Valerie Gunnels - Owner/Director
Miss Valerie began teaching at On Your Toes Dance in January 2003 and became the owner/director in July 2006. Since that time she has expanded to offer dance classes in three cities throughout Orange County, California. Valerie began dancing at the age of four at the Tehachapi Academy of Performing Arts, she competed will the studio until the age of 22. She has been teaching since the age of 16 when she opened her own dance class and knew from that time that she wanted to make teaching her career.
Miss Valerie holds a BA in dance, with a minor in Psychology from California State University Fullerton. While attending college, she audition her choreography for the Spring/Fall Dance Concerts and was chosen both times as a choreographer. Since graduating she has attended dance/movement therapy workshops across the United States, as well as Creative Dance workshops in Washington State at the Creative Dance Center, under the direction of Anne Green Gilbert. It is there that Miss Valerie learned The Brain Dance and uses it in each of her classes.
In her spare time she teaches as a guest artist in several studios throughout Southern California. In April 2009 Miss Valerie graduated from Cal State Teach with an Elementary Teaching Credential. She is a current member of NDEO (National Dance Education Association). Miss Valerie's goal is to promote the art of dance in public schools because she believes that Creative Movement should be available to all children.
Amanda Hernandez - Hip Hop Instructor
Miss Amanda has been studying various forms of dance for the past 8 years. In high school she fell in love with Hip Hop because she found it fun, energetic, expressive and challenging. Miss Amanda has been
teaching Hip Hop and other styles of dance through various dance programs for the
past four years. She is currently employed
at California High
School in Whittier
as a Hip Hop instructor. During that
time she has also served as a guest artist, choreographer and judge for various
events within the Dance Department. She
is a senior at California State University Fullerton where she is majoring in Liberal
Studies with an emphasis in Elementary Education. She is currently volunteering in a second
grade classroom and plans to become an Elementary school teacher. Miss Amanda enjoys being a dance teacher
because she enjoys motivating her students to be determined and disciplined as
they grow into confident dancers. In the
words of Miss Amanda, “I enjoy pushing myself and my students to learn and
grow, while still maintaining a fun and positive attitude. Working with children brings a special light
to my life.”