ValDance, located in the beautiful Comox Valley, is the largest and most comprehensive Ballroom Dance School on northern Vancouver Island; offering private and group lessons, workshops and dance exhibitions for social and corporate events.

We offer Ballroom, Latin and Swing classes to accommodate teens and adults from beginners to advanced skill levels.

We provide you with all the elements required to give you a well-rounded dance education. Group classes serve all general interests. Private lessons are designed to meet your own individual needs and schedule. Every Friday night we start the evening with a workshop and during the dance that follows we continue to provide you with more help and practice time in our spacious hall. We dim the lights, play all genre of music and create more of a party setting in which you can have fun putting your steps together, having ample time to develop the muscle memory necessary in learning to dance. It's the perfect bridge between dance lessons and going to a dance.

Contact Val for more information.

At ValDance we are dedicated to making you the best dancer you can be!

Valerie Halme is passionate about dance and her greatest pleasure is seeing that passion develop in her students. "Dance can awaken an inner joy you never knew existed". Passing that on is the greatest gift she can give.

Val graduated as a school teacher from the University of Victoria with a specialty in Language Arts and P.E. After enjoying two years of teaching in Victoria her path led her back to her love of dance. She answered a newspaper ad to audition as a ballroom dance instructor at Arthur Murray's Dance Studio. With years of ballet training behind her, Val thought this would be a great way to spend her summers, she was accepted and immediately began her teacher training. She was hooked from the start and what began as a carefree summer job turned into an exciting career of 27 years to date.

Valerie became the protégé of Lola Valair, internationally noted judge and professional Latin competitor and one of the most highly respected people in the dance industry in North America at that time. Ms. Valair was also franchisee of the Arthur Murray Dance Studios in Victoria and Vancouver. As a young instructor Valerie was honoured for being the Top Specialist Teacher in the Pacific Northwest.

Val and her professional dance partner left Arthur Murray's to perform, compete and to teach independently. She has danced in movies, competed successfully in pro-am competitions with her students and taught on cruise ships but now she is doing what she loves best, helping beginners take their first steps into the exciting world of Ballroom dancing. She has stayed connected with children and teens by going into the schools in Victoria and in the Comox Valley to introduce young people to the joys of social dancing and offers teen classes in her sessions. She is always pleased to see how much they enjoy it and loves to dispel the myths that Ballroom dancing is dull. "It's only fear of the unknown that prevents people from taking dance lessons. Men especially are pleasantly surprised at how much fun it is and how much easier it is to learn than they expected. With the popularity of so many dance movies recently and several dance reality shows on TV, the non-dancing public is now flocking to their local dance studios. Once you try it you'll be hooked too."

Val Halme shares her passion for dance five nights a week at the Native Sons Hall in Courtenay from Sept. to May and does summer workshops and mini-sessions in June and July. Valerie teaches the North American social style of Ballroom, Latin and Swing dancing.

Jason Kirsch is a natural. A natural athlete, a natural with people and a natural dancer. As a youth Jay played every sport going: football, basketball, baseball, and more. His students are used to seeing him roll into class on either his roller blades or his bike.

Jay began dancing in 1999. He enrolled in a Beginners class with Val who immediately recognized his talent and potential. Within weeks he was rehearsing for his first Gala performance. There have been many performances since then, including his lead dancing role in Rainbow Youth Theatre's production of "West Side Story" in 2001.

Under Val's mentorship Jay continues to hone his dance skills and his teaching skills. He is currently training for his teacher certification as he continues to team-teach with Val.

Jay brings his own unique style to the dance floor. He is brilliant at creating right on the spot. He is an inspiration and a great role model especially for all his male students who can appreciate the complexities of leading. He is exciting to watch and even more exciting to dance with. Jay's enthusiasm, large repertoire of dance knowledge, and his sincere connection with his students make him an excellent instructor.

"Dancing to me is: A moving expression of what you feel to the rhythm of your inspiration. You do what you know to make a picture of how you feel. Expressing passion for what you feel. I love being around people and watching them have fun. Passing my knowledge to others helps create an environment that offers this to anyone who is willing. I think that everyone can dance, if they would only try. Dancing helps you keep fit while making friends in a safe, social environment. Some night clubs, pubs and other social hang-outs can offer opportunities to enjoy dancing, but it will never be as comfortable as the ballroom where everyone goes for the same reason: to dance and have fun!"