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Val Cunningham
Category: Education Specialty Schools Dance Schools Dance Schools [Edit]
610 22nd StSte 311
(between Illinois St & 3rd St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
(415) 846-3154
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat 11 am - 7 pm
71 reviews for Val Cunningham
71 reviews in English
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Review from Mark S.
San Francisco, CA
11/5/2011
Val worked with my wife and I on our wedding dance and it was an awesome experience. In full disclosure Val is a friend and I've taken dance lessons with her before, which is of course why I knew exactly where to go when it was time to get ready for our first dance.
Planning a wedding is not an easy task . . . ok it sucks . . . and when you add to it the idea of having to perform a dance in front of all of your friends and family, well it can be daunting to say the least. That's where Val comes in. She's really good at listening to what it is you want and then working with your skill level to make sure you have fun and look good.
For me it was my favorite part of the wedding prep, Val made it equal parts creative expression and dance therapy. Highly recommended.
Thanks Val! -
Review from E P.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2011
Val made our first dance fun and amazing! We were smiling and confident as we foxtrotted around the dance floor at our reception. Our guests loved the small, special touches Val placed in our choreography: from a cute part where my husband bent down on one knee to an awesome dip at the end.
Val is a kind and intuitive teacher. She works hard to explain dance in many different ways, using different analogies and explanations until her students understand what they need to do. She uses positivity and encouragement as teaching guides. No matter whether you pick up the steps immediately or need a little more guidance, she is patient and supportive. Our dance lessons with Val were some of the most fun we had as we prepared for our wedding! -
Review from Seiji N.
San Francisco, CA
9/28/2011
A couple of things to note. 1. I'm a guy with two left feet. 2. I'm a guy... with two left feet.
So let's just say that having dance lessons was a pretty good idea for our wedding. And to put it briefly, Val kicked us off, and Zoe took it the rest of the way. We had an absolutely amazing dance. It started off with a nice and slow 4-step to the Glee version of Jason Mraz's "Lucky" and then went into a full-fledged choreographed funky hip-hop dance of the Glee version of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream."
Did I mention I have two left feet?
Zoe and Val were absolutely incredible. Although I was a little hesitant at first in having a fully choreographed dance because of how they can look a little staged, Val taught us how to smoothly pull off a 4-step slow dance and Zoe pulled off a stunning choreographed hip hop routine that flowed naturally like we had been dancing all of our lives! It was fun, it was playful, and our entire wedding guests got an absolute KICK out of it.
We bought the 5 dance package and it was worth it. We even did an extra session with Zoe at the very end just to clean it all up.
Now it's not like you can do just the dance lessons and have a fully smooth wedding dance. You need to practice at home as well. But with their simple techniques and their patiences and tips, with just a little bit of practice, especially after dance lesson #3, you will be absolutely rolling and the last two lessons are great for touch ups, flair, and flow.
Zoe you were awesome. We loved how patient you were with us and you gave us a fantastic Teenage Dream dance.
Val, thank you so much for showing us the 4-step. We couldn't have done any of this without you!
Thank you both!
Quinn and Grace -
Review from Rubin K.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012
Val and Zoe at Val Cunningham dance studios for choreographing and teaching us how to dance. They took my waddle to new heights during our wedding first dance. We started out with the intention of adding K-Ci and Jojo to follow our traditional frank sinatra first dance song in order to be as cheesy as possible but Val and Zoe made it to something more. Our guests were delighted and we had a fun time with it all. And they did it all in two weeks!
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Review from Dave T.
San Francisco, CA
11/26/2011
Zoe took us from nothing to dancing for our first wedding dance and in a pretty nice amount of style! She is a clear, patient and observant instructor. As a guy who has some amount of trouble snapping my fingers and stomping a foot at the same time, I was amazed that this result was even possible. But now sending her out and reeling her in has turned out to be so much fun that we are definitely signing up for more lessons. It was the best possible thing to check in for one last private lesson the day before our wedding. With all the chaos of the week, we left that lesson with the inner peace of a yogi, connected with each other, calm and ready.
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Review from Melody T.
7/26/2011
We've been twice so far and have had a great time with Val both times.
She's patient and has a great energy that makes learning from her even more fun!
The boy surprised me with a class as a birthday surprise and we both thoroughly enjoy each hour long lesson. I am probably the person with the least natural rhythm and world's worst dancer, but she makes it easy to learn and is good about making sure you're comfortable and learn the steps well.
We bought the package of 5 classes for $400 and can't wait to keep going. Great way to connect with your lover and have a boatload of fun. :)
Thanks Val! -
Review from Ali N.
San Francisco, CA
10/25/2011
I couldn't imagine a better teacher than Val. And the fact that she teaches dance makes it even better since that is exactly what my fiancee and I needed the most. We came to her to learn a little routine for our 1950's themed wedding and we were not let down. Her patience, attitude and understanding of how "boys" and "girls" learn to dance differently made the experience amazing. We can't wait to come back after our wedding to learn more. Val's the best!
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Review from Rachel R.
San Bruno, CA
11/8/2011
The fiance and I just got back from our first wedding dance lesson with Val. I will Yelp again in March, when we are done with our lessons and back from our honeymoon but I just couldn't wait to give her five stars. She took some time to feel us out, get a sense of our wedding and of us as a couple. Then she gave us a lesson that blew our minds! We were comfortable and giggly and had the most fun. I was worried that we would be stumbling over each other and our four left feet would leave us frustrated and nervous. Val knew exactly what to say and do to make us feel like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I am sure we didn't look like them, but what does that matter? We had a blast. I would recommend her to any couple prepping for that first official dance as husband and wife. Thanks Val!
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Review from michi V.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2011
Literally, as good as it gets.
I've known Val for years, but never had the chance (excuse?) to do a dance class with her til my wedding prep was under way. In 10 lessons, Val took my fiance and I from zero to hero. I have a dance background and my now husband is a drummer, so we had an idea of rhythm - but none of that prepared us for the incredible routine that Val had cooked up.
Dips, lifts, turn sequences that never failed to make me feel pukish on the practice floor - Val dished it out and then some. But she also gave us incredible tips and advice, not just related to dance but also to life. "Stand tall," she would say. "Know where the audience is and move toward them." Most importantly, she told me to "trust your man. Let him lead you. Let him carry you." Words that ring true throughout our day to day life as a married couple.
Thanks V, for really bringing home the fact that the dance doesn't end when the music stops and the guests go home. And, for a killer routine that got us a 5 minute standing ovation! -
Review from Ronna B.
Pasadena, CA
5/11/2011
Val, Thank you so much for making our first dance so special and for leaving such a positive lasting impression on us :). We appreciate your words of wisdom about how to enjoy our wedding day and take in every part of it.
My husband and I got married last March 2010 and had wanted to do a dance performance during our reception. We felt so lucky and fortunate to find Val on Yelp. Not only did she choreograph a fun and classy "first dance" for us, but she also provided guidance and invaluable advice about how to make the most of our wedding day. Meeting Val and learning from her, on so many different levels, made a huge impact on our wedding preparations and especially on our wedding day. My husband and I would love to take lessons again from her. She's fantastic and truly inspirational! -
Review from jason j.
San Francisco, CA
8/11/2011
(this is a lengthy review from a guys point of view, with a happy ending)
we wanted to make our first dance memorable. we knew that instead of a "highschool" left-right piece that goes on for a painful 5 minutes for all of the guests - you know exactly what i'm talking about, that we would be different.
we knew the songs. as a surprise, we would do hiphop, then a normal slower song. goal was to make it memorable to everyone.
that's where we agreed. then we disagreed. she wanted to pay for an instructor/choreographer. i thought otherwise. my thoughts were "i can hear a beat, i can count to the beat, i enjoy dancing at bars/clubs, and we can just youtube something and learn steps from some videos."
To my despair, i was dragged to dogpatch for a "dancing lesson", which i then find out is several hundred dollars for a set of 5. we meet Val - she seems friendly enough - and we spend some time introducing ourselves, our idea, and wants. we are then told to step to a simple 8 count. easy enough. at this point i'm still at the "if you WANT to do this, i WILL do it, but i'm against it." i still think i can 8 count myself (side to side), and it's really not worth spending some coin.
fast forward to the day of our wedding - standing on the dance floor for the first dance. we now have a routine of the soujla boy with a transition into tierra's rendition of Together (slow song). What we were going for, was the element of surprise - this wasn't going to be a highschool straight armed left-right dance. Exactly as Val had explained it, we let the crowd quiet down, and stood there in silence, to let the mood simmer. a quick point to the DJ to cue the music, and the song starts out - very obnoxiously - and the two of us start our dance. shrieks and shouts come from the guests, as a lot of "OMFGs" are heard (in their entirety, not just acronyms). Trust me - we have the youtube video to prove it. Right at the point where the true shock factor wears off, our first song ends, and we transition into our slow number.
think back to what i wrote above - i can hear a beat, i enjoy dancing. none of that applies to dancing slow. i'm never at a bar or club, dancing to slow music. back to the story, our slow number involves a series of twists, twirls, fast/slow stepping etc, all ending in a signature dip (what most first dances should have).
did we get all the photos and video we wanted? probably not. did we get the crowd reaction we were going for? absolutely. could i have accomplished this myself by watching youtube? surely not. was it worth every penny, even if it was 2x the price? absolutely.
Val isn't just a dance instructor. she doesn't just teach you a move, and test you in the following weeks, like a drill sergeant. Val is a wonderful coach who loves what she does, and it shows. Sure, we had to practice. Sure i always hurried home after each lesson, so i could write down which moves happened on which beats/counts. Sure that helps. Practicing in the apartment, practicing in the courtyard, all of that helps. But that only ensures that your body/mind get ingrained with the repetition of the movement. Val would bring life into our movements, tell us where we should keep our shoulders up high, make our twists twistier, our twirls twirlier, and our spins have more spring in them. Look out at the crowd and be confident, keep your eyes in the distance, don't look at the floor. Look at each other, etc etc.
In retrospect, now many weeks post wedding, I can tell you, I got 1000% of what I wanted out of a first dance. We wanted the shock-factor of a totally off the wall song, transitioning into a normal appropriate song. While the music could play itself, we could not have danced ourselves without Val's guidance. The joy and gratification that we both felt while doing, and immediately after the first dance was something i can only hope every couple gets when they're on the dance floor. despite being the center of attention for 130 or so guests, because we were confident in what we had learned, there wasn't a moment of nervousness or the like, only smiles and laughter during our dance and afterwards. it was everything i had asked for - i recommend her highly to everyone. -
Review from michael w.
San Francisco, CA
6/28/2011
Zoe and Val are great dance instructors!
My fiancé and I have been working with Zoe on our first wedding dance over the past two months and she has been incredibly helpful. I have three left feet and not rhythm, yet Zoe has me dancing like a pro now (almost)! She is patient and constructive and has made the process painless and dare I say fun.
My fiancé and I have a ton of confidence now and we welcome the opportunity to showcase our new talent at our upcoming wedding. We highly recommend Zoe and Val for you dancing needs - you too can be cutting a rug in no time! -
Review from Jennifer K.
San Francisco, CA
7/18/2011
VAL is AMAZING!!! This was definitely my favorite part of being engaged. I would recommend EVERY couple go to Val for their first dance. It was really important to us that we "look cool." We didn't want to perform some kind of recital, or do anything to show-off-y, but we wanted to look like we knew what we were doing- Val was our gal! Our dance was so smooth, so sexy, and everyone thought it was amazing. She really took the time to get to know us as a couple and she was super adorable and cute to work with. I almost want to keep going back to her, for what reason, I have no idea. DO NOT waste anytime and sign up today!!!
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Review from Veena S.
San Francisco, CA
10/19/2010
Val is awesome! She has such bountiful positive energy and makes you feel confident when you dance, which is really half the battle. We squeezed in lessons 2 weeks before our wedding and she put together the perfect dance for us.
I have to admit I sort of have a friend crush on her- she is funny, cool and just cute as a button. She will make you look and feel great out on the dance floor! -
Review from amicable i.
San Diego, CA
11/22/2011
well, i have never been to Val Cunningham, i watch thier vidoe clips on thier site it was marvellous. They are doing a great job, bringing back the lost love in couples after marriage. so i hail them for thay have saved so much marriage from breaking down. keep the flag flying. bravo!!!!!
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Review from Miss H.
San Francisco, CA
10/12/2010
We decided last minute to get dance lessons for our first dance, we wanted something fun fun fun, not the traditional lovey slow dance.
I'm so happy we went with Val, we got about 7 lessons in and she picks up the beats, tempo of the song and can create a choreographed dance routine, just like that. It's pretty amazing; she knew the song better than us.
The best thing though is that she not only teaches you steps, she teaches you to have fun and to really own the steps and not look awkward on the dance floor. She gave really good tips about hand positioning, even reminders of keeping your head up or to simply just smile and really enjoy the dance. Trust me, it really makes a difference! I've seen way too many awkward first dances where the couple is just too nervous or too focused on the steps rather than really taking in that it's their first dance! Our first dance, we fumbled here and there (she teaches you how to recover too!), but it didn't matter, we were smiling, kissing and hugging and just really enjoying the moment and it showed. -
Review from Don T.
San Francisco, CA
6/10/2010
Val Rocks!
She is patient, fun to be around, and amazingly knowledgeable.
Highly recommended for all levels! (Not telling which level I fall under). -
Review from Melinda G.
San Francisco, CA
10/4/2010
Val was everything you could want in a dance instructor, no matter what level you're at. My now-husband and I signed up for the wedding dance package and came with a few non-traditional ideas of what we wanted. Val was enthusiastic and thorough and clearly an expert at fulfilling your desires because oh man did she deliver! Kevin and I were very much beginners and she managed to make us quite presentable in just five lessons. And she also made it fun to do! We found ourselves looking forward to a drink at the Dogpatch Saloon and an hour's worth of dancing on the weekends instead of our usual shenanigans. And at the wedding, we got TONS of compliments. Anyway, you can see for yourself, but we can't recommend Val enough.
http://www.youtube.com... -
Review from Natalie S.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2010 4 photos
Val is awesome awesome awesome. My husband (then fiance) told me it was my job as an elite yelper to find a dance instructor. I did a random yelp search and found a few dance instructors. Based on the reviews, I liked Val because she has her own dance studio and you have a private lesson in a private space.
We brought a few songs along on our iPhones and Val carefully listened to each and told us what she thought was a good song to dance to. We chose Yellow. She had her in-house music editor edit the song to about 3 minutes long. We bought Val's 5 class package and dutifully went to her studio every Wednesday evening. Val taught us how to dance, how to do a dip, how to move and listen to the music. Not only is Val a great teacher, I felt that she was almost like a life coach at times too (how to walk assertively and be confident).
We had our wedding in Thailand a week to this day. We had a beautiful beach wedding, cocktails, thai dancers and drummers leading a procession to the ballroom and finally we made our entrance as a married couple. The DJ hit out song and out we went. I don't know how we looked (as I haven't seen the video yet), but people told us that we looked amazing and were impressed. We owe our credit to Val. She made us look beautiful and amazing for our wedding and I thank her for that.
I will recommend her over and over to any of my friends who want that special first dance for their wedding. -
Review from David B.
San Francisco, CA
12/15/2010
Fabulous time at our birthday party! Even I, a recalcitrant, reluctant dancer, fell under the sway of peer pressure and the gentle but persistent instruction that Val provided.
Everyone had a terrific time and now I'm forced into considering doing this on an annual event.
Val's a sensational teacher! -
Review from Nicole G.
San Francisco, CA
9/20/2009
We found Val based on her excellent Yelp rating - thanks fellow Yelpers!
Let me start my saying that Val is adorable. My new husband and I are both large people (I'm 5'10, and he's 6'4"), and to us, she looked like a charming little pixie. But make no mistake - she will teach you how to dance and she will teach you well.
We went to Val to learn a first dance for our wedding. We wanted to do something a little silly and creative, and she got us right away. She helped us choreograph a dance that was suited to our limited coordination, and gave us a routine that was alternately silly, sexy, and if I may say so, downright adorable. She tailored our dance to suit us, and she did so professionally and with a sense of humor. She was also willing to work around our demanding work schedules, which was a huge plus.
I would highly recommend Val as an attentive dance instructor who is dedicated to ensuring that you will walk away with a routine you will feel comfortable performing in front of everyone you know. She's a gem, and her accent is really cute, too. Thanks for everything, Val!
"Fair play, fair play. And good on you!" -
Review from Steve S.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2011
Val is the Shizzzzz.
Not only is she a great, patient instructor, but she really puts the time in to make you feel comfortable. She put together an entire choreographed routine for my wife and I which was within our skill-set. I like to get aggressive and challenge myself, so Val made sure that both my wife and I were learning new, challenging moves...but it paid off!
One thing that makes Val a great instructor is that she listens and is sensitive to her clients...if you haven't danced much, that's not a problem, if you love to dance...all the better. Val can tailor her lessons to any skill-level.
You should've seen the crowd go wild after our final lift and dip. Boom! -
Review from Brad A.
San Francisco, CA
11/5/2010
My partner and I worked with Val before our wedding. Neither of us had danced before we went to Val. We would literally wiggle around the dance floor looking like deranged teenagers. We wanted to learn Salsa dancing for our wedding celebration.
She not only taught us Salsa, but she also taught us some other steps, got us comfortable in our own skins, and choreographed a "first dance" number for us that was incredibly fun. On the wedding night, having the people and the music and the crowd actually made it easier. It all felt very natural and enjoyable. What an experience!
Val is friendly, supportive, energetic, hip, and fun to work with. Fantastic. -
Review from Charlotte A.
San Francisco, CA
6/20/2011
Val is a rockstar. Plain and simple. She prepared my husband and me for our first dance "How Sweet It Is" by James Taylor. We did the first dance special with her and it totally paid off.
First of all, she's a super awesome communicator. If you are unfamiliar with rhythm or dance, she will make dance relatable for you.
Second, she's a joy to be around. Super positive and encouraging. You want to do well!
Third, she's a rad choreographer. After a few lessons on the basics, she helped us spruce up our dance and it was a huge hit.
We had so much fun dancing at the wedding. It was a huge moment to remember and the lessons were definitely the best part of wedding planning.
8.5 million stars for Val -
Review from Amy H.
San Francisco, CA
9/5/2009
Val is amazing!! She was the only dance instructor we had talked to who was super supportive of our "we want to get our bridal party involved in our first dance" from the very very beginning! She is a creative instructor who really knows her stuff as well as being great at assessing her clients' abilities, building on the progress one by one through the lessons.
In the end, we had an amazing compilation of dances which started with a romantic tribute to Michael Jackson's "I'll Be There", followed by a sweet dance to the soundtrack of Up with whimsical moves, to finally a dance off between me and my husband, joined later by the bridal parties on both sides, to Timbaland's "The Way I Are". Coordinating these moves was no easy task given the quick yet smooth transitions and making sure that my husband and I can execute the coordinated moves was even tougher. The first dance not only set the tone of the reception for the evening but brought a smile to all of our guests which is what we wanted - for all to just have a great time. And Val was the one who made it all happen.
Thank you Val and congratulations on your own wedding!!! -
Review from Owen C.
San Francisco, CA
4/12/2011
Val is a magical instructor. She takes a unique personal approach to unearth dancing/music talents you never realized you possessed. Consistent lessons with Val would most certainly render you a bright star in the dance scene, however you would like to shine.
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Review from Camille C.
San Francisco, CA
10/4/2011
Val made our first dance amazing - we were confident, had fun, and the crowd clapped along for most of the song! We also had a lesson with our parents that was fun and highly recommended.
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Review from Tim H.
Santa Clara, CA
9/7/2010
If there were more than 5 stars, Val would get them all.
Before Val, I was not a dancer. More to the point, I was a militant anti-dancer. She got around that instantly, and through the course of 10 lessons over 3 months, our dancing lessons was probably the best investment we made in our wedding, and a growing, learning experience for the both of us.
She was patient with us and gave great encouragement. She is a skillful dancer, an imaginative choreographer, and a natural teacher.
Best of all, I feel like we became friends over our 10 lessons. By the end, I felt bad that we didn't invite her to the wedding--she would have been proud of us!
Now, though I'm not a dancer, I know one dance, and I know it well. We will be doing it again, no doubt. -
Review from Jeremy C.
Oakland, CA
6/17/2008
I could not dance. I had no sense of rhythm. But I had to learn to dance to be able to ask out a woman who would appreciate a decent dance partner or at least someone making the attempt.
Val, with a light heart and infinite patience, met with me as often as I cared (ie, flexible scheduling) and taught me to loosen up and enjoy what was possible. You really haven't met a person as positive and as full as joy as Val. And you're learning at the same time! -
Review from Lisa W.
San Francisco, CA
7/14/2011
Val is our hero! She taught us how to dance to Michael Buble's rendition of "The Way You Look Tonight." My husband has no dance experience and was pressed to learn how to dance for our wedding. I was being lazy and was going to forgo the dance lessons, but I hedged and asked my friend, Natalie, who she used for her wedding. I went on-line, booked our first lesson, and showed up. Val is such a sweet person and very accomodating! With our busy schedules, she re-arranged her schedule just for us so we can fit our 5 dance lessons. She's an excellent instructor because she would ask us what we would like to work on at the end of each lesson and give us focus on what to work on at home. We learned so much in a short period of time and we were both very happy with what she did for us. At the end of every lesson, we also felt good like we accomplished something. Val is a trained dancer and knows what moves will go well in the timing of the music. I highly recommend Val to be your dance instructor for any special occasion!
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Review from K L.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2011
Val is easy to book appointments with, patient and talented, and an overall great teacher! She is relatable to men and women so everyone is comfortable and confident. My fiance and I are currently working with her on our first dance for our April 2011 nuptials, and are actually dancing together- which I thought would never happen LOL.
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Review from Nam D.
San Francisco, CA
3/8/2008
My (now) wife and I had both never had formal dance lessons before but we were determined to put on a "bit of a show" for our wedding guests. We had heard about Valerie Cunningham from some friends of ours and signed up for private lessons, not really knowing what to expect or how we would do considering our lack of experience. We explained the song we wanted our first dance to be danced to (Frank Sinatra's "The Way You Look Tonight" - a foxtrot as we were to later discover) and Val pretty much took it from there.
Val turned out to be a Godsend as she was able to quickly assess our individual dancing abilities (and quickly figured out that we both had no idea what we were doing!) and adjust her teaching to our combined pace of learning. Her infectious energy and enthusiasm made the lessons fun and her ability to explain technical aspects in terminology that my wife and I could both understand and implement were invaluable.
As the lessons progressed she pushed us to learn more, challenging us with new steps whenever we got comfortable with what we had already learned. And when we were ready she hit us with fabulously choreographed opening and closing sequences that just absolutely made the dance. The wedding dance brought the house down and my wife and I will never forget the immense sense of joy and relief at being able to share that dance with all of our close friends and family; all of which we owe to Valerie Cunningham.
Bravo Val!! Bravo!!! -
Review from Christa H.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2008
Val is an INCREDIBLE teacher!!!
I always look forward to our class - she is warm, encouraging and makes each lesson FUN. Most instructors teach the basic steps, but Val takes the time to share the subtle movements that transform her students into great dancers! -
Review from aaron h.
San Francisco, CA
8/14/2010
Despite the fact that Val has 40 reviews on here and there all 5's, for some reason I still felt compelled to brag a little about her. Val is AMAZING. My wife and I decided to take dance lessons exactly 5 weeks prior to our wedding (I know great planning on our part right???). Seeing how the two of us were both born with two left feet and zero rhythm, this task was by no means easy. Val however was able to instill enough confidence in the two of us to truly make our first dance together at our wedding absolutely unforgettable. Not only was Val able to instill some basic dance principles in our very limited repertoire, she was also able to keep the lessons very fun. Val has a fantastic personality and is an absolutely fantastic instructor.
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Review from Robert R.
Denver, CO
6/29/2008
Whether your dance mode is 'dress it up', or 'dress it down', you really want the same thing -to look cool, right?
Well than, PICK VAL. She'll deliver. -
Review from T S.
San Francisco, CA
8/5/2010
Val recently helped me and my husband prepare for our "first dance" at our wedding. Our guest were blown away! She worked with us to choreograph moves for two different songs with a seamless transition, making us look like better dancers than we ever imagined we could be! But rather than simply teaching a routine, she taught us how to move together so that we felt comfortable with the idea of dancing in front of 100 people.
Val is patient and has an easygoing teaching style that made our lessons such an enjoyable escape from the hectic wedding planning in the weeks leading up to the 'big day'. She has a great approach to life and she really understands couple dynamics.
Thanks, Val! -
Review from C. M.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2011
We took classes with Valerie because of Yelp and were totally disappointed.
1. When you take a package of 5 classes and pay $400, she spends the entire first class asking you why you want to take classes, what you are scared of, trying to get into your psychology, etc. We are there because we want to learn to dance, not waste 1 out of 5 classes on her trying to be a therapist!
2. She purposely keeps the rate of teaching slow so that you have to take all 5 classes even if you are learning fast. She makes you pay for all 5 at once (in the beginning) and you can't cancel!
3. She is usually 5 - 10 minutes late for each class, but finishes on time.
4. She sometimes does things while you dance, there is a kitchen there, so she actually was lysoling and cleaning the counter tops while we were dancing!
5. The last class is just an annoying pep talk of "feel the moment" so basically the first and last class are a total waste!
There are other dance teachers on yelp (we didn't try any others) but DONT GO TO VALERIE!!!! -
Review from Meaghan C.
San Francisco, CA
7/27/2011
val was simply wonderful. my fiance just isn't comfortable on the dance floor, and he's fully aware of it. she adapted our dance to suit both our personalities, venue, and song (and even tailored her anaologies to my fiance's athletic interests!) and most of all made it work for him. val helped make my fiance feel comfortable, more relaxed, and even able to have fun on the dance floor. all our guests were stunned and commented that it must take a special girl for him to be on the dance floor. well, i like to think it's me...but val definitely played a role there!
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Review from Pam M.
San Francisco, CA
4/18/2010
Val is the best of the best when it comes to dance instructors. She helped my now-husband and I totally ROCK our first dance.
When we found Val via our fellow Yelpers, we weren't sure what to expect. But after our first lesson, we knew she was the real deal. Val took the time to interview us, to find out what we like, and most importantly, how we learn. After the first lesson, we were excited for more.
The subsequent four lessons of our private package were a ton of fun, and we now feel totally confident and competent with our dance moves. We can't wait to return to learn a new style soon! -
Review from Helen Y.
Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA
7/16/2009 4 photos
what more can i say about val that hasn't already been said?
she embodies "dance instructor extraordinaire"!
thank you so much for your passion, guidance, and patience during our dance lessons and of course making it fun along the way. we nailed our first dance. that's right we did you proud, val :) our guests loved the open heart and open shoulders and the light lean moves!
oh and my dad was so cute during the father-daughter dance. he definitely enjoyed himself and everyone was moved by my head on his shoulders turn. thank you again!!!
