Presidio Performing Arts Foundation (PPAF) is a California charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit organization with a mission to preserve, enhance and present the world of dance, music, and theatre with an international perspective into the lives of children at home and beyond. PPAF was one of the Presidio’s early arrivals and has had a proud presence at the park since 1998. PPAF is the only performing arts organization based in a National Park, except for Wolf Trap in Virginia. As a premiere cultural institution, it has earned widespread admiration and national awards for the impressive quality of its artistic endeavours.

Awards & Honors include:

•    The Jefferson Award from the American Institute of Public Service, Washington DC, presented to PPAF Founder Judy Bretschneider by Sam Beard.  This is considered the nobel prize for public service

•    Presidio Trust Award of Excellence, presented by Craig Middleton

•    Creative Achievement Award from the San Francisco Unified School District, presented by the San Francisco Youth Arts Festival

•    Highest Rating from the California Arts Council/National Endowment for the Arts for five consecutive years, recognized as a leading exemplary organization

•    2008 Nickelodeon Television’s “Best Artsy Program” in the San Francisco Bay Area through the national PARENTS CONNECT.

•    Distinction Award from the Russian Federation, Ministry of Culture for performing in their 300th Anniversary of Tsarskoye Selo & the Catherine Palace duing the 2008 White Nights Festival

•    Nomination to receive KRONTV’s “BEST OF THE BAY” for best dance studio in the San Francisco Bay Area  (May 2009)

•    WHAT’S HOT on ABC7TV.   (May 2009)

•    The distinction to perform with the San Francisco Symphony, Beach Blanket Babylon, and the San Francisco Boys Chorus. 

Over the past 10 years PPAF has raised nearly $2 million to sponsor a host of Performances, Community Education Programs, and Special Events, including: Presidio Dance Theatre & Academy, inspiring students to develop their artistry and personal expression from studio to stage; Spring and Winter Seasons of Public Performance; International Touring; “Children's Day” at the SF War Memorial Opera House--since its first Children’s Day in 2003, Presidio Dance Theatre has performed for 35,000 children in free performances thanks to generous community sponsors; and DANCE OUT! An array of in-school, afterschool, and summer programs presented at NO cost to underserved elementary school students at their schools.  Within the Presidio, PPAF regularly collaborates with Bay School, YMCA Summer Camps; and has performed for more than a dozen Presidio Trust events, including the Opening of the Officers’ Club, all exhibitions in the Officers’ Club, and the 10th Anniversary of the Presidio with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.    PPAF also exhibits its museum-quality costumes for the public every few years at the Herbt Exhibition Center of the Presidio.
Led by Artistic Director Sherene Melania, Presidio Dance Theatre’s education programs annually serve 300 boys and girls, ages 3-18, representing a citywide outreach pool from nearly 100 public and private schools, studying at three campuses.  They will engage in over 15,000 hours of direct instruction during the 2008-2009 academic year.  Presidio Dance Theatre also offers community education with 8 dance companies/artists in residence in its state-of-the-art Presidio facility.

In 2008, live audiences have exceeded 50,000 in San Francisco, statewide, nationally, and internationally.  Two of San Francisco’s Mayors have declared Presidio Dance Theatre “San Francisco's Dancing Ambassadors to the World.”  In 2008, Presidio Dance Theatre performed in the SF War Memorial Opera House, Herbst Theatre, Davies Symphony Hall, Palace of Fine Arts, Marin Center, and in Saint Petersburg’s White Nights Festival, Russia. Return engagements include special event performances for the International Red Cross, United Nations, and international dance festivals.  Next year, touring is being planned to include performances in Paris, France.

Presidio Performing Arts Foundation (PPAF) celebrates its 10th anniversary during 2008-2009.   The SF Chronicle states that “If you want to see children transformed by the world of dance, look no further!”  International dance critic Alexander Yakolev wrote, “Presidio Dance Theatre gives its heart to the audience.”  Presidio Dance Theatre has won the SF Unified School District’s Creative Achievement Award, Presidio Trust’s Award of Excellence, Nomination for the national Coming Up Taller Award from the President’s Committee for Arts and Humanities. PPAF Founder Judy Bretschneider, received the 2007 Jefferson Award from the American Institute for Public Service.  In 2008, Presidio Dance Theatre won the national Nickelodeon Television’s “Parents Pick Award for Best Artsy Program in the Bay Area.”

Volunteer leadership with Presidio Dance Theatre staff, oversee parent volunteers who manage 10 committees annually.   Because of strong community support, nearly forty percent of students receive some kind of financial assistance, supporting PPAF’s 10 year promise that no talented students will be turned away because of lack of financial resources.

ENROLLMENT
Within the past three years, Presidio Dance Theatre has grown by more than 70 percent, strongly representative of ethnic students and the face of San Francisco.  Since beginning its outreach in September 1999, more than 40 foundations, corporations and private donors have given Presidio Dance Theatre the opportunity to train boys and girls in underserved neighborhoods at no cost for the full school year. California Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts have given Presidio Dance Theatre’s education and performance programs its highest rating of “exemplary” and led funding the dance outreach since 2004. 

CURRICULUM
Presidio Dance Theatre’s education program provides a highly-structured learning environment, including dance history, cultural history, and performance training using methodologies adapted from the Vaganova Choreographic Academy of Saint Petersburg.    Our faculty utilize a variety of learning styles in their instructional approach, combined with sequential, age-appropriate, grade-based training.   Our educational program is ballet-based with international dance specialty.  Extensive cultural education is included, as students work with artists and choreographers from many nations.

ALUMNI
Presidio Dance Theatre dancers have been accepted to study dance and academics at San Francisco’s School of the Arts.   Others have been accepted for advanced studies at New York’s Professional Children’s School, Kirov Academy of Ballet, Washington DC, Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Washington School of Academics and Arts, and the Harid Conservatory.  A number of our dancers have graduated from the University of San Francisco with a major in Performing Arts and Social Justice.