For Achmed, movement begins with being alive. Its meaning reaches beyond learning a sequence or completing an exercise. Integrative Movement invites you to pay attention to how you move, what you communicate, and the relationship between precision and expression.
A practice built around the person
You may want to reconnect with movement, explore your posture and balance, or bring more attention to an established practice. Your interests, experience, and starting point shape the session. Achmed draws from his broad movement background according to the individual, rather than applying one fixed method.
Explore the quality of movement
Organic rhythm, breath, coordination, balance, and creative expression offer different ways into the work. Attention goes to the meaning of an action as well as its form. What are you doing? Why are you doing it? How does the movement communicate? These questions give technical practice a personal context.
Professional Dance coaching
Private coaching is available for advanced dancers, professionals, and adults returning with a serious dance background. Sessions may draw on modern dance techniques, improvisation, choreography, and Achmed’s wider training. Precision matters, alongside musicality, expression, and an understanding of what the movement is saying. Confirmed private Professional Dance coaching is 90 minutes for $120.
Choose a useful starting point
Tell Achmed about your experience and what you want to explore. That conversation helps establish an appropriate format and focus. Integrative Movement is distinct from Pilates Studio sessions; Pilates pricing and duration are arranged separately.
FIND YOUR STARTING POINT
A conversation can help you choose.
A free introductory phone call offers a chance to ask questions and discuss an appropriate service. For a more focused starting point, the separate Transformational Navigation orientation is a one-hour session for $90.
Payment accepted: Cash or Zelle. Payment arrangements are confirmed directly with Achmed.
Reflections on Achmed’s movement instruction, fitness classes, and professional dance career. Earlier class names and professional roles are retained in their original context.
Professional Dance coaching
I am a professional ballet dancer, having danced with Ballet Arizona in Phoenix and am currently under contract with the Atlanta Ballet. Achmed has the keen ability to fine tune a dancer's body, mind, and soul. He has helped me tremendously to understand energy flow throughout my body. This has resulted in my becoming much more conscious of each muscle, getting a better "turn-out”, extension, and overall presentation. Achmed has made all the difference in coaching me to develop into a professional dance artist from simply being a proficient technician. I highly recommend training with Achmed to enhance anyone's dance career.
Kristina MitchellDancer, Atlanta Ballet
Any dance company would be fortunate to have Achmed Valk to prepare it presenting itself at its best in performance. Any choreographer/artistic director performing in his/her own work needs a sharp outside eye to elevate the quality of presentation. Achmed has an exquisite eye and a deep sense of how to bring out in the clearest way the individual style and vocabulary of a choreographer, rather than trying to overlay his own powerful aesthetic on the work. I greatly appreciate Achmed as a colleague, advisor, teacher, workshop leader, healer, and a friend!
Dulce CapedociaChoreographer and Artistic Director, Silayan Dance Company · Los Angeles
Stretching and fitness7 endorsements
Stretch for Flexibility
Having suffered low-back pain for more years than I like to remember, I joined Achmed's 'Stretch for Flexibility' class twice a week. After just a few months I felt I had given my back a new lease on life with little to no pain remaining--it truly has made a difference!
The one class that prepares you for any sport you like and your longevity in it!
Mari HalseyGolf enthusiast
Total Toning fitness class
I have regained my flexibility, balance, and core muscle strength by attending Achmed’s classes diligently over the last few years. Although very challenging and tough in the beginning, now at 70 years of age, I’ve never been in better shape. He’s been very cognizant of my particular fitness needs and consistently challenges and motivates me to improve my form.
Carl
Total Toning fitness class
Achmed’s Total Toning classes are by far the best fitness classes I’ve ever attended. Just take a look at some of the long term participants to know they’ve found their ’fountain of youth’ by way of his excellent instruction!
Ellen
Total Toning fitness class
This challenging class gives me a complete work out without hurting my knees or back. I’ve never been stronger!
Shirley
Total Toning fitness class
I found this hidden gem in discovering Achmed’s Total Toning class and it has become the one total fitness class that I attend as it works every part of my body, that is external as much as internal. As a former world class martial artist and professional athlete I am very impressed by his level of expertise.
Blaine
Total Toning fitness class
Achmed’s Total Toning class is a comprehensive workout including stretch, weights, exercise balls, bars and bands as well as cardio.
Gitti
Level 2 Total Toning fitness class
Achmed is the best! His level 2 Total Toning class has helped neutralizing my osteoporosis, vertigo, hernia, and other ailments and has greatly improved my core muscle function.
Jean
Dance performance and teaching7 endorsements
What a joy it was to have you with me Monday to celebrate my years in this wonderful and demanding profession. It was very special for me to watch you from the side dancing with such command at the place we met almost a decade ago. Thank you again for making this occasion so full and so meaningful. With love and gratitude, as ever,
At UCI, I was the Chair of (Achmed Valk's) graduate thesis committee and became very well acquainted with his work ethic which is thorough and produced a thesis project that was highly individual and challenging, encompassing dance, video, literature and the plastic arts. Mr. Valk has been able to do excellent and professional quality work within the framework of the university system. He has gathered together students, fellow artists and colleagues, conceptualized and produced works of importance. I recommend Achmed Valk, a unique artist and scholar to you.
Donald McKayleChoreographer, director and writer; Professor of Dance and Artistic Director, UCI Dance
I recently had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Valk perform in Donald McKayle's Ringalevio. His performance was a knock-out! In fact, I have not often been so affected by a dancer's performance. He was truly remarkable in what was a very difficult and physically demanding piece, and his performance contributed in no small way to the piece's overall success.
Mary E. CoreyChair of Dance, University of California, Irvine
(Achmed) had one of the leads in Donald McKayle’s new work, Ringalevio. Mr. Valk performed with technical clarity and sensitive characterization. In his own work Individuation he once again rose above mere technical efficiency to bring a concentration and truthfulness to his performance which gave the work poignancy.
Dianne S. Howe, Ph.D.University of California, Irvine
Mr. Valk has demonstrated a superior ability to combine discipline and encouragement in his teaching. He is demanding yet patient, and consequently he typically elicits the best from his students. While these are essential qualities for any dance instructor worthy of the title, the fact that Mr. Valk is able to consistently employ them with a wide range of ages and abilities is noteworthy. I would add that we have been especially privileged to have Mr. Valk in this community because no other instructor outside of the university has taught technique in the rigorous and structured manner that is a given for sound ballet training. Secondly, I have consistently observed an uncommon sensibility and imagination in his choreography--both classical and contemporary. His work is easily the best that this rather sophisticated college community has seen in years.
Beverly M. Earles-Law, Ph.D.Vice-President, American Humanist Association · Amherst, New York
Mr. Valk is unique in the sense that he is one of the few creative artists who has a solid personal knowledge of many dance forms--ballet, modern, and jazz--as well as a background in the traditional visual arts--drawing, painting and sculpture--along with a curiosity for emerging technology--video and computers. He is able to combine and form all these elements into engrossing and challenging works of art that emphasize dance filtered through his personal philosophical and creative visions. His excellent visual sense enables him to combine and mix media to achieve stunning images on the concert stage.
Donald BradburnChoreographer, artistic director, writer and photographer; UCI lecturer, Fresno Ballet artistic director, Dance Magazine correspondent
In his choreography, Mr. Valk creates evocative theatrical images and demonstrates excellent mastery of the craft. He has a unique imagination that leads to the unexpected in conception, movement motifs and choreographic development. He investigates profound themes, and the result is meaningful and wondrous.
Nancy Lee Ruiter, Ph.D.Chair of Dance, University of California, Irvine
Achmed Valk has proven himself to be a talented performer and choreographer during his period of study as a graduate student in our Department of dance and is unquestionably one of the finest students the department has had in recent memory. I know this student well and consider him to be an outstanding and mature artist.
Robert HickokDean, School of Fine Arts, University of California, Irvine
Creative collaborations7 endorsements
In my position as Programming Coordinator for the (Las Vegas) Library District, I have worked with Achmed since the early '80s when he brought the work of a prominent artist to my attention and assisted me in presenting an exhibit of her work. ...for our 1st Annual Festival of the Arts, his was the first effort at outreach from the Dance Department at UNLV that I had received in the over twelve years in which I had been involved in presenting cultural arts to our community. I feel that Achmed has made a significant effort to bring dance to the people. His talent and integrity as an artist is unquestionable.
Margaret S. TrassattiProgramming Coordinator, Las Vegas Public Library District
I very much appreciate the direction you [Achmed Valk. Director of Dance] have taken to have interdisciplinary work with various musicians, including those efforts to bring together multicultural music, instruments, musicians and dance. This certainly adds an important dimension for the dancers and those in the audience. Congratulations on a concert which was fun and educational in the best sense of the word.
Judith ZivanovicAssistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Kansas State University
Achmed has been an enthusiastic, gracious, and delightful colleague. He is an uncompromising and professional artist whether he is choreographing a classical "white ballet" or a Motown spoof.
Vera OrlockAssistant Professor of Dance, Kansas State University
I first met Mr. Valk...at the University of California, Irvine. I was impressed with his cross-disciplinary skills in both the performing and visual arts, his strong technical background and wide overview of the dance field. He performed with my company, Los Angeles Modern Dance and Ballet, quickly adapting to our style, adding charm and drama to performances. In the summer of 1995, Mr. Valk joined my company as Rehearsal Director, preparing our dancers for the premiere of Klez-Mania at the Anson Ford Amphitheatre. Coaching and advising, working with both young and seasoned dancers, Mr. Valk demonstrated enormous tenacity and knowledgeable insight throughout the process. Our company clearly benefited greatly from Mr. Valk's contributions. We feel very fortunate to be able to continue working with him in our current season.
Naomi GoldbergArtistic Director and Choreographer, Los Angeles Modern Dance and Ballet
Achmed Valk is a broad-minded person who is instrumental in promoting international cooperation and exchange programs. In 1995, he initiated an interdisciplinary collaborative project consisting of a 3-week summer study/research program in Voronezh, Russia. I have been involved in this project as a Russian organizer of the program. We succeeded in establishing cross-cultural connections which will help to promote similar international projects in future.
Irina Khramtsova, Ed.D.Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, Kansas State University
I have collaborated with Mr. Valk on improvisation and choreography workshops culminating in performance at the First International Festival of Movement and Dance on the Volga in Yaroslavl, Russia in the Fall of 1993 and find his skills in this area of high caliber. Mr. Valk's outstanding personal characteristics are many. He has an in depth commitment to the thorough completion of any of his many projects or assignments. He is a creative problem solver and demonstrates an unusually strong degree of personal initiative. Mr. Valk is a man of outstanding intelligence and creativity.
Margot Mink ColbertAssistant Chair, Department of Dance, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
He has also been very active in securing grants, developing multimedia events and introducing multicultural programs to the university community. He is very forward thinking and has a keen awareness of how collaboration among various artistic and technological entities can create a post modern product that is respectful of tradition and technique, yet, unlike anything we have experienced in the past.
Marci MaullarManaging Director and Associate Professor, KSU Theatre
These accounts describe individual experiences, not promised outcomes. Professional titles and affiliations reflect the supplied endorsements.
