Vanessa Isaac Dance

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Three Decades facilitating connections, healing, inclusion and diversity.

“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. “ Composer and Musician Ami Molinelli

For 28 years, my work has focused on artistic expression, healing through movement, inclusiveness, intercultural connections, and amplifying the voices of the women, Latin and minority communities, while honoring my Brazilian heritage. I create platforms for visibility, community building, and inclusion, bridging various communities.

As an immigrant, my journey deeply informs my mission to challenge conventional narratives that often marginalize nonwhite artists and our dance forms. In my choreography and community work, I actively highlight and celebrate dance forms traditionally excluded from mainstream spaces, educational institutions and concert halls. This not only showcases their significance but also confronts historical biases.

My dedication to preserving Ancestral traditions Brazilian heritage bridges these traditions to contemporary contexts, enriching our communities. My work amplifies the voices of underrepresented Latinx and minority communities through the transformative power of dance.

While honoring traditional forms, I innovate within contemporary dance creating a bridge between the past, present, and future. My work blends Ancestral with modern artistic expression. Empowering Latinx and minorities to find their unique voices and engage with cultural, social, and political landscapes.

“Dance is for everybody. I believe that the dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people.”
Alvin Ailey

“As a Latin artist living in the United States, I believe Vanessa Isaac’s work is of great relevance regionally and internationally for the Latinx community and beyond. For more than twenty years she has created art that matters while fostering community.” Marcus Santos, Brazilian Musician, Community Leader and Grooverstity Founder

Since 1996, I create community spaces where dancer and non-dancers can heal through Afro-Brazilian and Contemporary dance. Dancers referred to it as the “Dance Church,” a place for community and healing, with music and dance as healing agents. Hip Brazil Collective was created in 2000. This project brings together over 100 people, mostly women but also men and children of all ages. Participants are primarily from our community in Santa Barbara, but also from cities like Seattle, Boston, New York, Brazil, and San Francisco, fostering a rich cultural and artistic exchange.

Our goals are to promote intercultural connections, create a space for women to connect, and facilitate community building and healing through dance and music. We have partnered with various local groups, including Cleveland School of SB (serving underrepresented children), African Dance Groups, Middle Eastern Dance with Cris Basimah, and Capoeira Sul da Bahia, to amplify the voices of our underrepresented groups. Throughout the year, we offer dance spaces dedicated to healing, providing ongoing opportunities for personal growth and community connection.

“Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states.” – Carol Welch

“As we tap into the deep sources of bodily wisdom through creative art expression, we dance the renewal, recreation, and healing of ourselves and our world.”

Anna Halprin

“Sometimes it’s only in the ecstasy of unrepressed movement that we may enter the stillness of our authentic selves. In such sacred moments, the world seems to be in step. This is why the idea of finding love across the dance floor endure ― symbolizing that, when we know the true rhythm of our heart, we know the other.”

– Alexandra Katehakis

“To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.”

Hopi Indian Saying