Andrea began training with the Royal Academy of Dance at age seven. She received her B.A. in Dance from Mercyhurst University and M.F.A. at the University of Arizona in Choreography. She has trained at the American Ballet Theater, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Royal Academy of Dance Summer Schools. Andrea has performed professionally with the Lake Erie Ballet, Ballet Concerto, and Scorpius Dance Theater. For over a decade, Andrea has taught dance in higher education and continues to choreograph for California State University, Bakersfield. She currently serves on the Fox Theater Foundation Board of Directors, Kern Dance Alliance Board of Directors, and is a California Dance Education Association Member. She teaches regularly at Poise Pilates + Barre and is a proud wife and mother.
Marcie is a classical ballet dancer with 19 years of ballet training. An active volunteer and coach with the Miss America Organization (MAO), she has been the Executive Director of the Kern County Scholarship Association, interview specialist and image consultant for 5 years. Marcie has enjoyed her corporate careers as Senior Commercial Designer for Klassen Corporation CA, published author of Strength Training Made Simple by Marcie, Public Relations Coordinator for Walla Walla University WA, live television host for Blue Mountain Television WA, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Business Development at Hanford Community Medical Center CA, Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Medial Staff at San Joaquin Community Hospital. Recently Marcie became the Owner of ValMar Health LLC.
Whitney grew up dancing in Bakersfield under the instruction of Georgia Peck and Brandy Stiles. She competed in dance across California, and was selected for Team Rave LA in 2003 where she performed for many charity organizations and fundraisers. While attending CSU Chico for her Bachelors in Psychology, Whitney was a member of the Chico State Dance Team and was a dancer, choreographer and director of Chico Dance Theater. In addition to performing in musical theater, she has taught dance and choreographed for many groups both locally and in Northern California. She is currently a high school counselor and health education teacher, and hopes to share her love for performing arts with her students and the Kern County community.
Originally from Tulare, Diana has lived in Bakersfield for over 10 years and holds a deep love for the city. Although she recently joined a ladies and couples dance team, her passion for dancing began as a little girl. Diana is currently a Provider Relations Representative at Kern Health Systems. As a Board Member for Kern Dance Alliance, she looks forward to representing the Hispanic dance community with much enthusiasm.
Valerie was born in Santa Ana and raised in Bakersfield, California where she graduated from Bakersfield High School. She graduated from Bakersfield College with a degree in Business Administration. For ten years she was a seamstress for a local ballet company. During that time she made costumes for a wide range of shows including Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. She was also the Vice President of Kern Classical Ballet Company. She is currently semi-retired and is the Secretary for KDA. She enjoys her work as a fabric artist and sells her crafts at local vendor fairs.
Jason is a financial advisor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur living in Bakersfield, California. A graduate of Colorado State University with a BA in Business, Jason has found success both in and out of the board room. He was the founding member of the Ronald McDonald House at Memorial Hospital, past-President of the Bakersfield West Rotary and the Active 20-30 Club Bakersfield. Jason is particularly proud to have led the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County to become the largest club in the nation, serving 7200 children a day. Jason is currently the President of Stockdale Country Club, a board member with the Adventist Health Foundation and Kern Dance Alliance.
Former Student Intern 2020
Angelique has lived in Bakersfield for over 10 years, and is currently pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Communications and Organizational Studies at California State University, Bakersfield. She is passionate about spreading the art of dance through the media and enjoys helping others in any way possible.
Anne grew up in New Cuyama and began dancing when she moved to Bakersfield for college. Anne is a graduate of California State University, Bakersfield with a Master’s of Science in Geology and holds a permanent love of dance. She danced with the Bahiyya Almas Bellydance Company for several years before moving to the Bay area and falling in love with ballroom dancing. She has worked for Chevron as a geologist and petrophysicist for the last 13 years, and dances West Coast Swing, Salsa, Bachata, and Cumbia at local venues every chance she gets.
Mark was born and raised in Bakersfield. He is a full time private personal trainer, competitive bodybuilder, and the director of Hire a Hero So Cal, a non-profit organization providing superheroes for charity events. He is a graduate of Bakersfield High School where he participated in dance classes and trained with Georgia Peck. He plays the stand-up bass and has sung in the men’s choir. He is a proud new member of the KDA and looks forward to serving the community.
Sarah grew up studying ballet and jazz, and performed in numerous musical theater productions in the Pacific Northwest. She studied speech communications and music at Multnomah University. Upon graduation, she spent many years teaching, choreographing, and directing children’s theater, in addition to teaching dance at several studios. More recently she’s moved to Bakersfield and is the financial coordinator at Sturz and Abby Pediatric Dentistry. To balance her office work life with her love for the arts, Sarah has participated in several musicals at Stars Theatre Restaurant. She is thrilled to serve KDA alongside incredibly hardworking and passionate board members.
Tiara King is known for her dedication and influence in the area of sexually offensive behavior and sexual abuse. A Bakersfield native, she has earned a BS in Psychology, BA in Criminal Justice, and a Masters in Business Administration. She advocates for the women, children, and men involved in, or affected by, sexual violence- in every capacity from the victim to the offender. Tiara currently partners with County, State, and Federal governments, to assist in the comprehensive treatment and supervision of high-risk sexual offenders. Additionally, she has made remarkable strides in the awareness, prevention, and demand reduction of sex trafficking in Kern County. Tiara is passionate about bringing awareness to the hyper-sexualization of children in dance. She is committed to advocating for our youth by educating the community while eradicating the cultural acceptance that promotes and perverts the art of dance.
Former Junior Board Member 2020; Student Intern 2019
Riley Juliet is a Bakersfield local who found her love for the stage at the young age of 3. She began dancing competitively with Bakersfield Dance Company and participated in her first theatrical production with Bakersfield Community Theater by the age of 6. Now, ten years later, she still considers the stage her home. Riley is currently a Sophomore at Bakersfield High School where she actively participates in choir and theater and cheers for BHS. With 13 years of dance, theater, and vocal training tucked into her heart, Riley plans on obtaining a BA in Performing Arts and then pursuing a career on stage.
Laura began dancing at the age of four with Civic Dance Center. She took her love of dance to college where she received her BA in Psychology and minor in Dance from Loyola Marymount University. She then went on to receive her MS in Counseling Psychology at CSU Bakersfield. Laura is currently an associate marriage and family therapist at Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services where she works with children and adolescents. She is also studying for her Dance/Movement Therapy certification. Laura personally understands how healing and rewarding dance can be, and she’s looking forward to sharing her passion with KDA and the Kern County community.
William grew up in Bakersfield. He earned his B.A. in Business Management from Hawaii Pacific University and his Law Degree from Trinity Law School. He is a partner in the Wright Law Office and serves on the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County, Inc.’s, Steward’s Inc. and, the Route 91 Kern County Victims Memorial Board of Directors. While William does not have a background in dance, he has been inspired to bring awareness of the KDA programs to people outside the local dance community after assisting in launching MemoryMOVES: DANCE + THERAPY for memory-impaired clients. He has discovered that dance can positively make an impact and is driven to bring programs, like MemoryMOVES, to more diverse groups in Kern County.
Olivia grew up dancing ballet in Bakersfield. Her passion for dance, even after she decided to focus on a different major in college and occupation, still exists today. She received her Bachelor’s degree at CSU, Monterey Bay in Global Studies and Business. She is currently works as a Campus Advocate at CSU, Bakersfield where she is in charge of being a confidential resource for students that are going through sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, food insecurity, and/or are homeless as well as prevention education for the university. Olivia is pursuing her Masters’s in Public Administration from CSU Bakersfield. As a KDA board member, she wants to ensure that dance reaches all aspects of Kern County despite race, socio-economic or religious backgrounds. In her free time, Olivia enjoys being around her friends and family and traveling to new places.
Former Student Intern 2020
Myka is an accomplished dancer who has been competitively dancing for 10 years with Dancers Turnout Academy. Myka enjoys being a recreational dance teacher and a volunteer with KDA. Currently attending Stockdale High School, Myka will attend Bakersfield Junior College and then transfer to California State University of Bakersfield. As a dedicated volunteer to the KDA program, ADAPTIdance: DANCE + DISABILITY, Myka has been inspired to be a champion for people with special needs and will major in Education with a focus in special needs education.
Jack grew up in Bakersfield, finding his love for performing arts at a very young age. Jack has found that the arts are his true passion and he is excited to work with KDA in utilizing the arts to serve Kern County. He is an active participant in local theatre, as well as many community projects, and school events. Jack attends Bakersfield High School and plans to acquire a BFA in Musical Theater and pursue a theatrical career.
Victoria dances with Civic Dance Center and is a principal dancer with Bakersfield City Ballet. She enjoys many styles of dance and has also started teaching ballet to children. She attends Liberty High School, where she is a member of the Associated Student Body. Victoria loves performing and finds joy being on stage. She has participated in KDA events such as Books in Motion, National Dance Day, and many KDA master classes. Victoria is excited to work with KDA as a student intern for 2021.
