A Bakersfield Native on Ballet, Community, and Finding Purpose Exactly Where She Started
Published: Dec. 19, 2025 | Edited Jan. 25, 2026
Erica Ueberroth doesn’t hesitate when asked where she’s from. “I’m a Bakersfield native, born and raised,” she says. Her story is stitched together by neighborhoods that many locals know by heart.
“I’ve actually lived in multiple parts of Bakersfield since 1987,” she says. “The house I was raised in for the first seven years was on South H Street.” From there, her family moved to Rosedale just as the area was beginning to grow. “There were very few homes and a lot of open fields,” she recalls. “We had that kind of freedom you could still have in the early nineties.”
As life moved forward, so did her address. Quailwood. Brighton Place, where she and her husband bought their first home. And eventually, Stockdale Estates. “That was kind of a dream neighborhood for me,” she says. “I went to Stockdale Elementary K through six, and I always loved the homes around there.”
How Kern County Shaped Her
Growing up in Kern County taught Ueberroth something that has stayed with her into adulthood. “Kern County has accessibility,” she says. “There are lots of things you can try to find what it is that you like and what you love to do.”
She recalls hearing a perspective from someone new to the area that stuck. “They said Bakersfield is a really good place to test-run ideas because we have such a vast demographic of people,” she says. “If it can be successful in Bakersfield, it’s likely it will succeed in other cities.”
What stands out most, though, is the support. “People here really rally around local businesses and local ventures,” she says. “Of course we love the bigger chains, but this community really shows up for local.”
Finding Dance And Falling In Love
Erica Ueberroth in Hansel and Gretel: The Crones Coven Rehearsal. 2025. Credit: Lisa Wuertz
Dance entered Ueberroth‘s life early, but ballet quickly took hold. “I’ve been dancing at Civic Dance Center since 1993,” she says. “It very quickly became a second home. It became kind of a salvation.”
“I became obsessed. Ballet was my first love.” By the time she was nine, the path felt clear. “That’s when I really wanted to pursue dance as a profession,” she says. “I wanted to be a performer in a company.”
Seeing professional ballets sealed it, even if those performances meant leaving town. “We did have to go out of town to see them,” she says. “But that just made it feel bigger.”
Chasing The Dream Beyond Kern
By her early teens, dance was already taking Ueberroth beyond Bakersfield. “My first summer away was six weeks,” she says. “Eat, sleep, drink, dance. It was the best time of my life.”
That first opportunity, an American Ballet Theatre satellite program in Irvine, felt monumental. “At the time, my parents couldn’t afford to send me across the country,” she says. “So Southern California felt like a dream come true.”
More summers followed, including time at The Rock School for Dance in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Getting there took more than talent. “My mom helped me fundraise,” Ueberroth says. “People would sponsor leotards, shoes, even plane tickets. It was a collective effort.”
Despite being accepted into year-round programs, finances ultimately decided her path. “I came home feeling really defeated,” she admits. “The opportunities were there, but I wasn’t able to take advantage of them.”
A Pivot That Changed Everything
Credit: Lisa Wuertz
At fifteen, Ueberroth started teaching at Civic Dance Center, unsure of what it might become. “I found that I liked teaching more than I thought I would,” she says.
Teaching young dancers brought new challenges. “You have to balance the right amount of fun with technique,” Ueberroth says. “That’s not easy.” Mentors like Marnie Forzetting , Ruth Saldubehere, Cindy Trueblood, and Valerie Lewis helped guide her. “They really shaped me as a teacher,” she says.
What once felt like the end of a dream slowly transformed. “I was so focused on the performance aspect growing up,” Ueberroth says. “I didn’t realize someone has to do all the other work too.”
Stepping Into Leadership
The idea of leading the studio didn’t surface until much later. “It didn’t really hit until around 2020,” she says. “I just wanted more than what I was currently doing. I wanted to grow more in the craft.”
Years of gradual responsibility prepared her for the moment. In July 2022, Ueberroth officially became owner and Artistic Director of Civic Dance Center. “It didn’t change my life as dramatically as you might think,” she says. “It felt like second nature.”
She credits longtime director Cindy Trueblood for much of that confidence. “I still have Cindy on speed dial,” she says. “Her mentorship has been huge.”
Civic Dance Center And Bakersfield City Ballet
Credit: Lisa Wuertz
Civic Dance Center, Ueberroth explains, is about far more than steps and technique. “We’re the city’s largest dance school,” she says. “Our focus is ballet, but we teach many styles.”
At the core is character. “Through dance, you learn strength, discipline, perseverance,” she says. “Those things don’t just serve you in the studio or on stage. They transfer into life.”
Bakersfield City Ballet serves as the next step. “It’s the stepping stone between studio training and a professional career,” she says. “We try to simulate as much of a professional company experience as possible.”
On Stage: Performing Alongside Directing
While much of her time is now spent directing and mentoring, Ueberroth remains connected to performing. Appearing as Mother Ginger in The Nutcracker and earlier in the fall of 2025 in Hansel and Gretel: The Crones Coven, she continues to step onstage alongside her many leadership roles.
“Performing is still a highlight for me, to be able to continue to explore my artistry and share my passion is what I love most about dance. Having the opportunity to be on stage with my students or fellow teachers is incredible; I like that it shows them you can continue to pursue your passions no matter your age or workload, if it’s important to you, you should and can make the time for it,” Ueberroth says.
Performances And Community Events
Credit: Lisa Wuertz
Community remains central to everything they do. “Our feature fundraiser is Pints on Pointe, which happens in February,” Ueberroth says. “We also do Christmas in July to support the Nutcracker Orchestra.”
Looking ahead, the company is preparing for a spring production of Sleeping Beauty. “We try to bring classical repertoire to the community whenever we can,” she says.
Why She Stays
Despite plenty of chances to leave, Ueberroth never has. “I’ve never left,” she says. “It’s just home.”
She believes place is what you make it. “Where you are is as good as you make it,” she says. “If you invest in your community, you’re going to have a great experience and a great opportunity.”
Words For The Next Generation
Credit: Lisa Wuertz
Ueberroth’s advice to young dancers is simple and steady. “Follow your dreams, whatever that may be,” Ueberroth says. “There’s more opportunity than ever to pursue dance in Bakersfield.”
And even if paths change, the lessons last. “What you learn in the dance studio transfers into any other career,” she says.
Closing On The Porch
For Erica Ueberroth, Bakersfield isn’t a stepping stone or a chapter she outgrew. It’s home, community, and the place where her life’s work continues to unfold, one dancer and one season at a time.
Beyond the Barre
How she unwinds: When dance is done for the day, Ueberroth leans into stillness. Movies, a binge-worthy show, or a good book usually do the trick. It’s her way of recharging after the physical and mental intensity of the studio.
Where she eats in Bakersfield: It’s all about the mood. Sushi nights point to Miyoshi Restaurant. Pizza cravings mean Mountain Mike’s or California Pizza Kitchen. Pasta sends her to Frugatti’s or Uricchio’s.
Favorite escapes: Summer often means Santa Barbara and a dose of ocean air. Winter belongs to Mammoth, where family ties have turned the mountains into a long-standing tradition.
How to Reach Erica
(661) 588-0900
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