, laugh, and clap along creating an air of captivation that only reaffirms the power in the art of storytelling through performance.”

Landes Dixon,
former OBC Dancer

Young students watching and following clapping movements.

Ticket Donations

Oakland Ballet Company provides hundreds of donated tickets each season to community members who may not otherwise be able to afford access to a live performance. Thanks to our season sponsors, Oakland Ballet Company has been able to donate over 20,000 tickets to its productions since 2007!  

Your contribution could ensure that Oakland Ballet continue this valuable program for our community.

“The Oakland Ballet is a gem in our city. Oakland students are blessed to have you include us in the arts.”

Mary Lou Stenger,
Teacher, Franklin Elementary,

Oakland