Brenda Palaby is a San Francisco dancer, choreographer, and educator who believes dance has the power to transform lives. After training and performing professionally, she returned home to direct the dance program at Abraham Lincoln High School, where she revived a program that had been dormant for more than 20 years.

For Brenda, dance is about far more than learning choreography. She understands that navigating high school and adolescence is challenging enough, and that simply stepping into a dance class can feel incredibly vulnerable. Her students build a foundation in ballet, hip hop, contemporary, and jazz, while guest artists introduce them to styles such as waacking, turf, salsa, cha-cha, bachata, and zapateado.

More importantly, Brenda strives to create a safe, welcoming space where students can take risks, express themselves, and discover the joy of movement. Watching a shy student come out of their shell, seeing friendships blossom, or witnessing someone choreograph their first piece reminds her that some of life's most meaningful lessons happen outside a traditional classroom.

Brenda believes the arts and dance education help students grow into more confident, positive, and empathetic people. Her mission is to create community, make dance accessible to everyone, and show young people that movement can be a lifelong source of joy, connection, and self-expression.