Weekly Mentor

JUSTIN VALE

he/him/his

@academyofvillains
@vibedancecomp
@newportbeachfilmfest
@worldofdance (finalist)

“Born and raised in Hayward, CA, I’ve been a fan of dance my whole life, but I would say my journey started in 2014. I joined my high school dance company and was given the opportunity to train in styles such as jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. After high school I joined & trained with the theatrical dance company known as Academy of villains, there is where I received a majority of my experience. I was exposed to more styles such as Popping, Animation, Krump, house, and waacking.

Since then I’ve been so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to teach classes throughout the Bay Area and California. I’ve had the privilege of performing on stages such as VIBE Dance comp, Newport Beach Film Fest, and WOD Finals; and have been able to work with entities such as the NBA, Popaganda, and Vans.”

OOS: How would you describe your dance style?

I naturally emphasize story telling, regardless of the music I feel that the movement can tell a story of its own.

I started out with a lot of inspiration from tutting & gloving and have used that as a tool when I want the movement to be intricate and conversational. 

I also focus on having full range of motion, utilizing our whole body while learning to be comfortable in awkward positions. 

Lastly, I have fun 🙂 Regardless of the student’s dance experience I would love to have everyone leave class feeling fulfilled and motivated! 

OOS: What will your students learn or experience in your class?

My hope for students is that they will get more comfortable in their own skin, getting used to the way their body moves. Students can expect to improve on body awareness, retention, and expression.