Vanessa was born and raised in Lima, Peru. She came to the United States when she was seventeen to go to college. Growing up, Vanessa loved dancing and music. At age two, she started dancing classical ballet, which she continued to do until her teenage years. She was also trained in tap dance, lyrical, jazz, modern ballet, Marinera (Peruvian folkloric dance), and Peruvian Afro. Vanessa’s love for music also started at an early age, she started playing classical piano at age four and continued until age twelve.

During her college years, Vanessa became a Zumba and a Swing dancing instructor. She taught at the University of Missouri and at local gyms. In 2006 Vanessa moved to Miami which is where her passion and addiction for Latin dances started. She started to take salsa lessons at Karibe Dance Studios, where after a quick test she was put into the advanced classes.

After one month of group lessons she was invited to join the performing team, and after a few months of training, she performed in the Orlando Salsa Congress, Tampa International Salsa and Bachata Congress, and Miami Salsa Congress. Shortly after, she started teaching salsa at Karibe; where she taught the children’s salsa classes as well as the adult classes.

In January of 2013; Rene Gueits (owner/producer of the Miami Salsa Congress) presented Vanessa with the opportunity to teach at Salsa Lovers, the biggest salsa studio in Miami. Salsa Lovers specializes in Cuban Casino Rueda style salsa, a style in which Vanessa had not been trained before, but she was up to the challenge! Rene trained Vanessa himself and after a few training sessions, she became a Casino Rueda instructor. She started with group lessons and shortly after also gave one on one private lessons.

In addition to Salsa, Vanessa also enjoys dancing Bachata, Chachacha, and Swing.

Vanessa has been teaching in Chicago at Latin Street Music & Dancing since 2014!