PUSH Dance Company

10/14/2026

Congratulations to the PUSHfest Awards Winners!

PUSHfest 2026 was a celebration of artistry, community, and the courage it takes to share your work on stage. We are thrilled to honor three artists who brought their full hearts to our Black Box Theatre:

🏆 ALAFIA DANCE ENSEMBLE
🏆 POOJA GANESH
🏆 AYO & COMPANY

Thank you for the passion, craft, and vision you shared with our audiences. Your work reminded us why we gather, create, and PUSH forward together.

To every choreographer, performer, and audience member who made this festival so special: thank you. We are so grateful to move with you.

Congratulations again to our winners! 👏

10/09/2026

PERFORM THRILLER AT YERBA BUENA GARDENS' HALLOWEEN HOOPLA!

Learn the iconic Thriller choreography with Ronnie Reddick, former dancer for Michael and Janet Jackson, then take it outdoors and perform it live at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival’s Halloween Hoopla!

Workshop: Wednesdays, Oct 14, 21 & 28 at 6pm
The Sanctuary, 447 Minna St, SF
Performance: Saturday, Oct 31 at 1pm at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival’s Halloween Hoopla

The show is FREE and open to the public, so bring your friends and family!

Full Workshop: 75(25/class)
Drop-In: $35
Ages 16+, all levels welcome

Ronnie will share costume styling tips so you look the part on Halloween day, and the BEST COSTUME WINS A PRIZE!

Spots are limited. Register now! https://www.pushdance.org/workshops

Halloween Hoopla: https://ybgfestival.org/event/halloween-hoopla-2026

10/07/2026

We're proud to be a 2026 San Francisco Arts Commission and Grants for the Arts grantee! 🎉

Thank you, Francisco Arts Commission and Grants for the Arts, for investing in PUSHfest Dance Festival, PUSH Dance Company's annual celebration of dance.

Over the next year, this support will help us sustain the festival, present a new lineup of national artists, deepen connections with audiences, and nurture the creation of new dance works.

We're grateful to be part of San Francisco's thriving arts ecosystem! 💛

📸 Pictured: PUSHfest Dance Festival Program D | Photo by Dr. Halifu Osumare

10/05/2026

🧟 THRILLER WORKSHOP 🧟
with Ronnie Reddick
All levels welcome

Learn Michael Jackson's iconic "Thriller" choreography and perform it LIVE for Halloween!

📅 Wednesdays @ 6pm
Oct 14 · 21 · 28
📍 The Sanctuary, 447 Minna St
🎃 Performance: Sat, Oct 31 @ 3pm
Yerba Buena Gardens

$35 drop-in
$75 full workshop (just $25/class!)
Spots are limited. Come dance with us this October!

👉 pushdance.org/workshops
Co-sponsored by Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

10/02/2026

PUSHfest is THIS WEEKEND! 🎉 Oct 3–4, 447 Minna St, SF.

Program D is SOLD OUT! 💜 Seats remain for:

🎟️ Program A, Sat 1pm: STEAMROLLER Dance Company/Jesselito Bie, Carmen Crockett, Ting Alvarez-Maquinta, Swetha Prabakaran, and Ashley Gayle

🎟️ Program B, Sat 3pm: Dr. Ayo Walker (Ayo & Company), bhumi b. patel (pateldanceworks), Alafia Dance Ensemble, BrasArte, and Ashley Gayle

🎟️ Program C, Sun 1pm: Pooja Ganesh, Carmen Crockett, Ting Alvarez-Maquinta, Swetha Prabakaran, and Ashley Gayle

Bid in our Silent Auction for the Youth Scholarship Fund and see soloist Marc Chappelle perform an exclusive new work by Raissa Simpson!

10/01/2026

PUSHfest has been listed as one of San Francisco Chronicle's Date Book Picks!

📣"One of S.F.’s best dance festivals is back — and bigger than ever".

✨Join us this weekend, October 3–4, at the Black Box Theatre at The Sanctuary, 447 Minna Street in SoMa, for our 9th annual festival of new and favorite works by local and international artists, as we celebrate PUSH's 21st Anniversary season. Whether you're part of the PUSH family or discovering us for the first time, we can't wait to share this weekend with you.

🎟️ Tickets:
https://www.pushdance.org/festival

📰 SFGATE Datebook:
https://www.sfgate.com/culture-events/?_evDiscoveryPath=/event/3786062-pushfest-dance-festival-featuring-new-and-favorite-works-by-local-and-international-artists

09/29/2026

✨ PUSHfest is THIS WEEKEND! ✨

Our 9th annual festival celebrates PUSH Dance Company's 21st Anniversary season. Join us October 3–4 at the Black Box Theatre at The Sanctuary, 447 Minna Street, SF, for four programs of new and favorite works by local and international artists. 🎉

🎥 Here's a sneak peek of what we've been incubating with soloist Marc Chappelle and flying drones!

Close out the festival with Program D & Gala AfterParty on Sunday, October 4 at 3pm, featuring Dr. Ayo Walker (Ayo & Company, Chicago), bhumi b. patel (pateldanceworks), Alafia Dance Ensemble, BrasArte, Jesse Escalante, Ashley Gayle, and Raissa Simpson.

Stay for the AfterParty and bid in our Silent Auction! Every bid supports the PUSH Youth Scholarship Fund, which helps young dancers with tuition, gear, and performance fees. 💜

🎟️ https://www.pushdance.org/festival

09/29/2026

We kick-off PUSHfest Dance Festival 2026 this Friday!

Pushfest is back with new works by Bay Area dance makers, audience voting and a first-ever gala after-party at the dance company’s Sanctuary.

09/28/2026

✨ IN REHEARSAL

Nova Power: Peons is premiering during PUSHfest Dance Festival 2026.

🎥 See it live October 3–4 at PUSH Dance Company, 447 Minna Street, SF!

Tickets are still available but going fast! Get your tickets for Program D.

🎟️ https://www.pushdance.org/festival

09/23/2026

💃 IN CONVERSATION: Pooja Ganesh

PUSHfest Artist 2026: Pooja Ganesh🎭

📅 Program C: Sunday, October 4
🕒 Doors open at 12:30pm | Show @ 1pm
📍 Black Box Theater, 447 Minna Street, San Francisco

Untamed
Choreography by Pooja Ganesh

Tarana
Choreography by Gurus Smt. Nirupama Rajendra and Shri TD Rajendra

Pooja Ganesh has trained in Kathak for 17 years under Sangeet Natak Akademi awardees Gurus Smt. Nirupama Rajendra and Shri T.D. Rajendra in Bangalore, India, and has performed with Abhinava Dance Company at Mysore Dasara, the Bangalore International Film Festival, the ZEE5 Awards, and Alvas NudiSiri. Since relocating to the US, she practices under Guru Parul Shah and Guru Smt. Nirmala Madhava (Pampa) and collaborates with other dance companies on select projects.
📱 Social: .123

Tell us a little bit about your dance background.

I have been training under renowned Gurus Smt. Nirupama Rajendra, Shri TD Rajendra(SNA awardees), Smt.Nirmala Madhava and Parul Shah, whose guidance has deeply shaped my approach to this art form.

As a Kathak performer, choreographer, and educator, I have presented solo and ensemble works across India, Canada and the United States. My performances have been featured at platforms including the San Francisco International Arts Festival, Seattle International Dance Festival, Seattle Theater Group’s Moore Theatre, Consulates, Indian Fine Arts Academy, YUVA Festival, and various arts festivals across the U.S. I have also toured with Abhinava Dance Company and have created original works that explore the beauty of Kathak’s tradition while engaging with contemporary audiences.

Through my practice, I continue to honor the Guru-Shishya Parampara while sharing the richness of Kathak with diverse communities.

What advice would you pass on to an aspiring choreographer?

I would encourage aspiring choreographers to value riyaaz, continuous learning, and a deep connection with their artistic roots. A strong foundation in one’s form, combined with curiosity and openness, allows creativity to grow authentically. Above all, I believe in approaching dance with the simple joy of dancing — allowing passion, dedication, and love for the art form to be the driving force behind one’s journey.

Want more? 📖 Read the full interview:

https://www.pushdance.org/poojapf26-2/