Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Galaviz.
Hi Vanessa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Detroit, MI, where my love for dance began at a young age. Growing up surrounded by music, culture, and a strong sense of community, movement became a natural way for me to express myself. I trained in various dance genres, each one adding a new layer to how I understand and communicate through the body.
My artistic journey deepened at Wayne State University, where I earned my BFA in Dance. There, I honed my technical skills, explored choreography, and began to understand dance as both an academic discipline and a personal calling. I also strengthened my connection to my roots by performing with Ballet Folklorico de Detroit, a group that allows me to honor my Mexican heritage and bring traditional dance into contemporary spaces.
Dance has always been more than performance for me, it’s about connection. Whether that’s connecting to my culture, my emotions, or the people around me. Today, I continue to perform, create, and teach with the intention of giving back to my community and inspiring future artists to find their own voice through movement.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey has had its fair share of obstacles, but each one has taught me something valuable. Like many artists, I’ve faced moments of self-doubt, financial instability, and the pressure to “make it” in a field that doesn’t always provide clear or secure paths. As a woman of color in the dance world, I’ve also navigated spaces that haven’t always been inclusive or representative of the communities I come from.
Balancing my cultural identity with my academic training has been both a challenge and a gift. There were times when I felt the need to choose between tradition and innovation, but I’ve learned to embrace both and let them inform each other. That’s become a powerful part of my voice as a dancer and choreographer.
Another challenge has been staying rooted in my community while pursuing professional growth. But over time, I’ve come to see that those two things don’t have to be separate. My struggles have helped me build resilience and a clearer sense of purpose, one that’s grounded in authenticity, storytelling, and service through dance.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist with a passion for storytelling through movement. My work blends concert dance with traditional Mexican folk forms, allowing me to explore the intersections of cultural identity, memory, and community. I specialize in contemporary, modern, and folklorico styles, and I’m known for creating work that fuses technical precision with deeply personal, emotional expression.
One of the things I’m most proud of is my ability to use dance as a bridge between cultures, between generations, and between people. As a member of Ballet Folklorico de Detroit, I’ve had the honor of preserving and sharing traditional Mexican dance while also creating space for it within broader dance conversations. I also work with youth and community groups, teaching and mentoring the next generation of artists, which keeps me grounded and constantly inspired.
What sets me apart is my commitment to authenticity and cultural storytelling. I don’t separate who I am from the work, my heritage, my city, and my personal journey all show up in my choreography and in the spaces I move through. I strive to make dance accessible, inclusive, and rooted in shared experience.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is being able to connect with others through dance whether that’s performing on stage, teaching in a community space, or simply sharing movement with someone who’s never danced before. There’s a kind of joy and freedom in dance that transcends language, and seeing people light up when they feel that connection is incredibly fulfilling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vgalaviz18.wixsite.com/vanessa-galaviz
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessaxgalaviz/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEsVhvWPg-q/ (Highlighting my senior capstone at Wayne State)
