Kern Dance Alliance

Books in Motion: DANCE + LITERACYSummer 2024~ Number of Performances: 42~ Number of Locations: 20~ Number of Artists: 216~ Number of Participants: 3,869~ Number of Assessments: 973~ Number of FREE Books Given Away: 2,763Books in Motion: DANCE + LITERACY, an award-nominated, evidence-based summer reading program that uses dance to promote literacy by focusing on Common Core Standards for Reading Literature returned to libraries across Kern County this summer. KDA, the Kern County Library, and12 Kern County dance organizations were proud to launch Books in Motion: DANCE + LITERACY with the goal of reducing summer slide by encouraging reading and promoting healthy living through movement and dance.Families were invited to visit Kern County library branches between July 8 August 3 to watch dance performances based upon 12 childrens books. Featuring books like Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess and Little Red Riding Hood by Mara Alerpin, children experienced the magic of a book brought to life through an artistic performance. To further enhance learning, children also learned a short dance that coincided with the books theme and created an accompanying craft to promote role playing.

Special Events:SHINE for Girls: DANCE + MATH = SUCCESS: July 22 July 26, 2024The Dance Studio at Garces Memorial High School24 Students11 Student Mentors1 Lead MentorSHINE 2024 was offered for FREE during a summer camp, July 22 July 26 from 8:00 am 1:00 pm at the dance studio at Garces Memorial High School. The innovative program taught girls concepts such as probability and statistics, order of operations, fractions, decimals, pre-algebra, and geometry. Girls participated in one on one mentoring sessions, small group tutoring, kinesthetic learning activities like dance, and also learned from women in STEAM guest speakers.Open Stage: December 1, 2024The Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater107 Artists400 AttendeesKDA was thrilled to have hosted Open Stage 2024, an initiative aimed at bringing artists, particularly dancers, to the renowned Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater to do what they do best perform on stage! Thanks to the support from the Fox Theater, participants had the opportunity to rent the stage for 1-2 hours absolutely FREE on Sunday, December 1. MEMORYMOVES: DANCE + THERAPY: December 16 20, 2024Alzheimers Disease Association of Kern County (ADAKC)49 Participants 1 Dance/Movement Therapist3 ArtistsMEMORY Moves was a 5 day Dance/Movement Therapy program working with the Alzheimers and Dementia population at ADAKC. The program utilized a Dance/Movement Therapist (DMT) to work with 49 enrolled participants over 5 days, culminating in a Nutcracker-themed performance that included clients, caregivers and staff. Groups met daily from 1:00-2:00pm. Groups included all clients that were present each day, and staff assisted to make sure that all clients were part of the group. Clients ranged from fairly high functioning (more ambulatory, with higher cognitive functioning,) to lower functioning, (low range of motion or confined to a wheelchair, with severe memory impairment.)

National Dance Day: September 21, 2024Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater, and Convention CenterCelebrated annually across America on the 3rd Saturday in September, National Dance Day is focused on celebrating movers of all ages, levels, and abilities by commemorating a day meant to inspire Americans to keep dancing! KDA celebrated our national dance holiday by funding 10 projects that are centered on MOVING Kern County over the next year.Earlier this summer, KDA invited Kern County individuals and organizations to take center stage by submitting an application to become an awardee of the 2024 KDA National Dance Day $10,000 giveaway contest. Applicants were invited to apply for projects that were focused on dance/movements endeavors that impact all sectors, including healthcare and education. Each application was vetted by 21 adjudicators based upon a rubric and the applications earning the highest ranks were recommended for funding.

ADAPTIdance: DANCE + DISABILITYSeptember 21 December 14, 2024Fruitvale Norris Multipurpose Room68 Participants 1 Program Director1 Program Coordinator16 Student Interns KDA and the League of Dreams (LoD) were proud to announce the expansion of our annual ADAPTIdance program, an adaptive dance program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ages 5 22. ADAPTIdance is taught by educators who have been trained by AXIS Dance Company, one of the nations most acclaimed performance ensembles of disabled and non-disabled dancers. ADAPTidance Program Director, Myka Steele, and Program Coordinator, Romy Jones, have spearheaded the expansion of the program. As veteran ADAPTIdance volunteers for several years, both Steele and Jones have earned the trust of not only the ADAPTIdancers, but also their families, by consistently volunteering for the program that hosts a forum for physical activity that is a model for kids of all abilities to collaborate as equals while educating about disability, collaboration, and inclusion through the medium of dance.

NATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY FOR DANCE ARTSKern Dance Alliance Secondary ChapterNHSDA Information Meeting March 6, 2024 via ZoomNHSDA Induction Ceremony May 5, 2024 at Bakersfield Country Club NHSDA Information MeetingKDA offered an information session on Wednesday, March 6 via Zoom for students interested in learning more about the National Honors Society for Dance Arts. Led by KDA Program Coordinator, Whitney Pascual, students were able to learn more about the USAs most prestigious honors society for dancers who excel in artistry, leadership, and academic achievements. Students learned about the application process and that they must submit their applications by April 1 to be considered for induction.KDA celebrated our sixth class of National Honor Society for Dance Arts / Kern Dance Alliance Secondary Chapter inductees at Bakersfield Country Club on May 5, 2024.