Presented as part of our 2026 rotating faculty series:
Intro to Simonson Jazz Dance with Valentina Bertani
About Valentina Bertani:
Valentina was born in 1977: she is a curly-haired child, full of verve, nice, resourceful and curious, a little explorer. Her journey into dance began at the age of two and a half and, over time, her great curiosity led her to experiment with different techniques and styles: from ballet, to hip hop, to belly dancing, up to modern and jazz dance.
Valentina studies hard and works in the meantime: she grows up dancing and, the more she grows, the stronger her bond with dance becomes. She became a teacher and began to share what she had learned and her enthusiasm for this art with young and old, without ever stopping. Valentina was born with an eye disease that, over the years, would lead her to gradually lose her sight. And it is precisely after the most beautiful moment of her life, the birth of her son Matteo, that she feels the need to hang up her dancing shoes.
Due to the worsening of her condition, she gave up dancing for 15 years, a period of great hardship during which she learned to come to terms with her new life. Her tireless tenacity and her innate curiosity never left her, even when she had to deal with a different life, which forced her to move in the world in a whole new way. Her bond with dance is so indissoluble that the flame of passion reignites…
In 2021 Valentina started the “Svista Dance” project which involves visually impaired and blind children and girls in the study of dance. This path is a stimulus for her to deepen her new relationship with dance and with her own body. Shortly thereafter, she meets Tereza Perez Ceccon, an American teacher, and begins studying the “Simonson” method with her, thanks to which she discovers a whole new way of dancing. The Simonson technique was created by the North American Lynn Simonson and suggests an organic approach to movement by promoting a more “intelligent”, conscious and respectful use of the body. What others call a limit, for her becomes an opportunity. Valentina graduated in this technique, still little known in Italy, but which offers invaluable tools to increase body awareness and self-confidence. Valentina is now the first blind teacher certified in the Simonson method.
MOVING IN THE DARK
Moving in the dark is a real exploration of oneself: a deep and adventurous journey into one’s self, a way to take care of oneself. But how can you explore yourself and move in space without the help of sight? It is done by breaking down the barriers of prejudice and the rigidity of conventions, moving without looking but only listening to one’s body. Who is this experience for? To all those who want to get in touch with their most profound, most intimate part, in a natural and harmonious way through a series of organic movements that allow you to release all those tensions that often make us lose sight of our needs and priorities. Not only that: this type of path can also be very useful for all those professionals who use the body as a tool of expression: singers, dancers, musicians, actors who want to improve their performance. Moving in the dark means walking more harmoniously and serenely in the world and experiencing it without the prejudices and pressures to which we are constantly exposed in everyday life.
TRAVELING WITH VALE
I would like to accompany you on a tour “in the dark” because I think it is the best way to understand yourself in relation to the outside world. The awareness of one’s volumes in space is very useful to be able to move with greater harmony and flexibility in everyday life. Movement is, after all, the primordial approach to existence and understanding, from within ourselves, how to eliminate the knots that limit us and the tensions that cage us is very effective in order to live more serene and relaxed. Very often our experience, which is also the beauty of us, leaves vivid and perceptible signs in our mind and consequently on our body: exploring ourselves by traveling through the body gives us the opportunity to increase energy, vitality and well-being! Entering within oneself, abandoning oneself to the wonder of darkness, with the help of the other senses, amplifies the benefits of movements exponentially!
The Darkness may initially seem impetuous to face, especially if tensions and stress are very important, but you are not alone: I will accompany you in your explorations, in your travels, to reassure you until you can be at ease and fully enjoy the work we are doing. Once you have tasted the freedom from the chains that kept you tied to the light, you will be much more free and aware… It may seem surreal, but no one better than me can make you understand how wonderful it is not to see what is around you, but rather to feel it and perceive it in a real and conscious way! Becoming blind was the best way for me to feel free! When I rediscovered movement in the dark, it seemed to me as if I had never moved properly in my life, even though I had been studying dance since I was 3 years old! The work you do is not important, your performance will improve more and more! If you trust me and want to devote some time to your well-being and to improving your skills, I am ready to accompany you! If you are an artist and want to improve your characteristics and skills, you can find safe help in the dark!
About This Workshop Series:
Intro to Simonson Jazz Dance is a ten class course that teaches the movement principles and exercises of Simonson method in an additive way, with each class gradually building to the complete, full-body class format.
This class is designed for blind and visually impaired adults with no prior experience with Simonson Jazz Dance, and is open to learners who have never studied dance before. This class is not recorded for copyright reasons, so attendance at all ten sessions is strongly encouraged.
Workshop Dates and Details:
These workshops are set up to build on one another and attendance at all 10 sessions is strongly encouraged.
The workshops will be offered virtually on Zoom.
Each workshop is 90 minutes long:
- Session #1: Friday, April 3, 2026 from 2 PM to 3:30 PM (Eastern/New York Time)
- Session #2: Friday, April 10, 2026 2 PM to 3:30 PM (Eastern/New York Time)
- Session #3: Friday, April 17, 2026 2 PM to 3:30 PM (Eastern/New York Time)
- Session #4: Friday, April 24, 2026 2 PM to 3:30 PM (Eastern/New York Time)
- Session #5: Friday, May 1, 2026 2 PM to 3:30 PM (Eastern/New York Time)
- Session #6: Friday, May 8, 2026 2 PM to 3:30 PM (Eastern/New York Time)
- Session #7: Friday, May 15, 2026 2 PM to 3:30 PM (Eastern/New York Time)
- Session #8: Friday, May 22, 2026 2 PM to 3:30 PM (Eastern/New York Time)
- Session #9: Friday, May 29, 2026 2 PM to 3:30 PM (Eastern/New York Time)
- Session #10: Friday, June 5, 2026 2 PM to 3:30 PM (Eastern/New York Time)
To register:
This course requires completion of a student intake form and a registration conversation with Valentina, the instructor of the course.
To start your registration process, please send an email to info@darkroomballet.com to info@darkroomballet.com with the subject line Intro to Simonson Jazz Dance
Registration for Intro to Simonson Jazz Dance closes on March 30, 2026, so please do not wait to begin your registration process — Valentina is so excited to teach you!