Meet Our Crew

Val Cunningham

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.

RICHARD HORNOR

First studying and performing as a theatre actor and then training as ballroom dancer with master coaches Olga and Dima Sukachov. Richard approaches Ballroom Dance with a unique perspective. Using concepts and skills learned through theatre performance, Richard teaches choreography that showcases a dance couples chemistry and passion. Combined with a deep technical understanding of movement and dance, Richard crafts unique performances that deliver an artistic message. Richard enriches the lives of his students through their dancing and hopes to make a contribution to the history of partner dance.

CARSON ANDRINGA

A Midwest native who charted her path to the West Coast in pursuit of her passion for professional dancing, Carson radiates with her vibrant and effervescent personality, especially evident in her teaching. 

Graduating from the University of Arizona with a dual degree in Dance and Business, she has navigated her way through the industry with remarkable skill and dedication. With extensive experience training , teaching and performing including a contract aboard Holland America Line where she showcased her prowess in Ballroom partnering, Carson boasts proficiency in a diverse array of styles of Ballroom, Latin & swing including  tango, cha-cha, jive, line dancing, jazz, hip hop foundations, modern & contemporary.  Her journey in teaching began a decade ago and has since flourished, spanning studios nationwide and catering to a roster of private clientele. 

Certified in Dance , Barre and Yoga, Carson is enthusiastic about curating an unforgettable dance experience for all her Dance Loft SF clientele In solo, partner and team dances ! 

ALISE HALBERT

Alise Halbert has been teaching, competing, choreographing and performing Ballroom Dance in the Bay Area since 1996. Alise has completed her Membership degree in Standard and Associate Degree in Latin with the ISTD at the Pick School of Dance in SF as well as had extensive training with BDTC at the Metronome Ballroom. She has taught throughout the Bay Area, and also in Canada, Germany, the Czech Republic and Japan.  Her dance coaches have included US and World Champions.   She loves performance and bringing people together for the joy and skill of dance. 

SUMMER BAREGI

Summer started dancing at the age of 2 & grew up as a competitive dancer. Over the 10 years she competed, she won many high score awards, scholarships, and judges awards. After high school, she attended AMDA in NYC as a dance major training with many reputable teachers in the industry expanding her dance knowledge, in jazz, modern, ballet, musical theatre, and tap. After graduating college, Summer has worked many professional jobs including dancing at Super Bowl Live!, multiple Cedar Fair parks across the country, and touring with Cirque du Soleil. Summer is well trained in ballroom and is certified in bronze core 6 with Divida. Summer has competed professionally and was a finalist in smooth dancing at The Seattle Star Ball. Summer has a passion for teaching people of all ages and levels and is excited to join The Dance Loft family.

Angela Vujkovic

Angela has been dancing, performing and competing since the age of 11. Her dance journey started at Migado School in Montenegro, under the direction of Milos Krivokapic, successful instructor, performer and cofounder of the Sport-Dance Union of Montenegro. 

She had a privilege to study Ballroom and Latin dances in the great schools in Europe and the Bay Area. Inspired and thirsty for more knowledge and experience, she started assisting and teaching private and group lessons, organizing workshops and regional dance trips about 5 years ago.  Salsa is one of her favorite dances and while living in Belgium, she worked with well known salsa master and performer at many major national and international events and TV shows, Mike Olembo.  Today Angela can guide you through the wonderful world of salsa, cha cha, rumba, samba, swing, foxtrot, tango and waltz.   She enjoys instructing, connecting with people through dancing and helping them find a joy and transformational power in it.

Mikey Chang

We are excited to introduce our very own Health and Fitness Instructor at The Dance Loft!

Mikey is a Certified Barre Fitness Instructor and a Licensed Zumba & Zumba Circuit Instructor. He has trained extensively in dance, movement, music, and acting, including a conservatory setting at the renowned American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco! His classes blend movement and storytelling together to create unique dance pieces that vibe perfectly with the music. His passion for dance led him to subbing a class at the studio he was training at, after which he was told by the director that he had found his calling. He has since been teaching professionally in San Francisco since 2017. He first started teaching a heels class which focuses on self empowered, sensual exploration through dance. That class got so popular that it had had to expand to a second date. He has been providing a fun way for people of all fitness levels to work out, train, and strengthen their bodies ever since! You can check out more about him on Instagram at @mikeylikesthed. Yes, the d is for dance! 

Josh Hoover

Josh started dancing at the age of 4 in the Lakewood Ballet, WA where he trained for 8 years in ballet and jazz.  After finding his passion for dance again as an adult, thanks to the revival of Lindy Hop Swing, Josh has spent the past 13 years social dancing, performing, and teaching dance in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Josh has been a core member of Loose Change Dance Company, for five years,with whom he has performed with at Yerba Buena Center for Performing Arts, Cowell Theater, and the Palace of Fine Arts.  Josh has taught and performed Lindy Hop and Hip Hop throughout Europe and he has been performing with Val Cunningham for the past 6 years, who he has since married and help co-run The Dance Loft.

Kayleigh cook

Kayleigh Cook has been dancing and performing since the age of 5. She studied ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, modern and Irish dancing at SFS Dance Center of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, CA under the direction of Jason and Lisa Weiss. She then followed her passion and continued to Dance at California State University, Long Beach where she learned from world-renowned choreographer Andrew Vaca. Kayleigh spent years performing for large companies in Los Angeles, such as Disneyland, The Los Angeles Clippers and The Royal Caribbean Cruise. She transitioned from being a soloist to partner dancing just a few years ago and her love for the art and connection continues to grow as she studies West Coast Swing, Lindy-hop and Salsa.

Kayleigh is so excited to be joining Val Cunningham and the dance team at The Dance Loft.  She hopes to bring her joy, love and understanding of dance to all that she teaches .

Melissa Rutz

Melissa began her training at age four at Star Dance Studio in San Francisco. Three years later, she found herself at the prestigious San Francisco Ballet School for seven years under the direction of Lola DeAvila. While at SFB School, Melissa studied classical ballet, and performed in various performances with San Francisco Ballet.  From there, Melissa desired to expand her dance education and soon found herself at the Metronome Ballroom studying two of her favorite types of dance: swing, with champion Lindy Hop instructor Sharon Ashe, and Theater Arts Adagio with coach, and World Champion adagio cabaret dancer, Tom Slater. Under Tom's wing, she won the 1998 title of United States Pro-Am Theatre Arts Adagio Champion

MARIAH LEVIN

After 15 years of training, performance and teaching experience in aerial circus arts, Mariah began serious partner dance training when living in Western Africa. She dances all 10 dances in the international Standard (Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, and Quickstep) and Latin (Jive, Samba, Cha Cha, Rumba and Paso Doble). She is also fluent in many club dances including salsa, bachata, west coast swing, and blues fusion. Outside of partner dancing she has also studied ballet, house dance, and aco-yoga. Mariah has worked with countless couples preparing for their wedding or big event and loves creating memorable fun dances as she helps her students find comfort with movement in their own bodies.