Vanessa Isaac Dance Company

Selected Reflections

The following reflections offer perspectives from artists and collaborators whose work has intersected with Vanessa Isaac Dance Company

Roots & Vision

“Vanessa Isaac’s work is of great relevance regionally and internationally. For more than twenty years, she has created art that matters while fostering community.

As a choreographer and educator, her work is deeply rooted in Afro-Brazilian and Brazilian traditions, while engaging contemporary dance languages with rigor and vision. She brings cultural knowledge, research, and care into every project, ensuring that the roots of the work are understood and respected.

Vanessa challenges her collaborators to grow, creating environments where diverse voices are valued and artistic excellence is nurtured. Her influence extends beyond performance, shaping artists and communities through long-term engagement.

In my view, she is one of the most important artists working today to bridge cultures through dance.”

— Marcus Santos
Brazilian composer, musician, and music educator
Founder, Grooversity
Brazil & Boston, Massachusetts

Diversity & Personal Impact

Diversity and Personal Impact

“My journey with Vanessa Isaac has changed my life forever. I will never forget the first time I walked in to my first class with her. My heart was immediately blown open and I knew things would never be the same. From there on, my life as a dancer, person and spirit grew for the better.

A very special added bonus in dancing with Vanessa is the diversity of her classes and workshops. As a woman of color, I always felt like I belonged in class, which is not often the case. It was such a blessing to be in a room with people of all ages, races, cultures and languages. In one of my favorite classes, I danced next to a small child and an elderly woman, whom were both dancing with all their heart and soul. These experiences prove that dance is a universal language and Vanessa creates this space in such a beautiful and tender way.

Vanessa taught me the discipline as a dancer to master the craft, through so much passion and dedication. Her infectious love for her culture quickly grew into my passion as well. One of the best times of my life was dancing with her company. Dance rehearsals became the highlight of my life.

After moving to another city, I produced my own (first) show and dedicated it to Vanessa. I would not have come this far as a dancer without her guidance. Vanessa’s artistic contributions and impact in our community are countless. I am continuously inspired as I watch Vanessa dedicate her life to enriching the communities around her.”

— Tisha Marina, M.A.
Founder, I Choose Peace
Dancer, international speaker, and Peace Ambassador
Santa Barbara & Los Angeles, California

Artistic Innovation & Collaboration

“I first heard about Vanessa Isaac 15 years ago when I was studying for my MFA at the California Institute of the Arts. I was deeply rooted in performing and studying Brazilian music and my instructor told me that to take her dance class was worth a drive to Santa Barbara. He said he could not think of any other dancer in Los Angeles who had the creativity and level of dance skill as her.

Years later I would meet her and perform in tandem with her, with people in our community and always I was impressed by her passion, her hard-working drive and the people that were loyal to her. In Brasil there are ‘cultural hotspots’ called ‘pontes da cultura’ and it was apparent that Vanessa Isaac has been that for her community and her reputation takes her all over California and also abroad.

One of the aspects that has always impressed me is her inspiration for who is in her studio. The diversity of people in age, culture, gender. It should not be so hard to find diverse groups coming together and yet it really is.

The strength of her dance company is in the outlet for innovation in choreography, self expression and learning cultural traditions.

There is a place for learning traditional dance and music, and yet as traditions are taught they continue to evolve and move and this is the essence of her work.”

— Ami Molinelli
Composer, percussionist, and music educator
Founder, Music Is First
San Francisco, California

Growth and Personal Impact

“Vanessa is a kind, warm, and encouraging dance teacher who has made a real impact on my life. I have danced with Vanessa Isaac since 2014, initially in person for 5 years and more recently in her virtual live classes as I have moved to Baton Rouge, LA.

While in graduate school, dancing with Vanessa helped me to cope with the intense stress of academia. I always left her classes feeling grounded, rejuvenated, and ready to take on life’s challenges.

Vanessa also creates a beautiful and supportive community through dance. That community made me feel immediately welcomed and cheered me on as I made it through various milestones and setbacks of earning my doctoral degree.

Vanessa’s deep knowledge of Brazilian dance engages students in a culturally respectful but also joyous celebration every time she teaches. Her effusiveness and enthusiasm are infectious as she shares her energy and love of the art form with her students every single time she shows up to the studio. Her dedication to her craft and to sharing dance with her students is astounding.

I came to Vanessa with years of dance experience under my belt, but under her tutelage I have been able to grow. I have grown stronger and more graceful in my dancing as I continue to learn from Vanessa’s smooth style and musicality. I always leave Vanessa’s classes physically exhausted and with a big smile on my face.

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to dance with Vanessa these past years and I look forward to continuing to dance with her from afar for years to come! Vanessa, her hard work, and her caring spirit have truly changed my life for the better.”

— Nikita Carney, PhD
Professor of Sociology, Louisiana State University
Dancer
Baton Rouge, Louisiana