Kern Dance Alliance (KDA) is a nonprofit dance advocacy organization promoting and supporting dance and the arts in Kern County, CA. The goal of KDA is to provide arts programming to the community while also working as a conduit in connecting dance with Kern County.

KDA provides four pillars of resources:

1. DANCE COMMUNITY ALLIANCE circulates information about events, news, and advocacy.   

2. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT for TEACHERS provides educators with critical tools to provide a quality dance education.  

3. PROGRAMS/PERFORMANCES/MASTER CLASSES allows Kern County to attend professional programs, performances, and master classes.   

4. SCHOLARSHIPS/GRANTS are provided to dancers and dance organizations. 

KDA has partnered with many organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County (ADAKC), Boys and Girls Club of Kern County, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Bakersfield Homeless Center, Garden Pathways, League of Dreams, Fox Theater Foundation, Kern County Library, Kern Literacy Council, and Kern dance organizations. 

KDA is made possible by support from Chevron, Junior League of Bakersfield, Arts Council of Kern, Women’s and Girls’ Fund of Kern County, Kern Community Foundation, Robert Grimm Family Foundation, Bakersfield Californian Foundation, Cynthia Lake Charitable Trust, Grimmway Farms, Stria, Terra-Gen, Wall Street Imprintables, Padre Hotel, and private donations. 

KDA hosts various programs that serve Kern County:   

SHINE for GIRLS: DANCE + MATH = SUCCESS combines dance with math to improve girls’ math scores and spark their interest in STEM.  

ADAPTIdance : DANCE + DISABILITY provides dance classes for children with physical and mental disabilities.    

BOOKS IN MOTION: DANCE + LITERACY links dance and literacy for children K-3rd grade.    

MASTER CLASS SERIES: ARTS + MENTORING serves at-risk youth by providing artistic, educational, and personal development with mentoring by arts professionals.  

NATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY FOR DANCE ARTS recognizes artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievement in students studying dance.  

CHILDREN'S DANCE EDUCATION + OUTREACH PROGRAM provides socio and economically disadvantaged children with live performances and dance classes at the Fox Theater.

MemoryMOVES: DANCE + THERAPY provides Dance/Movement Therapy sessions for patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. 

While KDA focuses on providing dance related opportunities, the bigger picture showcases a community with multiple arts and culture offerings to incite passion, creativity, empowerment, and innovation. KDA impacts Kern County by developing unique programs that utilize dance to encourage learning, healthy living, understanding, and tolerance. By using “out of the box thinking”, KDA has successfully used dance to teach math and literacy, improve life with dementia, aid with mental and physical disabilities, and inspire impoverished communities.

To become involved in Kern Dance Alliance as a member, donor, or volunteer — please contact info@kerndance.org.  