Bravo Belly Dance

I have been learning from and dancing with Valerie since 2011. I had been to other belly dance classes, and never really found one I liked until I took hers. She is very concise and methodical, which is what I need in order to learn. She is always willing to discuss issues we have and listen to our questions.Also, if we have questions and she doesn't know the answer, she researches them and gets back to us promptly.I would highly recommend her classes to anyone who is interested in learning belly dance.

What a great little place! I found this studio online and was impressed with the website and the promptness with which Valerie (the owner) responded to the many questions I had about her studio. I took my first class the other night, and found the studio and the students warm and welcoming. Valerie was very open to questions throughout her class, and was quite adept at accommodating the varied skill levels of the students present, so that while those with more experience were still challenged, those who were new to this style of belly dance were not left behind. The class was energetic and packed with information, but not so much as to overwhelm a newcomer. Can't wait for the next class; I am so excited to have found this studio!

I've been taking bellydance classes since 2005. I have to say that Valerie's classes are some of the best I've been to. She doesn't hold back on corrections, which I appreciate, because I want to know if I'm doing it wrong so I can fix it! But she doesn't pick at you, or single you out in an embarrassing way. She has a very easy teaching style and her classes have a really nice flow. Classes are fun and very high energy. She really knows her stuff and is a subject matter expert. She lets the students know when local events are happening, or if there are neat things happening further away that we might want to save for, or if there is an especially good deal on dance gear somewhere. She also is constantly working on improving herself as a teacher, and attends lots of workshops herself (that she invites us to, of course!). I recommend her to everyone who is interested in belly dance in general, and definitely for someone interested in ATS specifically. Bottom line: I have a great time in Val's classes and I fully believe that you will too!

I've been a student at Bravo Belly Dance for over a year, and I am extremely fortunate to have Valerie for an instructor! Her classes are fun, well-structured, and challenging without being overwhelming, regardless of skill level. She works with each student individually to incorporate them as part of a collective unit, encouraging her students to bring out the best in each other by being strong leaders themselves. Valerie is incredibly knowledgeable about ATS belly dance, and constantly stays on top of the newest trends and changes by continually working to improve her own skill set so she can in turn be an even better teacher. She and her assistant/partner in crime, Debbie, make up the stunning Voodoo Hips dance troupe, and they are both incredibly hardworking and giving of their time and knowledge. I am so blessed to be a part of Valerie's student troupe, One Love Tribal, and this wonderful belly dancing family! There is so much positive energy and support from all of the ladies there, and I leave each and every class feeling accomplished, exhausted, and excited for the next one!

Location is in a bad neighborhood. Class is at night after work and walking to and from the car feels unsafe. The owner, Valerie, is quite moody and bossy this makes classes stressful and unenjoyable as you never know what to expect. Valerie often dances to a level above students in her class. Not a good experience.