Kathleen Saffas
School Director & Voice/Music Instructor

Involved with singing, dancing, and piano since the age of five, Kathleen's life has always revolved around the performing arts. Kathleen has been directing and choreographing musical productions since 1976 and teaching voice and piano privately since 1990. She also teaches proper vocal technique to a chorus of forty men, women, and children who have performed in a number of productions. Her earlier musical experience includes eight years of playing Oboe in various orchestras, including the Music Educator's National Conference Orchestra, which earned her a scholarship to Holy Names College. Here she received two years of training in the Kodaly Method of sight singing. As a voice major at Cal State University, she graduated with a B.A. in Music, being rated at the top of her Choral Conducting Class.

Her recent education includes seminars in The Estill Voice Training System, as well as 8 years of weekly private vocal lessons from the noted opera coach and conductor, Dietrich Erbelding. In conjuction with Mr. Erbelding and Pocket Coach Publications, she has produced a children's songbook with accompanying CD's. She has built a successful music school in helping people in the community perform with their families in musical productions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Wendy Porter
Piano & Voice Instructor

Miss Wendy Porter is one of our dedicated music instructors. She studied private piano for 16 years with composer and pianist Alexis Howe of San Francisco. Along with her piano she has had 6 years of private vocal training with Kathy Saffas and is currently continuing her studies with Dietrich Erbelding, a world reknown opera coach. She received her Bachelor of Arts in 2003 from East Bay California State University. Wendy can sing it all whether it be classical or R&B, and her proficiency in piano as a vocal teacher gives her an undesputable advantage for being a top rate teacher. She is also patient and very kind by nature, so anyone taking from her will enjoy this lovely lady of the arts. When she isn't teaching or doing volunteer work, she freelances as a portrait and wedding photographer and graphic arts designer.

Greg Jones
Guitar, Electric Bass, String Bass & Cello Instructor

Greg Jones brings to our school not only his guitar, not only his bass guitar, but also a positive "can-do" attitude that is infectious. He received his Bachelor of Arts in music from Culver-Stockton University where he played 1st chair string bass for 4 years. After graduating he traveled extensively as a professional musician. He has had years of teaching experience and continues as a professional musician, composing and performing his own music at various venues. Greg can teach you any style of music you want to learn...and his sense of humor along with his passion for music make him a face you'll look forward to seeing in your week. Very reliable, he enjoys working with children as well as adults because he loves helping people. These qualities all put together make him an excellent choice as a teacher for you or your child.

Diane Wagner
Ballet Instructor

Diane has 21 years of dance and theater experience, with 8 years dancing professionally with the Oakland Ballet. She has 8 years of modeling and acting experience, and has also appeared in film, television, CD-ROM's, and commercials. Diane also has produced, choreographed and performed pilots for her own exercise program, entitled, "BALLET FITNESS with Diane."

Elyse Lam
Dance Consultant

At the age of six, Elyse started her dancing career in her hometown, Modesto, CA. She received diverse training in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, hip hop, and basically any style she could be a part of. Wanting to share her passion for dance, Elyse began her humble beginnings as a dance instructor by teaching ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop to all ages and levels at dance studios in Modesto and at her high school. After graduating high school, she ventured off to the San Francisco Bay Area to broaden her dancing skills and to begin her our own dance school. It was here in Hayward that she partnered with Kathleen and eventually co-founded the Better World School of Music and Dance. The two began a harmonious blend of dancing, singing, music, and acting by providing instruction to all ages and combining their efforts together by performing exciting, pre-professional shows all around the Bay Area. Throughout the past 10 years, Elyse has created a positive dance experience to hundreds of students and has inspired a deep love for ballet, jazz, and tap. Though she is currently on sabbatical, her creative force continues to be felt at Better World.