MEET OUR BELLA STAFF
Becky Peretti
Becky is the owner of Bella Dance Academy and was happy to open a studio near her hometown 12 years ago! She previously owned a studio for 20 years in Fremont. She has studied all styles of dance since the age of three. She has worked with the United Spirit Organization and performed in Super Bowl XXI, Fleet Feet Inc and filmed several commercials in the early years of her career. In 1985, she was crowned Miss Alameda County where she competed in the Miss California - Miss America Organization and was a finalist in Merv Griffin’s Production of Dance Fever in 1986. She attended SJSU receiving a BA in Liberal Studies and a minor in Business and Dance. Becky is a proud Delta Gamma as well! She was named one of the “Outstanding Young Women of America” in 1987.
In her early years of teaching, Becky founded Tiny Tappers, a pre-school based dance program taught in pre-schools in Fremont, Pleasanton and Danville. One of her favorite parts of her career was the three years she was a member of the Golden State Warriors dance team where she enjoyed many games at the Oakland Coliseum plus appearances representing the Warriors organization. Becky coached several high school Pom teams as well. She was a member of the Dance Masters of America Organization. She founded TAPistry, a tap company in San Ramon where she is proud to teach many of her former students who are now adults and also on staff at Bella Dance Academy. Becky has received several choreography awards as well as regional and national awards with her students. Many of her students have gone on to careers on Broadway, NBA and NFL pro dance teams. Most of the Bella Dance Academy staff have been her students and she feels very fortunate to continue the dance journey together with these amazing women. Now her very favorite part of her dance career is watching her dancers grow and perform! “I always say that a piece of me is out on that stage when I see them dance.” Becky and her family live in Danville. She is blessed with one son and hundreds of “dance daughters”.
Nicole Roman
Nicole started dancing at the young age of 6. Studied various styles of dance with studios throughout the Bay Area. She began teaching at the age of 18 with Becky and couldn’t imagine doing anything else . She was an instructor for several years with UDA. She joined UDA right after high school and traveled around the US teaching with them for several years.
She has choreographed for San Jose Spectrum dance team, Ohlone College, Liberty High School and Studio 56.
Nicole has performed as a backup dancer, been a member of Visual Rythm dance company, Karizma hip hop company, The Royal New Years parade in London, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, and Diva dance crew in Chico .
Musical theatre has always been her passion; she was able to be in many productions such as 42nd Street, Anything goes, Grease, and her favorite role was Adelaide in Guys & Dolls. Now her passion for musical theatre continues as she choreographs for her husband’s productions.
When Nicole isn’t teaching or choreographing her favorite thing to do is to spend time with her husband and son . Especially watching her son play baseball.
Heather has been dancing since the age of 5. She grew up dancing on competitive teams of all styles and went on to major in dance at San Jose State University. She danced in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings for 5 years where she got the opportunity to travel and perform in Mexico, Kuwait and Iraq. She’s had the honor of choreographing for the NBA, college, high school and studio competitive teams. She loves to share her passion for dance through teaching!
Heather Hennessy
Alexa has been dancing since the age of two, competitively since the age of seven. She has a minor in dance from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (SLO) along with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture. While in SLO, she was a member of the Cal Poly Dance Team from 2010-2013 and a member of the University’s dance company Orchesis from 2014-1015. She also worked for two years as a Universal Dance Association (UDA) staff instructor and has returned to Bella Dance as a competitive team instructor alongside many of her former teachers and former teammates. She has danced with the Oakland Ballet in the production of The Nutcracker and has taken classes from instructors, such as Mandy Moore, in Los Angeles and around the Bay Area. She is passionate about choreographing and sharing her love of dance with her students. She has experience in lyrical, contemporary, modern, jazz, tap, and hip hop, and has choreographed pieces for the Cal Poly Dance Team, the Cal Poly student showcase, and competitive studio solos, duos, and groups.
Alexa Dack
Samantha Allen
Samantha grew up in Fremont, CA where she began dancing at the age of 2 years old. She began dancing competitively at the age of seven where she trained under the direction of Becky Peretti. She is trained in all styles including tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, ballet, and pointe. She continued her passion for dance as she became a member of the Division 1 Cal Poly Dance Team.
Cal Poly Dance Team performed at all home football and basketball games as well as competed at USA Collegiate Nationals. She served as captain of the dance team for two years. Her last year at Cal Polv she was a member of the Orchesis Dance Comnanv which focused on ballet and contemporary. During her college years she also worked for Universal Dance Association where she taught dance camps around the nation to nign school and college dancers. After she graduated with her degree and teaching credential, she immediately came back home to Bella Dance Academy where she became a member of the Staff! Samantha loves teaching and choreographing in jazz, lyrical, and contemporary styles. She has been recognized for her choreography in contemporary dance at regional and national competitions. When Samantha is not teaching dance, she is busy being a full time high school Math teacher. She also loves to spend time with her dog Cooper!
Liz Armstrong
I have been teaching tap, jazz and ballet since 1978! I knew very early on that dance was my first love and greatest passion in life. I have been fortunate enough to pursue the art of dance on many levels. I danced in local dance competitions and then in my teen years. I was asked to be an assistant dance teacher with various dance classes taught by my teachers. Excited about being able to share my passion through teaching, I started on the path of becoming a dance educator. I earned an associate of arts degree in Dance as well as Business Administration. I then went on to become a certified dance educator through a prestigious organization Dance Masters of America. In addition to teaching, I was a member of a local dance company,
Fleet Feet Inc., performing through out the Bay Area. I was asked to be a judge at many dance competitions. I also choreographed several community musicals for the City Of Fremont. To continue my own dance education I have taken numerous masters classes over the years. One of my most favorite master classes that I took, was a tap class taught by Gregory Hines teacher, Henry Le Tang. To this day I have been so fortunate to have taught and continue to teach such amazing students. The joy the students bring each week to class is priceless. I have been married to my husband, Walter Armstrong for 27 years and I’m happy to say he has rhinestoned many costumes for me !! My Son Jared is a First Responder and loves to off road in his jeep and rock climb. When I’m not dancing I love to hike daily with my 5 year old German Shepherd, Mara.
Ashley danced at Bella for many years and received additional training at notable places including the Joffrey Ballet School NYC. After graduating, Ashley attended Saint Mary's College of California and was a part of both the dance program and dance team for one year before transferring to Chapman University. Chapman's renowned dance program allowed Ashley to continue her training in Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary as well as education in Pilates Theory, injury prevention, and movement anatomy. In 2022 she graduated with her B.A in Psychology and minors in Nutrition and Dance. Ashley specializes in strength and alignment, Pilates, technique, Ballet, and Lyrical/Contemporary. She is thrilled to be back as an instructor at Bella!
Ashley Fuller
I was a part of one of the first graduating senior groups at Bella! I grew up dancing at various studios around the area and unfortunately didn’t find Bella until late in high school. I feel like I didn’t get enough time here, so I had to come back! After high school I went to University of Nevada Reno where I majored in Speech Pathology and Audiology and minored in Dance. My favorite dance experience in Reno was doing a Rocketts style Christmas show every year with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra. After graduation, I went to teach snowboarding and dance in Lake Tahoe for a while. I eventually decided to go back to school where I majored in Sign Language Interpreting. I’ve now made it back to the Bay Area and am a full time sign language interpreter all over the area. I’ve continued to keep tap as my favorite style of dance and am excited to be back!
Michelle Miller
I started dancing at Bella Dance Academy at eight years old and continued up until I graduated. I now am so grateful to be able to teach at Bella and continue getting to do what I love. I am currently in school majoring in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Dance has always been a huge passion of mine, so I’m excited to get to continue it along with school. The studio is like a second home to me and I’m lucky to have it still be a huge part of my life. Bella is a family not just a dance studio and I’m forever thankful to be part of this family. I have learned a lot through my years of dance, and I am blessed to be able to pass these skills to the students.
Madison Fingerut