BOOKS IN MOTION®: DANCE + LITERACY

July 6 – August 1, 2026

For ten years, Books in Motion®: DANCE+ LITERACY has brought stories to life through movement, inspiring young readers across Kern County to connect reading, creativity, and physical expression. What began as an innovative summer reading initiative has grown into an award-nominated, evidence-based program that uses the arts to support literacy goals and reading comprehension while encouraging healthy, active learning.

Presented by KDA in partnership with Kern County Library and local dance organizations, Books in Motion continues its mission to reduce “summer slump” by aligning dance education with Common Core Standards for Reading Literature. Through engaging performances and community collaboration, children experience books not just as text, but as stories they can move, feel, and remember.

As we celebrate a decade of Books in Motion, we honor our partners, sponsors, dance artists, educators, libraries, volunteers, and families who have helped shape this program that has expanded access to literacy throughout our community since 2016.

CHILDREN REACHED

YEARS

BOOKS GIFTED

TITLES DISTRIBUTED

PRESENTED BY

BOOKS IN MOTION 2026

Books in Motion is turning 10 this summer and it is coming to a library near you!

For a decade, KDA and Kern County Library have brought beloved children’s stories to life through the arts and this year’s celebration is going to be our biggest and most exciting yet!

Join us July 6 – August 1, 2026 for free, family-friendly performances across Kern County. Watch artists bring stories to life, enjoy hands-on crafts, and take home a free book after every show!

Summer 2026 features:

50 performances at 24 locations across Kern County, including shows at Panama Buena Vista Unified School District for children enrolled in summer school
Performances in English, Spanish, and ASL
12 beloved children’s books including Coco, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Bluey: Bob Bilby, and more

Ready to see the full schedule? CLICK HERE!

We’ve got lots of surprises coming your way with many more announcements to come – we can’t wait to celebrate 10 years of dance, stories, and literacy with you and your family this summer!

BOOKS IN MOTION 2026 TOUR SCHEDULE

BOOKS IN MOTION BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS IN MOTION COMMUNITY PARTNERS

BOOKS IN MOTION SPONSORS

BOOKS IN MOTION ARTISTS

Aloha Entertainment by Polynesian Spice

Aloha Entertainment by Polynesian Spice is a family owned and operated group that has been bringing island entertainment to Bakersfield for over 25 years. Their mission is to share their appreciation and love of the culture, songs, and dances of the Pacific Islands. As a halau (Hawaiian dance school) comprised of family (ohana) and Polynesians at heart, their goal is to preserve and exhibit the authenticity of the Hawaiian culture and dance by sharing their Aloha Spirit throughout the community. They offer classes for all ages. They hope you will join them for a culturally educational experience and a fun way to exercise! Aloha Entertainment by Polynesian Spice has participated in BIM since 2020. www.alohaentertainmentps.com

Bakersfield City Ballet

Bakersfield City Ballet is Bakersfield’s premier pre-professional ballet company. Our mission is to inspire and enrich our community and foster a love for the arts in youth through dance. As a pre-professional company, BCB serves as a stepping stone between studio training and a college dance program or professional contract. Their annual performances provide a live artistic cultural experience for our community, with an emphasis on classical and contemporary styles of dance. Bakersfield City Ballet is committed to making dance accessible to the widest possible audience through annual performances, educational programs, media, and other outreach efforts. Bakersfield City Ballet has participated in BIM since 2019. www.bakersfieldcityballet.org

Ballet Folklorico Huaztecalli

Ballet Folklorico Huaztecalli is a local Bakersfield group filled with passionate and dedicated dancers united by love for the art of dance. We enjoy sharing traditional Mexican folk dancing throughout the community. Founded in 1994 by Jerry Fierro, our dance team is made up of diverse and talented kids, youth, and adults. Each bring a unique perspective and energy to every performance. Deeply commited to enrich the community through cultural preservation, and celebration through the universal languege of dance. They have participated in BIM since 2024.

Civic Dance Center

Civic Dance Center focuses on developing well rounded dancers through exposure to a variety of styles with an emphasis on classical ballet technique. All perspectives and individual talents are welcome to work constructively to achieve our shared values of discipline, imagination, and collaboration elevating our behavior both in and out of the studio by treating each other with professionalism, kindness, and respect.Throughout the year, dancers are offered meaningful performance opportunities that support artistic growth, build confidence, and foster a sense of community, allowing students to bring their training to life on stage. 2023 was Civic Dance Center’s first time participating in BIM. www.civicdancecenter.com Toggle Content

DAT Krew Academy

DAT Krew Academy is a non-profit dance and performing arts organization located in Bakersfield, Ca founded in 2014 by owner/instructor, Luther Gray and assistant Brushay Taylor. DAT Krew’s mission is to inspire today’s youth through art and expression by providing a healthy, creative and social alternative to gang violence, crime, and addiction worldwide. DAT Krew has participated in BIM since 2021. www.datkrew661.com

J&M Dance Academy

J&M Dance Academy is award-winning dance studio located in Tehachapi, CA offering professional instruction from experienced dance educators. Offering classes to students 2 and up, J&M offers instruction in ballet modern, jazz, tap, hop hip, just to name a few. The studio participates annually in state and national dance competitions, often achieving the highest awards and rankings at many nationally-recognized dance conventions. J&M is proud to serve the high desert communities and has been participating in BIM since 2023. http://jmdance.center/home.html Toggle Content

Lions Elite

Lions Elite is a non-profit organization that provides no-cost competitive cheer and mentorship programs for underserved youth, supporting their growth across civic, athletic, educational, and cultural development. 2026 marks the first year Lions Elite has participated in BIM. https://lionselitecheer.orgToggle Content

The Liberty Spirit Team at Liberty High School

The Liberty Spirit Team at Liberty High School is a unified cheer and dance team that embodies school pride, energy, and leadership on campus and throughout the community. As both cheerleaders and dancers, team members support athletic events, perform at school functions,
and represent Liberty with enthusiasm and professionalism. The program was developed to create opportunities for students to grow in both cheer and dance, blending athleticism, artistry, and teamwork into one dynamic group.

Liberty’s Spirit Team is unique in Kern County, as it offers a combined cheer and dance experience not commonly found at many local high schools. The team has helped expand dance opportunities on campus, even contributing to the growth of dance as a formal pathway and activity at the school. Through dedication, school involvement, and community engagement, the Liberty Spirit Team plays a vital role in building school culture, promoting unity, and inspiring Patriot pride both on and off the field. 2026 marks the first year The Liberty Spirit Team at Liberty High School has participated in BIM.

McLaughlin Dance Collective

McLaughlin Dance Collective is dedicated to empowering Bakersfield dancers to pursue their dreams, share their talents with the community, and spread joy throughout Kern County through vibrant performances and events. They celebrate the individuality of each dancer, encouraging authentic self-expression—whether through powerful contemporary choreography or whimsical story ballets. Since 2021, they’ve proudly participated in Books in Motion and have performed as guest artists with Ballet California and the North County Dance and Performing Arts Foundation. Led by Artistic Director Kristen McLaughlin and Assistant Director Jenai Wilcox, their community-focused company is expanding its reach with exciting new events planned for the 2026 season. Follow them at @mclaughlindancecollective to stay updated!

Spotlight Dance Academy

Since 2011, Spotlight Dance Academy’s main goal has been to provide quality dance education and a positive outlet at an affordable cost for the youth of Kern County. Proudly a subdivision of a full performing and visual arts school, Spotlight Academy of the Arts, SDA offers an expanded curriculum and takes pride in setting the bar high for our students in order to help them achieve their personal goals in the performing arts. Spotlight Dance Academy has participated in BIM since 2018. www.SpotlightBakersfield.com

Spotlight Academy of the Arts

Spotlight Academy of the Arts is Kern County’s premier performing and visual arts school offering classes in all areas of the arts including dance, theatre, voice, music, photography, video production, graphic design, on-camera training, and more. Spotlight’s signature program “The Triple Threat Program” offers students industry-style, technique-focused instruction in the three pillars of the performing arts: singing, dancing, and acting, as well as proper education on how to become a well-rounded performer. Their goals are to help our students grow as performers, enhance their natural talents, build confidence while encouraging individuality, and nurture their dreams and ambitions in the arts, whether it’s excelling in their school programs, auditioning for a local show, getting into their dream college, or even having a career in Hollywood or Broadway. With a new education building, an expanded curriculum, and over a decade of experience of serving the youth of Kern County through the arts, husband and wife directing team Sharida Rejon-Rodriguez and Bertin Rodriguez strive to train and mentor the next generation of performers and creators. 2022 was Spotlight Academy of the Arts first BIM performance. www.SpotlightAcademy.org

Sosa Creatives Dance Academy

Sosa Creatives Dance Academy is Kern County’s newest dance organization focused on promoting classical ballet throughout the Central Valley. Directed by Pamela Sosa, Sosa Creatives Dance Academy intends to reach diverse audiences and promote the love of dance through the diverse representation of dancing bodies. 2024 was Sosa Creatives Dance Academy first time participating in BIM.

BOOKS IN MOTION AT PANAMA BUENA VISTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

KDA is proud to continue its valued partnership with Panama Buena Vista Unified School District, where Books in Motion and all 12 featured books will be highlighted at multiple school sites from June 16 – July 7.

ABOUT BOOKS IN MOTION

Every summer, families are invited to visit Kern County libraries, schools, and community centers to experience Books in Motion by watching live performances based upon a children’s book. To further enhance learning, children will also learn a short dance that coincides with the book’s theme and create an accompanying craft to promote role playing.

The Books in Motion program is intentional about building home libraries and promoting daily reading adventures. Participating children can collect all of the books by visiting one of each of the performances to receive a FREE book at the completion of the show.

Books in Motion is geared for children in the early literacy stages (K-3rd grade) and is designed to tap into their imagination and encourage them to read. For some, reading is a concept that is too foreign to understand due to age and brain development. Books in Motion will bypass this intangible feeling by allowing children to see the magic of a book laid out with real characters coming to life. Children do not have to read the words – they can read the dancers’ movements to understand the story. By tapping into curiosity, children are motivated to explore literacy, which leads them back to the written words that brought the book to life.

WHY BOOKS IN MOTION

Learning how to read begins at birth and continues through 3^rd grade. Once a child enters 4^th grade, studies show that those that are not proficient readers will find difficulty in adjusting to complicated English, Grammar, and Literature applications. Children begin to read by learning the sounds of spoken word. They begin to understand written language when they are read to, and their comprehension of reading and writing is increased upon entering a formalized education (K-3^rd).

Studies also show that not every child learns at the same pace, nor in the same manner; therefore, offering multiple ways to grasp educational applications is necessary for the growth of every child. Books in Motion will provide a visual, aural, verbal, and physical (kinesis) opportunity to engage in literacy. By utilizing kinesis, movement and action replaces more passive forms of learning, such as listening to a lecture. We have all forgotten facts once memorized in a classroom, but we seem to be able to remember dance moves we once learned. By connecting the different ways in which we learn, Books in Motion enables effective understanding and retention of information in addition to infusing abstract literacy concepts with a physical meaning. Because movement allows a student an alternative approach to the information, students learn when they are receptive.

Locally, only 28% of Kern County 3^rd graders meet or exceed grade level standards for English Language Arts (Ca Assessment of Student Performance and Progress 2014-15). 15% of Kern County adults have not attained a 9th grade literacy level (US Census Bureau, 2010). 13.9% of Kern County adults lack the basic literacy skills necessary to perform daily job functions (US Census Bureau, 2010), and 16.2% Kern County adults over 25 years are high school dropouts (CA. Dept. of Education, 2014). Books in Motion was conceived to assist in combatting these dismal numbers. Providing a free, hands-on, innovative approach to assisting children with their literacy journey is the main objective. According to the Kern Literacy Council, one of the top factors for predicting school success for students is to increase the number of spoken words for children in early childhood. Books in Motion celebrates the opportunity to increase accessibility to literacy and the arts, while also focusing on the 34% of Kern County residents that do not have an income sufficient to meet basic needs and whose children growing up in these low-income households hear approximately 30 million fewer words by the time they reach their fourth birthday (Report on the Status of Women + Girls in Kern County 2015).

BOOKS IN MOTION GOALS

Create motivation and interest in reading – The Books in Motion bibliography taps into curiosity via dance performances. Children will be motivated to explore literacy, which leads them back to the written words that brought the book to life.
Create motivation and encouragement for movement through dance – Children learn choreography to reinforce their critical thinking of the story.
Cover Common Core State Standards in Reading Literature for grades K-3rd grade- Books in Motion text covers Common Core Standards for Reading Literature including but not limited to: Ask questions to demonstrate understanding of a text; recount stories from diverse cultures; determine the central message and explain how it is conveyed through key details; describe characters in a story and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
Instill a sense of connection and ownership of reading through listening and viewing of stories- Children dance choreography corresponding with the Books in Motion text. Children produce art reflecting the session’s teachings. Children take a free Books in Motion book home.
Foster creative abilities of youth through cultural arts learning- Books in Motion supports literacy development through unified thematic experiences of dance, crafting, and story-telling.
Activate Youth Voices- Books in Motion actives youth voices during the craft session with children speaking about the book and creating a craft that coincides with the session’s teachings.
Critical Thinking- The Books in Motion evaluation promotes critical thinking by asking questions about the book.

A TYPICAL BOOKS IN MOTION SESSION

Books in Motion features story-telling, performance, choreography, and crafting.

Story-telling + Performance – Children will listen to the narration of a children’s book while viewing an accompanying dance performance.

Dance – Children learn/perform choreography in an injury-free, nurturing environment from dancers based upon the Books in Motion text. Kinesthetic learning, attitude, and confidence are emphasized during the class.

Small Group Crafting – Children create crafts corresponding to the Books in Motion text. Children and guardians are encouraged to work together, producing a creative product reflecting the session’s teachings.

Evaluation– Children are prompted to answer questions via critical thinking about the Books in Motion text reflecting the Common Core Standards for Reading Literature.

HOW CAN YOU HELP BOOKS IN MOTION

Books in Motion is FREE to all participants and is made possible by generous donations from our community. You can help others to participate in Books in Motion by becoming a donor: