Our Mission

The North County Dance and Performing Arts Foundation strives to cultivate excellence in the performing arts by presenting high-quality productions and providing performers with the tools to grow in confidence, discipline, and artistic expression. Through educational outreach, community performances, and youth development programs, we aim to make the arts accessible and enriching for the entire North County. 

Our Purpose

North County Dance and Performing Arts Foundation (NCDPAF) is a 501-C3 non-profit organization that has been dedicated to keeping the performing arts thriving in North San Luis Obispo County for over twenty five years. NCDPAF is exclusively responsible for the annual Nutcracker Ballet performance which is held in December of each year. The Foundation also supports community dancers, including those of the Paso Robles Dance Collective, for other performance and scholarship opportunities throughout the year. 

Our History

NCDPAF was founded in 1993 by Cheryle Armstrong, who brought her passion for ballet and the performing arts to Paso Robles. At that time there were limited organizations in Northern San Luis Obispo County with dedicated efforts in performing arts, particularly in the classical ballet genre. NCDPAF began the Paso Robles Chamber Ballet Company (now known as the Paso Robles Dance Collective) and the coveted Nutcracker Ballet over 30 years years ago. NCDPAF productions include Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, EPIC, Let it Be, and others have been presented to local audiences throughout the years. NCDPAF is affiliated with The Ballet Alliance, an association of pre professional ballet companies. NCDPAF provides partial funding to support local artists in their dance education and to assist dancers and Directors attending The Ballet Alliance annual festival.