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Vanessa Sanchez

Lecturer Vanessa Sanchez
Lecturer in Dance
RESEARCH INTERESTS: The histories, cultural traditions, and technique of Tap Dance, Zapateado Jarocho and Afro-Caribbean Dance including Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Haitian traditions Dance as a tool for social justice & collective resistance Dance Education rooted in social justice  Grantmaking in the arts for communities of color
Education and Training: 
B.A. from San Francisco State University
30+ years of formal dance training in traditions including Tap Dance, Zapateado Jarocho (fandango style), Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and Afro-Haitian
Selected Performances: 
  • "An Imperial Silence: Una Opera Muerta," Teatro Maria Matos, 2017 (Lisboa, Portugal)
  • "Pachuquísmo," Selected presenters include: Brava! For Women in the Arts, 2019 (San Francisco, Ca); The Joyce Theater, 2020 (New York); University of Central Arkansas, 2022 (Conway, AR); Dance Place, 2022 (Washington D.C.) 
  • "Zoot Suits and Zapateado," KQED Arts "If Cities Could Dance," 2020
  • "A Virtual Concert with La Mezcla," the Lincoln Center (New York), 2020
  • "Ghostly Labor," 2021-2024; Selected presenters: Brava! For Women in the Arts (San Francisco, Ca), MACLA (San Jose, Ca), The Yard (Martha's Vineyard, MA) Pregones Theater (Bronx, New York)
Selected Publications: 

"La Mezcla brings Pachuca Culture Forward," Ecotone, 2021

Honors and Awards: 
  • The Isadora Duncan Award, Special Achievement Award for Outstanding Production (Pachuquísmo), 2019
  • Dance/USA Artist Fellow, 2019
  • New England Foundation for the Arts, National Dance Production Grant
  • Dance Magazine 30 over 30, 2021 
  • The Hewlett Foundation's 50 Arts Commissions for Dance & Movement-Based performance, 2020-2023
  • National Performance Network, Creation & Development Fund, 2021-2023
Selected Presentations: 

Pachuquismo Clips from Brava Theater:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2AYVT7p5VY

Chicana Dance Crew Blends Tap and Mexican Footwork | KQED Arts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_vm9EU0YBU

Office: 
C207
Office Hours: 

By appointment only