Born in Athens, Valia graduated in 1989 from the National School of Dance, Greece, with a diploma of dance teacher, dancer and choreographer. Since the second year of her studies, Valia has been teaching ballet, modern-jazz, modern dance, tap dancing, gymnastics as well as music-motor skills to preschool children. She is also an Examiner and Modern Dance Tutor of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and a Mentor of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), having also gained RAD’s Diploma in Ballet Teaching Studies. Through the Teaching and Associate Diplomas of RAD and the Licentiate Diploma and Fellowship of ISTD, Valia has been teaching dance teachers and has specialized in movement anatomy, dance history, teaching techniques and child psychology. Valia has practiced professional dancing with many dancing groups in Greece and America, including the Heresy group, the great Camagüey ballet of Cuba and, since 1995, she cooperates with Fokas Evangelinos in numerous performances and television productions, as well as dance teaching. As an assistant of Fokas Evangelinos, she choreographed the revival of the Olympic Games and many productions like the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Special Olympics and the Junior Eurovision.