Vanessa Carmichael
Teaching: Jazz
Homeland: Guyana
Location: Washington, DC
Born in Guyana, South America was introduced to the stage at
a very young age by her mother, Artistic Director of a Theatre
Company.
During her teens, she studied voice, acting, and shadow
interpreting. Began her dance career in college, and is
majored in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland.
Vanessa Carmichael has been teaching jazz and hip hop in the metropolitan area for the past decade. She has studied modern, jazz and ballet with local instructors Alvin Mayes, Bonnie Slawson, Tim Roberts and Douglas Yeuell.
Carmichael now integrates her knowledge of exercise physiology and body mechanics into her dance curriculum.
In addition to teaching dance, Carmichael-Elder has performed with local companies, CityDance Ensemble and Jam Crew and on the stages of the Kennedy Center, Dance Place, the Jack Guidone Theater and even an MTV video.
She performed at the Kennedy Center with Jacque d’Amboise, Helanius Wilkins, Alvin Mayes, the Companies of Motion Mania Jazz Company, City Dance Ensemble, Jam Crew, and Word Dance Theatre. Has also performed at the National Black Theater Festival in North Carolina. This is her 6th Season with the El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea de El Salvador (TDC) as they celebrate the re-birth of their name to The DC Contemporary Dance Theatre (DCCDT).
She is currently the Director, Dancefusion Jazz Project Company at Joy of Motion Dance Studios in Washington, DC.
In addition to dancing, Vanessa is proud to be a mother of three.
