Val Cunningham has been instructing, performing, and choreographing dance professionally since 1997.  She is ISTD, DIVIDA and ZUMBA certified with 'High Honors’ in both Ballroom and Latin. She is a member of N.D.C.A., and her extended studies include Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Yoga, and Pilates. Although she is extremely proficient in all the dances, her passion lies in the street/club style of Lindy Hop Swing, Cuban Salsa and Argentine Tango. Val has studied extensively with all the great masters both in the Bay Area and around the world such as world champion Tom Slater and world-renowned master Richard Lambarty. She has extended her teaching across the U.S, Australia and throughout Europe.

Although Val has been a top-level competitor both locally and internationally, her greatest joy is in performing. She has involved and invested herself in major dance companies in all 3 dances and enjoyed her Salsa performance where her company came in second at the 2004 L.A. Salsa Congress.

Val has entertained hundreds of guest while performing each and every dance at numerous events throughout California including Clint Eastwood’s Estate!  Val has taught a wide range of students in studios and clubs all around the Bay Area from baby beginners and wedding couples to members of San Francisco Ballet and Cirque de Soleil!

While gracing stages throughout the US and Europe, it has been in San Francisco, with the Metronome Dance Center, where she has shined prolifically for the past seven years at Fort Mason Center for the Arts.

Val is very proud of the her ‘Club Connection’ Class which she created at the Cheryl Burke Dance Center where she provoked the first community to dance with a partner to Dance Electronic music at the clubs!

Val is a founding member of DancEvents (YourDancEvents.com), as well as a proud affiliate of both SalsaCrazy and DanceFun Cruises; as well as dancing for many commercials and live events such as music concerts and fashion shows, Val is proud to have danced at the San Francisco 49er’s Half-time show during the 2006 season and the Olympic Torch Ceremony in 2008.

Val has also taken the Fitness Centers by storm by using all her latin grooves and creating her own fitness class called Fusion Rhythms. She has been featured in several internationally distributed Dance Fitness DVD’s. Watch out for her own title coming soon!

Her television performances include ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” as well as various broadcasts on KQED & CHANNEL 5/CBS. Yet her greatest achievement has been appearing in the movie "Swing" where she starred as a principle dancer.  After an extensive teaching and performing career, Val, is presently focusing her efforts on coaching choreography for talented solos and groups in preparation for IPOP LA, one of the largest conventions in the country for Directors, Producers and Casting Agents. She thoroughly enjoys passing her unique spark to those hoping to take to the stage, TV and Film!

Val has taken her talents and skills to the Fashion Industry where her passion lies in show direction and coaching models for Commercial Print, TV Broadcast and Runway. Clients include John Robert Powers, San Francisco Fashion Week 2007, M Zoe and Missing Piece Productions.

In 2009, Val was selected to choreograph Kapakahi's music video "Light Up" which was aired on MTV Asia. She also worked on the festival bound short film "The Daily Grind." Among her other accomplishments that year, Val danced in the world acclaimed show - Gala Electronica AND opened The Dance Loft. 

Val is so proud to be back studying with one of her greatest Mentors, Ms. Diane Jarmalow with the course " Move Like A Champion".  Created by Diane and Latin Champion Kasia Kozak, this comprehensive 14-hour course teaches principles of dynamic alignment and functional movement that applies to all Ballroom, Latin, and Swing dancing It consists of learning tools and concepts for the qualities of movement we associate with dance champions. Through this course, with fun names and excercies, Val is very excited to teach how you can attain more balance, posture, strength, flexibility, intensity, partnering, confidence, musicality, speed and claity of intent in your dancing!

in 2011, Val finished her PreNatal Yoga Teacher Training Program with Jane Austin. The 5-day 40-hour intensive was a comprehensive course on the art and science of teaching prenatal yoga. This course has allowed Val a deeper knowledge and a greater awareness in teaching : Anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, The benefits of yoga for pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum,  Sequencing a prenatal class, Postures to aid common discomforts of pregnancy, Poses to avoid during and after pregnancy, Appropriate pranayama (breath) practices,  Psychology of pregnancy and birth, Prenatal bonding,  Asana to support optimal fetal positioning, Physiology of childbirth, Yoga for labor,  Cultural attitudes about birth, Medical and holistic models of care, Birth choices/empowered birth, Resource building, Nutrition/natural remedies for pregnancy and beyond, Mom & baby yoga, Postpartum issues and the 4th trimester. Val is also proud of continuing her study of the human body by attending a workshop by Leslie Howard on the Pelvic Floor.

In 2012, Val has been invited to teach and perform with her husband and dance partner, Joshua Hoover, throughout Europe.