For Immediate Release

Media Contact

Lisa Wuertz
Civic Dance Center Media Relations
civicdancebkfld@gmail.com
(661) 588-0900

BAKERSFIELD, CA – Erica Ueberroth will take on the role of Civic Dance Center’s Executive Artistic Director and owner overseeing more than 300 dancers and the annual Bakersfield Nutcracker production. Ueberroth will take over the role July 1, 2022 from current artistic director, owner, and founder Cindy Trueblood who will retire after 54 years.

Ueberroth began dancing with Civic Dance Center in 1993 where she was trained in classical ballet technique, jazz, and tap. Ueberroth has performed in Civic’s annual production of the Nutcracker in roles such as Little Clara, Mother Ginger, Snow Queen, Arabian Queen, Spanish Queen, Rose, and Sugar Plum Fairy. Ueberroth furthered her dance education and training at professional ballet school summer intensive programs. For the last two years she has been working on American Ballet Theatre’s National Teacher Training Certification program and she is currently certified up to Level 5. She has been on Civic Dance Center’s faculty since 2002. In 2011 she was asked to begin co-directing Civic’s annual production of The Nutcracker. In 2014 she also began co-directing Civic’s annual Gala. Ueberroth has served as Artistic Director of the nonprofit pre-professional ballet company, Bakersfield City Ballet, for the last four years, choreographing and directing students to prestigious Youth America Grand Prix top finishes and the company’s annual Ethereal Visions show.

“I’m most excited about continuing to be able to mentor the future generation of dancers and sharing my love and passion with all my students,” said Ueberroth. “It’s kind of a bizarre feeling. It wasn’t my original plan, but it became a dream to carry on this legacy and honor Cindy and all of the hard work she’s put into building this studio.”

Trueblood began teaching and establishing what is now Civic Dance Center in her garage in 1969. In 1978, Civic Dance Center accepted the Bakersfield Symphony’s invitation to begin the annual Bakersfield Christmas tradition of The Nutcracker Ballet performed to live music. In 1998, the Arts Council of Kern awarded her the Bakersfield Centennial Dance Award for outstanding contributions to the cultural heritage of Bakersfield. In November 2002, the Arts Council of Kern honored Civic Dance Center for 25 years of commitment to the enhancement of the arts.

“Legacy, in terms of the dance studio for me, is taking Cindy’s original thoughts, hopes, and dreams for the studio and her body of work and still cultivating that and honoring that while also trying to expand the vision, grow, and be able to pass that on to the future generations,” said Ueberroth.