DANCE IN SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES

Providing free dance education to PK–12 students

Established in 1979, the Dance in Schools and Communities (DISC) residency program was created in response to an expressed need for arts instruction in public schools that would also provide a means of access, education, and opportunity for students of diverse cultural backgrounds. SF Ballet’s current DISC residency program serves nearly 3,000 SFUSD students each year at the pre-kindergarten/transitional kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school levels.

San Francisco Ballet's DISC Program mission is to inspire connection, creativity, and confidence through dance and music. Using inclusive and accessible approaches, DISC empowers each student to unleash their inherent wisdom, playful body, and creative soul. Each DISC residency strives to foster authentic cross-cultural learning, model embodied respect and awareness, and create safe spaces—both physical and emotional—for students to explore with curiosity, passion, and purpose.

WHO IS THIS FOR: SFUSD PreK–12 public schools interested in extending their arts education programming.

COSTS: There are no costs associated with this program.

SCHEDULE: Multi-week residency program

LOCATION: At participating SFUSD school sites

CURRICULUM

The SF Ballet DISC residency program introduces dance in a hands-on and dynamic way that enables students to learn through standards-based lessons that link to the core curriculum. Dance provides students with opportunities to develop fundamental skills such as creative expression, listening, problem-solving, coordination, and collaboration. During the in-school dance residency, students discover creative expression through movement, investigate the elements of dance, learn about a variety of dance genres, and explore various cultural and folk dances from around the world through the lens of ballet. Students expand their vocabulary and enhance their expressive communication skills while learning about dance and music traditions from other cultures. All residencies are taught by professional teaching artists from SF Ballet with live musical accompaniment.

SFUSD Division	Grade Levels Served	Residency Length	Curricular Connections
Early Education	Pre-K/TK	30 weeks	General Education
Elementary School	2^nd & 3^rd	9 weeks	General Education
Middle School	6^th–8^th	Determined in partnership with school/classroom teachers	P.E., ELA, ELD
High School	9^th	Determined in partnership with school/classroom teachers	P.E., ELA, ELD

REQUIREMENTS

There are a few minimum requirements for schools that wish to host a Dance in Schools and Communities (DISC) residency:

All participating schools must be public schools managed by the San Francisco Unified School District.
Schools must have a well-lit, unobstructed gym, activity room, cafeteria or auditorium to conduct residency classes.
School principals, teachers, and site administration are expected to actively support the program, designating a primary contact person for all communications.

SFUSD SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE DISC RESIDENCY PROGRAM

SF Ballet has collaborated closely with San Francisco Unified School District for over 40 years to implement the Dance in Schools and Communities (DISC) residency program at the following PK–12 public schools in San Francisco. SF Ballet’s Education Programs also serve additional schools across the Bay Area through a variety of other dance education programs, including our Student Matinee Performances and Docent Program.

Alamo Elementary
Argonne Elementary
Bret Harte Elementary School
Buena Vista Horace Mann K–8
Clarendon Alternative Elementary
Cleveland Elementary
Dianne Feinstein Elementary
Dr. Charles R. Drew College Preparatory Academy
Dolores Huerta Elementary
Dr. William L. Cobb Elementary
El Dorado Elementary
Francisco Middle School
Garfield Elementary
George Peabody Elementary
Glen Park Elementary
Grattan Elementary
Guadalupe Elementary
James Lick Middle School
Jean Parker Elementary
John McLaren Early Education School
John Muir Elementary
John Yehall Chin Elementary
Lafayette Elementary
Lakeshore Elementary School
Lawton Alternative School (K–8)
Leola M. Havard Early Education School
Leonard Flynn Elementary
Longfellow Elementary
Marshall Elementary
Mission Education Center
New Traditions Creative Arts Elementary
Noriega Early Education School
Raoul Wallenberg High School
Raphael Weill Early Education School
Redding Elementary
Rooftop Middle School
Rosa Parks Elementary
S.F. Public Montessori
Sherman Elementary
Spring Valley Science Elementary
Starr King Elementary
Sunset Elementary
Sutro Elementary
Tenderloin Community School
Visitacion Valley Elementary School
Yick Wo Elementary

DANCE IN SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES