Guest Teachers
Vanessa Isaac Dance Company invites guest artists and educators to contribute to its educational programs through both in-person and online formats. Guest teachers participate in live studio classes, workshops, and online sessions.
Online guest teaching takes place through Samba Dance Academy – The Practice, the company’s dedicated online movement platform, allowing for participation across geographic contexts.
These engagements support artistic exchange and expand access to diverse movement practices and cultural perspectives.
Past Guest Teachers include:
Kellyn Rosa — Brazil
Marcia Matos — Brazil
Luana Bandeira — Brazil
Pablo Guerreiro — Brazil
Leida Tolentino — Cape Verde
Lisa Beck — USA / India
Cris Basimah — Brazil / USA
Kaita Mrazek — USA
Cheri Clanpett Borda — USA
Caio Nunes — Brazil
Sheila Aquino — Brazil
Thai Rodrigues — Brazil
Luana Bandeira
Bandeira is a dancer from Rio de Janeiro. For 6 years she was the Rainha da Bateria (Samba Queen) for Estácio de Sá Samba School. She was awarded “Best Queen Jorge Laford” in 2014, Prêmio Personalidade do Carnaval 2015, Rainha dos Sambistas do Rio de Janeiro, Corte 2016 among other awards. She is now Musa (Muse) for the Viradouro Samba School, the current Champion Samba School in Rio. Luana has traveled internationally teaching Samba and together with her brother Marcos Bandeira she founded the social project titled “Origens” in Rio.
A professional dancer, Kaita Mrazek
has trained in several movement modalities including Ballet and modern DanceKaita has co-created a movement technique called Fascia Floss that incorporates active stretching and acupressure for dancers. Her work has been featured in mindbodygreen, New York Times, and several peer-reviewed scientific journal.