ABOUT TASTE OF DANCE
Taste of Dance: A Delectable and Rhythmic Exploration of Culture in California’s Central Valley will produce a series of free events will take place at local culinary institutions, parks, and festivals that will cultivate awareness, preserve heritage, and celebrate the contributions that four immigrant communities— Basque, Filipino, Punjabi, and Italian —have made to the rich cultural diversity of Kern County.
Taste of Dance will feature Immersive and engaging activities developed by community partners, including food tastings, dance and music performances, workshops, lectures, and discussions, that will enable them to share their histories, cultures, values, and stories. By providing accessible and inclusive experiences and making special efforts to engage local high school youth and people with disabilities, the project will help to create a welcoming community for all Bakersfield residents.
This project is possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.
Taste of Dance has also received funding from the Arts Council of Kern County and KDA is seeking additional sponsorships for the program to ensure the entirety of the Taste of Dance program is offered for free to the community.
Taste of Dance 2024 information coming soon!
KDA AWARDED ONE of SEVEN STATE GRANTS for CULTURAL ARTS PROJECT
This is the first time, since 2019, the California Humanities has awarded a Humanities for All Project Grant applicant from the City of Bakersfield.
Taste of Dance: A Delectable and Rhythmic Exploration of Culture in California’s Central Valley will produce a series of free events will take place at local culinary institutions, parks, and festivals that will cultivate awareness, preserve heritage, and celebrate the contributions that four immigrant communities— Basque, Filipino, Punjabi, and Italian —have made to the rich cultural diversity of Kern County.
KDA is one of seven organizations in the state of California to receive an award. Less than 10% of all of the applicants were selected to receive a 2024 grant which totaled $174,405. KDA will join an exclusive list of awardees that represent projects up and down the state.
WHY a TASTE OF DANCE
This event celebrates not just culture, but also promotes community, education, and an appreciation for the diversity in Kern County. By showcasing different dance forms and pairing them with corresponding cuisines, we hope to enhance understanding and appreciation for the various cultures within our county. Our goal is to cultivate a more inclusive and welcoming community through this diverse celebration. As people learn more about the cultures around them, our community grows stronger and more unified.
TASTE OF DANCE CREATOR + VISIONARY - NOOR EL KEREAMY
Noor is a senior at Stockdale High School and currently serves on the Kern Dance Alliance Board of Directors after volunteering at numerous events for several years. She is recognized as the Distinguished Young Woman of Bakersfield and California’s Distinguished Young Woman for the class of 2024. She is a principal dancer with Bakersfield City Ballet and has attended classes at Civic Dance Center for the past 9 years. Her favorite role to have ever played was the Sugar Plum Fairy in Civic Dance Center’s “The Nutcracker”. While training locally, Noor has also had the privilege of attending the American Ballet Theater, School of American Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet summer intensives. She has also been awarded with several awards and scholarships for classical and contemporary ballet categories based on performance at the Youth America Grand Prix. In the future, Noor aspires to dance at a company and pursue her dreams in an Engineering career.
