Expansion triples space for ODC

Steven Winn, Chronicle Arts and Culture Critic Saturday, April 24, 2004

Bay Area dancers, choreographers, students and audiences will soon have a better reason than ever to head for 17th Street in the Mission District.

Common interest inspires new dance building

IN THE COMFORTABLE lobby of ODC/SF's new Dance Commons building on a sunny Saturday, the company's artistic director, Brenda Way, is leaning against a table next to general manager Lori Laqua, who shepherded the building plan through. The two are clearly exhausted after an afternoon of housewarming duties, but undaunted, they are still greeting everyone who comes in with Cheshire cat grins.

In mid-September, the dance community got a sneak preview of the $14 million Mission District facility, which will officially open in February. The atmosphere was giddy as dancers and nondancers alike tested out the five studios for a variety of open dance classes -- from yoga to ballet to contact improvisation.