Vanessa is a performer, director, choreographer, teaching artist, and arts administrator located in the Roaring Fork Valley. 

​

She serves as the Director of Education at Theatre Aspen, as well as teaching, directing, writing, and choreographing for the company. 

​

Prior to coming to the valley, she worked in Chicago as the Education Director at Mudlark Theater, as well as with companies such as Northlight Theatre, The Actor's Gymnasium, and Joel Hall Dancers & Company. She's also a proud founding member of Arts Ed Chi, an arts education advocacy and training coalition for Chicago area companies. 

​

She graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Theatre, minor in Political Science, certificate in Musical Theatre, and module in Musical Theatre Choreography. While at Northwestern, Vanessa served as Outreach Director and a teaching artist for Seesaw Theatre and lead community outreach and accessibility efforts for The Waa-Mu Show. She's passionate about inclusive and accessible theatre as a teacher, administrator, and artist. 

​

When she's not in rehearsal or teaching, you can find her doing yoga, dancing, boxing, listening to true crime podcasts, baking, or re-watching The West Wing for the 32nd time. 

​

​

​