Art, culture, a party and a communal celebration, Yerba Buena Gardens Dance Day is a portal to a joyous dance-filled world! Presented in partnership with the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, YBG Dance Day transforms the Gardens into an outdoor dance center where participants can sample dance in a variety of forms and flavors with some of the Bay Area’s most talented teachers including: Rhythm & Motion Dance Workout, Bachata, Jazz Funk, Soul Line Dance and more. Whether you are new to dance or a seasoned professional, Yerba Buena Gardens Dance Day classes are open to everyone!
This year, Dance Day honors the life and legacy of Rhythm & Motion founder Consuelo Faust (1953-2025). We celebrate the spirit she championed – living the belief that anyone can dance and that dance has the power to bring people together in joy. Following the day of classes, there will be a celebratory music and dance performance that uplifts her vision and the vibrant SF Bay Area dance community she deeply loved and helped to nurture throughout her life.
Find your groove in the morning, then grab a picnic blanket and lunch and settle on the lawn for an afternoon of inspiring performances.
Sunday, October 11
10am-1:30pm Classes
2-3:30pm Performances
Yerba Buena Gardens
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - DANCE DAY
Ready to help spread the joy of dance to the greater SF community? We need your help to make Dance Day 2026 a success. We are looking for some friendly faces to work with R&M and YBGF staff to help the day run smoothly.
We are so grateful to you for your support!
DANCE IN CELEBRATION OF CONSUELO
Click to watch the video for "My Darlin' New Orleans."
Dance with us at Dance Day 2026! As part of this year's celebration honoring Rhythm & Motion's founder, Consuelo Faust, we're inviting everyone to join us on the Great Lawn at the Yerba Buena Gardens to dance in our finale, "My Darlin' New Orleans," an R&M routine choreographed by Consuelo. The routine is follow-alongable and everyone is welcome - no rehearsals necessary!
Want to practice ahead of time? R&M Director Dudley Flores provides a brief introduction to the dance and its connection to Consuelo, followed by archival footage of Consuelo herself teaching the choreography at a 1995 R&M new choreography teacher training session. Learn it directly from Consuelo, then join us at Dance Day to dance together in the day's celebratory finale.
R&M AT ODC CLASSES CANCELLED OCTOBER 11
All Rhythm & Motion classes at ODC will be canceled on Sunday, October 11. We hope you will come and dance with your R&M community outside in Yerba Buena Gardens for Dance Day 2026. Come for one class, or stay all day!
JOIN US FOR FREE R&M FUSION IN NOE VALLEY SEPTEMBER 26
Join instructor Maggie Connard on Saturday, September 26 at 4pm for our final R&M Fusion class of the season in beautiful Noe Valley Town Square.
Want more outdoor dance offerings? Come dance on select Wednesdays at 12pm from now through October in the heart of the City at the beautiful Yerba Buena Gardens.
Oh, and did we mention these classes are FREE? No pre-registration is required. Just show up!