About The Dance Garden

A Performance-Focused Dance Studio

Ms Marian's Dance Garden is a performance-focused Dance Studio in San Francisco's Richmond District that opened in OCT, 2013.

It offers three Schools of Movement for:

* Infants/Toddlers (6-36 mos) with their caregivers – Creative Movement

* Kids (ages 3 – 18 yrs) - different levels of Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Contemporary, Pre K-TK

Creative Movement, Acro, Choreography, Boys Sports Movement/Boxing, School TOURS

* Teen/Adult FIT program - Ballet FIT, Restorative Dance FIT, Tap

ALSO: Private Classes in Tap, Ballet; Sewing Bees

ALSO: Summer and Winter Camps for all ages with emphasis on Arts and Crafts; Sewing; Musical Theatre; and more. These activities complement our dance training to build the well-adjusted, whole dancer.

Directed by Marian Roth-Cramer, BA, MFA. Ms Marian has 45+ years' experience as Performer, Teacher, Producer, Author and Company Director. Ms Marian is known for her individualized and nurturing style of teaching, her work in school systems and the thousands of children she has influenced to discover the joy and wonder of Dance. In 1980, Ms Marian wrote a book for Early Childhood Educators (Pre K to 1st grade) presenting Creative Movement/Dance exercises as an alternative to traditional PE classes.

The Dance Garden is also a Training Center for Teachers, Students and Dancers, with the objective to grow educated, responsible and talented artists. DG students have earned spots in High School and Colleges of the Arts; employment in Dance Companies and in related fields of Education, the Arts, Production, and Design.

Looking forward, The Dance Garden is working to create the Dance Garden Performing Arts Center - a multi-purpose space for training and performing in the grocery store beneath our studios. The City of San Francisco has been on the front line assisting to make this dream to come true. Our plans include: forming a non-profit entity, building a Board of Directors, writing Grants, hiring professionals to build a black box theatre and dance space available to our Dance Garden students and our Richmond District community artists.

Teacher Bios

Ms. Marian

Marian Roth-Cramer, BA, MFA, has 30+ years' experience as Performer, Teacher, Producer, Author and Company Director. Ms Marian is known for her individualized and nurturing style of teaching, her work in school systems and the thousands of children she has influenced to discover the joy and wonder of Dance.

In 1980, Ms Marian wrote a book for Early Childhood Educators (Pre K to 1st grade) presenting Creative Movement and Dance exercises as an alternative to traditional PE classes. The Dance Garden is also a Training Center for Teachers, Students and Dancers, with the objective to grow educated, responsible and talented artists. Students of Roth-Cramer have earned spots in High School and Colleges of the Arts; employment in Dance Companies and in related fields of the Arts, Theatre Production, and Design as well as Health, Sports and Education.

Ms. Charlotte

Charlotte Rosa is from San Diego, California, where she trained primarily in ballet at San Elijo Dance and Music Academy. There she began teaching and felt a new passion and excitement for dance. After graduating high school in 2024, she joined the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program and The Training Ground SF. There she expanded her love for dance by gaining more knowledge in the contemporary and improvisational dance fields while continuing her training in ballet. Throughout her career she has performed in productions of classical ballets such as The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty, as well as original contemporary pieces through LINES. Charlotte has also choreographed for showcases at her respective schools. She is excited to begin her journey at Ms. Marian’s Dance Garden and work to inspire her students!

Mr. Welsh

Tim Welsh began his dance instruction at the Shipley and Smith School of the Danse in Colma, California where he worked with Benny Smith, eventually becoming a full-time dance instructor in Tap and Jazz and opening up his own studio in Sunnyvale, California. Mr. Welsh has belonged to the National Dance and Affiliated Artists (NADAA), Dance Arts Unlimited (DAU) and the National Tap International (NTI). He has choreographed for multiple musicals and taught in countless dance conventions. Mr. Welsh recently retired from Star Dance Studio after 22 years of tenured instruction and is delighted to be a part of the Dance Garden faculty, joining us in 2023.

Ms. Delila

Delila Bertelsen holds a B.F.A. in Dance as well as a B.A. in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara. During her college career, she choreographed two works for the stage, including her senior thesis piece which was shown at the Hatlen Theater. She has attended summer programs with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, State Street Ballet, Ballet West and Joffrey San Francisco. In April of 2026, she toured with UCSB Dance Company across four countries in Europe, performing various original works by both emerging and established choreographers. In November of 2026, she will perform work by Dwight Rhoden in New York City. She began teaching in 2021, and joined the Dance Garden Faculty in 2026.

Mr. Orlinsky

Michael Orlinsky, composer and singer, began his composing career as a singer/songwriter in Las Vegas where he played bands and toured the Las Vegas area. He began composing classically in 2010 while obtaining his undergraduate degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His first work was a setting of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" as a song cycle for baritone, and arranged the cycle for oboe, harp, violin and cello. Since then, he has performed excerpts from his most substantial works with the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra such as The Raven, The Highwayman (Alfred Noyes), The Most Astounding Fact (Neil DeGrasse Tyson), and his Requiem. Beyond orchestral works, he has set an extensive amount of art songs to texts including Pablo Neruda, Josef Von Eichendorff, Heinrich Heine and more.

In addition to composing, he has taken on many roles on and off stage in the Las Vegas, Chicago, San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. These roles include teaching, directing, producing and, most often, singing.

Mission Statement and Code of Ethics

We the dancers, faculty, staff and volunteers of Ms. Marian’s Dance Garden, (founded 10.1.13) are a vibrant community of people who have a high regard for each other, the art of dance, and the respectability and value of the work we do. All who participate are requested to demonstrate the willingness to be held accountable and to uphold the values and ethics we declare as the fundamental guidelines stated below. In all of our endeavors to study and perform as an expression of our love of dance, we show respect to the parents, to our students, and to all who call Ms. Marian’s Dance Garden, home. We consider it a privilege to participate in a community for the performing art of dance exemplifying the values of integrity, character, leadership, responsibility and professionalism.

• INTEGRITY: To conduct oneself with honesty, courtesy, and respect. To express consideration for one’s fellow dancers, educators, parents and staff. To be a person who leads by example and honors commitments. To be a person other people can rely on.

• LEADERSHIP: To guide, direct and influence people in achieving their highest goals and ideals. By setting an example through one’s actions and speech. To inspire and serve the people of your community through full participation in all dance related activities.

• RESPONSIBILITY: To respect and adhere to the policies and procedures of a studio activity, event or workshop. To be a person who interacts with others in a mature manner. To question authority in a respectful manner. To speak of any issue or grievance to the person who is able to resolve the concern. To be willing to receive coaching and direction without attitude or complaint.

• CHARACTER: To be a person who represents high levels of personal integrity, leadership, and responsibility for oneself and others. A person who has the courage and willingness to face issues and concerns with maturity and dignity. To avoid gossip, criticism, or denigrating comments for any member of the dance community, parent, or peers.

• PROFESSIONALISM: To respect the dance profession and uphold our values and standards of conduct. To support and encourage one another. To voice opinions and initiate change that will elevate the dance community. To recognize oneself as a role model at all times. To love the study and performance of dance as a universal art form.

Interested in joining the Dance Garden team?

Email msmarian@dancegardensf.com with a resume with relevant experience in dance performance and instruction!