ADAPTIdance: DANCE + DISABILITY is Kern County’s ONLY adaptive dance program with the League of Dreams. Serving people with disabilities, ages 5-22, ADAPTIdance is produced in collaboration with the League of Dreams (LoD), a nonprofit adaptive sports league. LoD participants have physical or developmental diagnosis like, but not limited to Autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Spina Bifida, that prevent them from participating in traditional sports or dance programs.

ADAPTIdance is a 6-week program, offered in the fall at the KDA Dance Studio at Garces Memorial High School. ADAPTIdance participants learn inclusive and creative dances that are accessible and adaptable for movers with and without disabilities. Three different classes are offered on Saturdays  based upon age, ability, and experience.  At the culmination of the program, participants will experience what it is like to be a professional performer by participating in a technical/dress rehearsal and a final performance at The Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater.

ADAPTIdance is taught by special needs dance educator, Sakina Hansford, who was trained by AXIS Dance Company, one of the nation’s most acclaimed performance ensembles of disabled and non-disabled dancers. In addition to Ms. Hansford, KDA invites student dance interns from different Kern County dance studios to assist in also teaching the classes.

FALL 2021 | ADAPTIdance Dates TBA 

New dancers must provide a diagnosis confirmation or first page of an IEP and be between the ages of 5 and 22.

For more information please call 661-616-9122.

ADAPTidance provides access to dance training for all students regardless of disability, income level, or prior dance experience. The program hosts a forum for physical activity that is a model for kids of all abilities to collaborate as equals and educates about disability, collaboration, and inclusion through the medium of dance. Finally, ADAPTIdance provides dancers and dance educators with a chance to give back their community in a unique way.

KDA seeks to make dance more accessible to greater populations. As an organizational goal of KDA, ADAPTIdance is offered to a population not often associated with dance. People with physical and developmental disabilities, particularly in Kern County, do not have the chance to participant in dance classes. ADAPTIdance makes dance classes available with the assistance of LoD.

  • To provide access to creative movement and dance training for all students regardless of disability, income level, or prior dance experience
  • To provide a forum for physical activity that is a model for kids of all abilities to collaborate as equals while developing skills in cooperation and a respect for self and others;
  • To educate about disability, collaboration, and inclusion through the medium of dance and the presentation of positive role models and images of people with disabilities;
  • To provide Kern County dancers and dance educators the opportunity to give back to their community by participating in a dance program geared towards populations with disabilities

You can help give children with disabilities the chance to dance by donating to ADAPTIdance:

  • $15 affords ADAPTIdance dance shoes
  • $50 affords snacks and water for one ADAPTIdance session
  • $100 affords three ADAPTIdance costumes
  • $500 affords ADAPTIdance supplies
  • $2,500 affords one SHINE sessions