Better Together Dance Theatre

Better Together Dance Theatre offers classes in Creative Dance, Tiny Dancer, Kinderdance, Tap, Twirl, & Shake, Tumble & Groove, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Dance Conditioning, Hip Hop, Tumbling, Acro Basics, Performance Acting, Behind the Scenes, Improv, Musical Theatre Dance Expression, and Spoken Word & Creative Expression. The program also includes Adult Ballet Fitness, Adult Jazz, Adult Tap Basics, Adult Belly Dance, Adult Latin Dance, and Fab, Fit, & Fun!. Classes include options such as a Creative Dance class for any caregiver and child up to 3 years old, Tiny Dancer for preschool-age students who will be three or four years old by August 1st, Kinderdance for Kindergarten students, Tap, Twirl, and Shake for students entering First Grade, and a Tumble and Groove high-energy class with mat exercises, dances, and student-created movement.

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

The Ballet program is built upon The Cecchetti Method, the Jazz program includes classic jazz with some elements of commercial jazz, and the Tap program is rooted in hoofing and rhythm tap styles. Modern focuses on expressive movement and emotion, Dance Conditioning focuses on strength, flexibility, stamina, core, turns, and leaps, and Hip Hop emphasizes creativity, self-expression, teamwork, and a safe space for young teens. Tumbling includes mat work and obstacle courses with skills such as forward and backward rolls, cartwheels, and handstands, while Acro Basics introduces more advanced tumbling skills such as round offs, bridges, and walkovers and sequences set to music. Performance Acting culminates in December and June performances, Behind the Scenes covers technical theatre areas including stage management, set design, scenic painting, lighting, sound, costume, and prop design with guest lectures and demonstrations from professional theatrical designers, and Improv explores improvisation games, techniques, and concepts. Musical Theatre Dance Expression uses Broadway Jazz and choreography to learn Broadway musical dance numbers, and Spoken Word & Creative Expression focuses on spoken word and poetry for creative self-expression. Adult Ballet Fitness uses The Cecchetti Method in a low pressure workout format, Adult Belly Dance is open to people of all ages, stages, body types, and fitness levels with no special clothing needed, Adult Latin Dance includes Salsa, Bachata, Samba, and more with no partner or experience necessary, and Fab, Fit, and Fun 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 program focuses on building strength, community, confidence, friendships, and foundation through dance and theatre education.

Better Together Dance Theatre is new and aims to bring a new and innovative studio to the Peninsula community. The studio is founded by industry experts in the dance, theatre, and film world, with over 100 years of collaborative experiences and talents, and is led by a team that 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. Christina 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, Geoff holds a degree in theatre, and Daniel graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology - Sport & Recreation Management. Kelly Ciardella received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont and holds professional and teaching certificates from the Cecchetti Ballet Council of America and is a member of Dance Masters of America, an elite association of dance educators. Kari holds a BFA in Theatre Arts and a masters in Special Education, and Lorraine has an Early Childhood Education Credential and a Postpartum Doula Credential. Through dance and theatre education, Better Together Dance Theatre states that it inspires and empowers people of all ages to grow and connect through performing arts and states that it believes that people are all better together.

Last updated March 19, 2026.