Our Instructors

VSPA only has well qualified instructors

who have their degree in their discipline or are in the process of completing it. Proper education of our students is key to longevity and technical prowess. With all of this emphasis on technique, a sense of fun is always maintained. After all, if it isn’t fun what is the point?

Click on a name below to find out more about that instructor.

  • Yesenia D. Valverde

    Owner/ Dance Instructor
    Yesenia received her degree in Dance from Chapman University. She has been on staff at Citrus College for the last 6 years. She was the resident choreographer for the Citrus College Women Ensemble. She was the resident choreographer for the Arcadia High School's show choirs for 7 years.

    She recently choreographed The Wiz, Alice In Wonderland, Twilight: A Dance Drama and has choreographed Bye, Bye Birdie for the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Yesenia was also a featured choreographer for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat at the Haugh Performing Arts Center. Yesenia has been teaching for the last 12 years throughout Southern California. She has also adjudicated several dance festivals in the Inland Empire.

    In addition to teaching and choreographing she has spent most of her life performing. She has been seen in many musicals throughout Southern California such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Crazy For You, and The King and I.

  • Frank J. Valverde

    Owner/ Vocal Instructor
    Frank received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California in Music Business. He has performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Victor Venor at Descanso Gardens. Frank has performed with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra at the Alex Theatre under the direction of the internationally acclaimed conductor Hilmut Rilling. He has sung at the Crystal Cathedral and is a member of the Michael Skidgel Singers.

    One of the highlights of his vocal career was singing at Carnegie Hall under the direction of John Rutter. His vocal talents have also taken him on a European tour where he sang in some of Europe’s finest Cathedrals, including Notre Dame in Paris, France. In addition to his classical choral experience he has been seen in musicals including Phantom, West Side Story & Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

    Frank has been teaching voice for eight years, both privately and in the classroom. One of his greatest joys was sharing his love of music & singing with the youths & teens of inner cities in Los Angeles.

  • Marlise Martin

    Ballet/Lyrical/Modern/Yoga
    Marlise Martin began teaching Ballet and Modern Dance in 1990 after graduating Cum Laude from UC Riverside with a B.A. in Dance. While at UCR, she received several dance scholarships and Chancellor’s Performance Awards. She also received a scholarship to study with Bella Lewitzsky’s modern dance workshop and performed with the advanced group under Bella’s personal supervision. In 1993 she worked and performed with both Wen-Chi Fang and Dancers and Susan Rose and Company (both modern dance companies). Her ballet background started in 1988 with the Redlands Festival Ballet Company until 1994. During this time period she performed various roles from the Nutcracker Ballet to a soloist position as “Kudishka” (step-sister) in the full-length production of Cinderella. Marlise also performed in numerous corps de ballet roles as well. Other credits include Nutcracker judge auditions for the Arrowhead Ballet Company (1988 & 1989) and talent judge for the Norco County Fair (2006 & 2008). She credits her former ballet and modern teachers including Stanley Holden, Stephan Wenta, David Howard, Susan Rose, Bella Lewitzky, George De La Peña, and Steven Inskeep for their excellent training and direction. In addition to her love of dance, Marlise has extensive training in pilates and yoga.

  • Andrea Cordova-Caddes
    andrea cordova

    Guest Instructor
    Bio info not available.

  • Andy Lee

    Guitar/Piano
    Bio Info Not Available.

  • Megan Sexton
    megan sexton

    Instructor
    Bio Info Not Available.

  • Steven Ramirez

    Guitar/Piano
    Bio Info Not Available.

  • Michelle Perry

    Musical Theatre/Jazz/Lyrical/Hip Hop/Strength & Stretch/Tumbling/Leaps & Turns Instructor
    Michelle Perry has been dancing since the age of two years old. She has danced and competed at studios such as RC Club Cheer and Dance, Dellos Dance Studio, The Dance Gallery, and Adage Dance Center. She has been teaching jazz, lyrical, tap, ballet, and hip-hop for the past nine years. She has also been in the plays such as: The Wiz, Little Abner, The Glory of Christmas and was in the Sing Along 101 Dalmatian. She currently teaches at Valverde School of Performing Arts in Rancho and Vineyard Jr. High School creating the chorography for the Show Choir Program. She also choreographed for the Twilight Drama that was held with Valverde School of Performing Arts. Michelle has attended Orange County High School of the Performing Arts for three years. She has worked with countless choreographers including: Mark Meismer, Jim Kolb, Cindy Peca, Eddie Garcia, Joe Lorera and much more. Michelle is currently attending citrus college and is planning to transfer to Long Beach to continue her studies in Dance. She also choreographs for the Valverde’s Expressions Group, and helps out with El Roble Intermediate competition Dance Team. Michelle also goes to birthday parties to choreograph a dance of their theme.

  • Elena D. Braggins

    Ballet/Tap/Jazz/Musical Theatre
    Elena D. Braggins has been involved in dance since childhood. She has performed in and choreographed several productions. She co-founded Stage 17 and has enjoyed a wide variety of teaching experiences.

    Elena has been teaching classes for the last 10 years to students of all ages. She has written and taught for the YMCA in Los Angeles, choreographed for the Citrus College Dance Department, taught dance classes at the Monrovia Community Center, and choreographed for San Dimas High school. Elena performed at Disneyland for 3 years as a Gypsy Crier and a Jungle Cruise skipper. She is a current history major at Cal State San Bernardino.

    Elena received her AA from Citrus Community College. She is also a Dance Instructor at the YMCA in San Bernardino, Redlands, and Colton. Elena is also an Instructional Aide for the Etiwanda School District.

  • Natalie French

    Ballet/Tap/Jazz/Hip Hop
    Bio Info Not Available..

  • Tana Bettencourt

    Piano
    Tana has been playing the piano since childhood and has been involved in music for as long as she can remember. She received her BA in Music from California State University San Bernardino, with emphasis in Music Education. She also holds a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Music, as well as a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She has enjoyed teaching children in the classroom for over 14 years in the public and private school settings. She also has over 17 years experience as a private piano instructor.

    As the Music Enrichment Program Instructor for Central School District in Rancho Cucamonga, she taught music and directed numerous music productions to over 600 students per year at both Bear Gulch Elementary and Dona Merced Elementary. She also enjoyed teaching, 4th and 5th grade elementary students in after school music clubs. She wrote, designed, and implemented Teaching the Recorder to Elementary Students as her tenured teacher project for Central School District.

    Tana has also taught in the private school setting as the music director for Clare Cherry School, working with students as young as 2 years of age. She has enjoyed playing piano as a staff accompanist for churches and schools, enjoyed performing in numerous events, taught class piano at the Cal State San Bernardino Saturday Conservatory of Music, and is currently an adjudicator for the National Federation of Music Clubs – Piano Solo Event. She is extremely excited to share her experience and love of music with the Valverde School of Performing Arts!

  • Johnathan Ramirez

    Hip-hop/ Breakdance
    I started doing hip-hop and breaking at the age of 13 in a half, mainly self taught. Later, in my years of teaching myself breaking, I started getting actual training from B-Boy (breakdance) Crews such as L.A. Breakers, Air Force Crew, and One Love Crew within the past 2 years, as well as performing with them at Santa Monica. I also started taking technique classes such as Ballet, modern, and Jazz at the Valverde School of Performing Arts for the past 3 years and have performed in their past summer shows and theater productions. I am currently attending Citrus College where will then transfer to Chapman University or UC Irvine in order to achieve my Dance Major.