Adrian Valdivia

Adrian Valdivia is DC Casineros’ Artistic Director, Choreographer, Principal Dancer, and Instructor. A co-founder of the company in 2005, he has spent more than two decades performing, teaching, and building community through Son, Casino, Rueda de Casino, rumba, and other Cuban popular dances.

He won first place in the couples’ competition at the 2009 Miami Rueda Congress. His teaching and performance history includes the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian, and congresses in Washington, DC, San Francisco, New York, Miami, Atlanta, and Nicaragua.

Born in Venezuela into a family of dancers and musicians, Adrian brings a strong connection to Caribbean music and community life to his work. His training has included Duane Wrenn, Kati Hernandez, Yudisleidy Valdes, Jorge Luna Roque, Yoel Marrero, Oscar Rousseaux, and Aramis Pazos. He teaches from beginning through advanced levels, emphasizing the musical relationship between Son, Casino, rumba, and Orisha dance traditions.

MTV 3 Latino featured Adrian and Amanda Gill discussing Casino in Washington, DC. He also helped bring the All Stars Dance Company from Santiago de Cuba to Washington for a collaborative production with DC Casineros.

With Amanda in Vancouver

Selected Teaching, Performance, and Cultural Exchange

• Participated with Amanda Gill and Patricia Rivera on the Cubamemucho festival staff in Europe in 2009.
• Featured with Amanda Gill in the 2012 Capital Congress instructor program and the Ritmos Latinos Indiana Workshop & Fiesta on April 9, 2016.
• His international congress experience also includes Sweden.
• Co-directed CubaSon in Mexico with Ramsés Sariol, helped organize CubaSon in New Orleans, and participated in its edition in Spain.
• Featured in Son y Casino’s 2024 interview, “Casino, Commitment, and Community”, discussing dance education, cultural responsibility, and the company’s development.

Adrian’s youth work includes serving as Youth Development Program Director and Violence Prevention Coordinator with MCIP at Columbia Heights Educational Campus. He connects dance instruction with mentorship and opportunities for young people to build community. Explore our youth and family programs.