Growing up in Nebraska, Vanessa developed an interest in the intersection of the arts and science. She is trained in various dance styles, including ballet, modern, tap, hip hop, and musical theatre. She performed in Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company’s What Problem? in 2020 as a community dancer, Brendan Fernandes’ Free Fall 49 at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in 2021, and several seasons of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Evenings of Dance and Student Dance Project performances as an undergraduate student. Vanessa also has three years of experience working in Dance for Parkinson’s classes in Lincoln, Nebraska and London, England with English National Ballet. Having recently moved back to Omaha, she is excited to bring her knowledge and experience to the WhyArts team.

Receiving a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master’s in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Vanessa believes in the power of dance to heal the body, benefit mental health and well-being, and connect community members together. In addition to dance and science, Vanessa is trained in vocal performance and enjoys singing, painting, writing, and doing yoga in her free time.