Better Together Dance Theatre

Better Together Dance Theatre offers a wide range of dance and theatre classes, including Creative Dance, Tiny Dancer, Kinderdance, Tap, Twirl, & Shake, Tumble & Groove, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Dance Conditioning, Hip Hop, Tumbling, and Acro Basics. The program also includes Performance Acting, Behind the Scenes, Improv, Musical Theatre Dance Expression, and Spoken Word & Creative Expression, along with adult classes such as Adult Ballet Fitness, Adult Jazz, Adult Tap Basics, Adult Belly Dance, Adult Latin Dance, and Fab, Fit, & Fun!. Classes such as Ballet, Jazz, and Tap are offered at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels, and there are specialized options like Modern and Dance Conditioning at the intermediate/advanced level.

• Ages: 0–17 years old
• Schedule: Class options Monday–Friday 4pm–8pm and Saturday 8am–12pm

Better Together Dance Theatre offers a Creative Dance class for any caregiver and child up to 3 years old, with active parent or caregiver participation recommended but not required. Tiny Dancer is for preschool-age students who will be three or four years old by August 1st and introduces Tap and Ballet. Kinderdance is for Kindergarten students and introduces Tap, Ballet, and Tumbling, while Tap, Twirl, & Shake is for students entering First Grade and introduces Tap, Ballet, and Jazz. Tumble & Groove is described as a high-energy class with mat exercises, dances, and creating movement, and Hip Hop is described as emphasizing creativity, self-expression, and teamwork in a dynamic and supportive environment for young teens. The Behind the Scenes course covers production organization, stage management, set design, construction, scenic painting, theatrical lighting, sound, costume, and prop design, and includes guest lectures and demonstrations from professional theatrical designers. The Performance Acting course culminates in a December and June performance. The Fab, Fit, & Fun class mixes ballet-inspired movements with pilates, dance, and strength training using light weights and high reps of small movements for a low impact workout. The Spoken Word & Creative Expression class focuses on spoken word and poetry to explore language and techniques for creative self-expression. The organization states that it emphasizes building strength, community, confidence, friendships, and foundation through dance and theatre and identifies as a team of performing arts professionals.

The studio’s mission statement is: “Through dance and theatre education, we inspire and empower people of all ages to grow and connect through performing arts. We believe that we are all better together.” Better Together Dance Theatre is founded by industry experts in the dance, theatre, and film world, with over 100 years of collaborative experiences and talents. The leadership and family team includes Christina Horn, Kelly Almanza, Geoff Horn, Daniel Almanza, Devin Catalli, Kelly Ciardella, Frances Conway, Robin Conway, Alexandra Danehower, Kari Dixon, Lorraine Felix, and Ben Garcia. Geoff Horn holds a degree in theatre, has been working professionally in the Bay Area for over 15 years, and has worked with over 600 students. Since 1993, Kelly Ciardella has been teaching ballet, tap, and jazz, and she received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, holds professional and teaching certificates from the Cecchetti Ballet Council of America, and joined Dance Masters of America, an association of dance educators. The classical ballet program is built upon the Cecchetti Method, a ballet technique devised by Italian ballet master Enrico Cecchetti (1850–1928). Christina Horn earned her Teaching Credential and Master of Arts in Teaching from Saint Mary’s College of California. Kelly Almanza earned a minor in Performing Arts with an emphasis in Dance from Saint Mary’s College of California and has been teaching and choreographing for the past 16 years. Daniel Almanza graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology – Sport & Recreation Management and has worked in the non-profit sector for nearly a decade coordinating and managing youth programming in Napa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. Kari Dixon holds a BFA in Theatre Arts and a master’s in Special Education and has been teaching dance for over 15 years. Robin Conway ran her own gymnastics and dance school for 15 years. Lorraine Felix has an Early Childhood Education Credential and a Postpartum Doula Credential. The studio is described as an innovative studio in the Peninsula community.

Last updated June 17, 2026.