Hi, I’m Vanessa and dancing has been a passion of mine since I could walk. My mother, also a dancer, enrolled my sister and me in ballet as soon as possible and I continued to study and play with different dance styles as I grew older. But it wasn’t until I was in my 20’s and discovered bellydancing that I fell in love and immersed myself in studying dance. Bellydance felt like a completely different way of dancing for me. Never before had I encountered another form of dance that felt as grounding and evoked such power from within me. I noticed that I naturally began to cultivate a deeper, more loving connection to myself, my body, as well as to other women in my life. This alone was incredibly healing to me in so many ways. I love that bellydance celebrates diversity. In my dance community, there are women of all ages, races, ethnicities and body types. It celebrates all kinds of women, real women, not just the impossible standards put forth in fashion magazines. My love for dance also created a profound interest in anatomy, kinesiology and the therapeutic application of movement. This led me to yoga and later Pilates which I have taught privately and in groups as a post-rehabilitation specialist for over 10 years. In addition to multiple Comprehensive Pilates certifications and mentorships, I’m also certified in many other movement techniques, therapeutic bodywork, and energy healing. I have studied in depth with many masters in both the dance and Pilates worlds.