Finding Her Rhythm | Issue 2025

When she looks back on her time at Valley Christian, Tori Evans (’10) breaks out in a grin, “The biggest influence from Valley that helped me in my adult life was the old A/B schedule!” Then she laughed, “It taught flexibility by alternating a start time of 7:40 a.m. one day and 9:20 a.m. the next. It prepared me for my unpredictable life as an artist.”
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THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT LAST

While the A/B schedule might have been her most practical lesson, the friendships were her most meaningful. “What I loved most about my time at Valley would have to be the friendships I created,” she said. “To this day, my two closest friends are from Valley, and without them, I would not be the woman I am today.”

Those friendships became her grounding force, built on accountability, faith, and honesty. “To have not only loyal, lifelong friends, but to have those friendships keep accountability, hold a safe place to share experiences, and allow you to grow is very special and very rare,” she said.

FROM SKYWAY TO THE STAGE

After graduating, she headed to the University of Arizona on a dance and academic scholarship. “I studied dance and economics, and graduated in three years because I wasn’t about to waste my very limited time as a dancer in school,” she said, laughing.

She booked her first major job before graduating: a world tour for Barbie Live! The Musical. “I was on that for almost a year,” she said. “Then moved to LA directly. And I’ve been in LA ever since.”

She first realized she could make dance her profession at 15. “For the longest time, I thought the extent of my dancing career would be a side hustle,” she said. “Then I learned that dance can actually be a career. I was sold. God placed this gift on my heart, and 13 years later, He’s continued to provide through that gift.”

 

Performing with some of the biggest names in entertainment like Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Hudson, The Weeknd, Brandy, and Backstreet Boys, she’s learned lessons that stretch far beyond choreography. “Every opportunity in life shapes and alters you,” she said. “You learn to work with and for different personality types, you learn how to tackle different obstacles, you learn how to multitask, but I will say the hardest and greatest lesson to learn as a dancer is determination.”

That lesson was forged in the countless auditions that came before each “yes.” “The amount of times I’ve been told ‘No, you’re not right for this,’ I think I’ve lost count,” she said. “But eventually, you start pushing past the ‘nos’ until you get your first ‘yes.’ And boy, it sparks a fire inside of you to keep going.”

“I strive every day to stay humble and know that I am just a small piece of a very large puzzle. My main goal is to stay present in every moment and I feel that helps me remember who
I am and what my true purpose is.” —Tori Evans (’10), Dancer

Among her favorite memories are the moments when that perseverance paid off. One was in Thailand on her first tour, when her father flew across the world to see her perform.

Another unforgettable moment came when she performed in her hometown at Levi’s Stadium. “To have my parents, my dance teacher, my husband, and my whole town come to support and watch me, I will never ever forget that feeling.”

VCHS VIVID DANCE AWARDS WITH TORI’S CHOREOGRAPHY Contest of Champions Nationals in Florida
2017: 1st place Small Hip Hop “Ain’t No Sunshine” 2nd place X-Small Open
2019: 1st place Open “Addicted To You”
2020: 3rd place Open “Spanish Guitar”
2021: 3rd place Open “Blame”
2022: 1st place Open “Feeling Good” Choreography Award “Feeling Good
2023: 1st place Prop “Born To Be Wild”
2024: 2nd place Open “See Me in the Crown” 2nd place Open “See Me in the Crown” 3rd place Varsity Jazz “Cold Hearted Snake”
West Coast Elite Nationals (National banners hanging in the Conservatory lobby):  National Champion Concept Contemporary National Champion Open

RETURNING HOME TO VCS

When she returns to choreograph or teach, she finds the greatest joy in watching students grow. “It’s so incredible to watch young performers find their voice and their style in just one year,” she said. “To see them blossom over four years is incredible.”

Her work with VCS remains both consistent and deeply rewarding. “With Vivid, VCHS’ elite dance team, I usually choreograph two competition numbers a year,” she said. Over the years, her choreography has earned multiple national awards at the Contest of Champions in Florida, including several first-place titles and a Choreography Award for “Feeling Good.” Her pieces have also taken home National Champion banners at West Coast Elite Nationals. Beyond competitions, she sets a piece each year for the Emerge show and often returns to teach jazz masterclasses throughout the season.

LESSONS IN STILLNESS

Even after years of movement, she’s learning a different kind of rhythm. These days, her focus is on faith and stillness.

“I strive every day to stay humble and know that I am just a small piece of a very large puzzle. My main goal is to stay present in every moment and I feel that helps me remember who I am and what my true purpose is.” In a last reflective moment, she adds, “I’m forever grateful for the friends I made in high school and for Valley curating the space for these friendships to be cultivated.”

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