Bringing Dance to the Community: Sara Templeton at the UN Plaza Fitness Court Studio

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Born and raised in San Francisco, Sara Templeton is a choreographer and teacher focused on the excellence, intelligence, and interconnectedness of dance. A former professional hip-hop dancer who started her career at sixteen, Sara has performed with Culture Shock S.F. and L.A. and guest performed with artists in the Bay Area and beyond. While earning her dance degree from Loyola Marymount University, she expanded her training to include ballet, modern/contemporary, Dunham technique, and a focused study of Salsa and other Latin dances connected to her Puerto Rican heritage. Today, Sara choreographs projects for both stage and video, teaches a variety of dance forms around the Bay Area, and uses her business background to promote the marriage of successful business and inspirational art.

Sara discovered the UN Plaza Fitness Court Studio through a partnership between Rae Studios SF and San Francisco Parks & Rec, which sponsored two years of free dance classes on the studio side of the Fitness Court. For Sara, who has been a teacher at Rae Studios since 2022, teaching outdoors at UN Plaza was an exciting opportunity to offer free dance in the heart of her home town. Located in a bustling community hub, the Fitness Court Studio allows students to engage with dance in a casual, accessible environment, supplementing in-studio programs with classes that encourage drop-ins, exploration, and joy in movement.

Sara’s classes at the UN Plaza Fitness Court span a variety of styles. Her regular classes include Salsa Styling, her longest-running and most popular offering; as well as R&B, a newer class focused on the ‘smooth’ side of Hip Hop. Her classes are designed to meet students where they are, offering beginners and seasoned dancers alike a chance to grow and refine their skills in a playful but meaningful way.

“I have years of experience and I take my responsibility as a teacher very much to heart. That means I aim to give my students dance classes that are appropriate for their skill level, but also real choreography and insight about how to work with technique, quality, and expression. I want my students to feel like they’re getting something of value that’s akin to what I would give professional dancers,” Sara says. “To me there’s no value in offering people a watered-down version of what dance is. I want to give them the real thing.”

Sara’s teaching philosophy emphasizes accessibility, inclusivity, and skill-building, allowing students to progress from beginner to advanced while experiencing the joy of dance. By offering classes for free in a public space, Sara removes barriers to participation, allowing community members to explore movement, engage socially, and feel inspired by the arts. Passersby often join in spontaneously, creating a vibrant, interactive atmosphere that reflects San Francisco’s diverse culture.

For Sara, the UN Plaza Fitness Court Studio is more than a place to teach—it’s a platform to give back to her city and make dance accessible to everyone. Through her work with Rae Studios SF, she continues to foster a safe, playful, and empowering space where students can move, grow, and connect, proving that the arts thrive when they’re made open to all.

Through her work at the UN Plaza Fitness Court Studio, Sara Templeton exemplifies how public arts and fitness spaces can transform communities, making high-quality instruction and creative expression accessible, inclusive, and fun for all San Franciscans.