Founded in 2015, Seeds Youth Dance Company is a pre-professional training program for youth age 13-18 that nurtures the next generation of street dance theater artists. Based at ODC School, Seeds connects high school youth—especially those from San Francisco’s Mission District—with EP’s core curriculum in dance, storytelling, and cultural leadership.

Co-directed by Rama Hall, and Jenelle Gaerlan of Embodiment Project, SEEDS offers students the opportunity to delve deep into hip hop dance training and performance. Styles include popping, house, classic hip hop, waacking, and other street genres. With an emphasis on performance quality and originality, this teen company teaches students to freestyle and perform choreography confidently and passionately.

In this after-school program, a cohort of up to 16 is guided by teaching specialists, and EP and ODC mentors to explore the origins and diverse stylistic variations of hip-hop alongside themes of social justice, racial and gender equity, and other relevant issues. Through workshops, class field trips, and performance opportunities, as well as attendance at Bay Area street dance events, movement is leveraged as a vehicle to speak truth, provoke discussion, and raise awareness of systemic injustice experienced first-hand by youth in our cities.

SEEDS participates in the December Showcase, December 6, 2025; the May Showcase, May 16-17, 2026, and their own dedicated performances on May 3, 2026.

“There have been many times after a performance someone has come up to me to tell me how our performance touched them and how they connected with the issues we brought up. In this, I see how powerful dance can be.” – 2nd year Seeds company member.