Testimonials

It has been my good luck and privilege to work with Cece Bechelli as my choreographer in producing eight full-scale musicals from 1991 to the present. Her 31 years of experience teaching kids and adults at Happy Feet Dance School are evident as she takes large groups of 70 middle school students, ages twelve to fourteen, many of whom have no dance experience, and transforms them into confident, happy and competent performers. Cece astounds all who see the way she organizes and teaches them!

Her choreography is always original while furthering the plot and giving all of the actors a chance to shine. Somehow she almost instantly figures out ability levels and then gives them appropriate, interesting and challenging choreography that weaves into the whole. All this is done with kindness and encouragement. Although she expects her students to be focused in her rehearsals, everyone feels appreciated, and the happiness and excitement is palpable.  She models the kind of behavior we want to engender in our kids, and her own talent and enthusiasm inspires all who work with her.

As Gershwin says, “The happiest men all got rhythm,” and with Cece Bechelli, there is no doubt that is true. How appropriate that “Happy Feet” is the name of her school!

Joan Deamer
Director/ Teacher/ Producer

With great pleasure, I recommend my colleague Cece Bechelli as an exemplary teacher and performer. Cece was one of the most popular teachers at CazDance, my dance camp in the Northern California redwoods. She taught tap to teens and adults and also gave workshops in Irish dance. 

She works well with all age groups and creatively handles wide ranges of abilities effortlessly. She comes to class prepared and ready to teach and her choreography is fun and challenging. Cece’s enthusiasm and love for dance are contagious and a great asset to the CazDance program!

Kris Bell
Director, CazDance
Artistic Director, Musical Theater of the Redwoods

I am thrilled to recommend Ms. Cece Bechelli as a dance teacher for students of all ages.

My daughter Lucy, age 20 and now a student at Stanford University, was Cece’s student for ten years leading up to her high school graduation. I personally have taken Cece’s adult tap classes for the past ten years. I am a local choreographer and have an extensive background in tap, jazz, folk dance, and ballet. Ms. Bechelli is one of the finest teachers, for children or adults, I have encountered. First, she is an extremely accomplished and prolific choreographer. She can create a seemingly endless output of rhythmic variations in her steps that are subtle and complex. The combinations always turn out to be musical, entertaining and distinctive. Second, and more important, is Ms. Bechelli’s skill as a teacher. As a result of her long experience, she can immediately assess the skill levels in a class, how much she can expect of them, and how to challenge them creatively. I have often watched her teach children and adolescents and been amazed. She gets kids to focus, can break down the movements effectively, and can impart a remarkable amount of learning in a short time.

Her dance school is large and very popular, built through her hard work and talent.  She is highly regarded by the children and their parents, and the community at large. All the kids at the studio want the privilege of being in her class.  Cece Bechelli is an accomplished artist and educator.

June Cooperman MD
Choreographer, Teacher

Happy Feet
Really great. Cece is silly with the little ones, shows teens that she really cares, and tells great stories to adults, not to mention her dancing and teaching abilities.
April 09, 2009 by Bethany in Mill Valley, CA

Excellent Dance School
Wonderful teachers, especially for young kids. They make everything so fun. The end of year show was exceptional - amazing how they can teach such young kids such wonderful routines.
August 19, 2008 by Anonymous

A GREAT FIND!
I have taken dance classes from Happy Feet for eleven years in both tap and jazz and I love it there!
March 15, 2007 by Talia Berson in San Rafael, CA

Wondeful Place
I tap danced at Happy Feet for nearly 10 years (had to quit because I was going off to college), and I'm now looking into taking the adult tap class there.Cece is wonderful; she really does it all, and makes sure to provide individualized attention to each student. The tap style is a little more of the non-traditional, more modern tap, but it is definitely fun and challenging. If you're looking into taking tap dance in Marin, I definitely recommend Happy Feet. *Happy Tapping!* Erin M