BIO
VANESSA MARIAN VARGHESE
With a foundation in Indian classical dance, I've trained across New York, Paris, Berlin, London, Tokyo, Brazil, India and regional Australia.
I'm particularly fascinated with street dance and the way it is born outside of the dance studio context, often by an oppressed people in reaction to political and socio-economic turmoil.
So in 2016, I founded Groove Therapy, aimed at making the mental and physical health benefits of dance accessible to all walks of life.
I'm proud to say Groove Therapy has brought the goodness of dance to at-risk youth, Indigenous communities, people with dementia, refugee girls and the average person, using the political and healing foundations that these street dance styles are built upon and mindfully appropriating it in new communities to help spark global conversation and cultural understanding.
We have to do the accolades thing so here goes.
I recently choreographed the short film They Saw The Sun First, which won a BAFTA award in 2021. I'm really proud of that.
In years before that, I've been nominated for the NSW Young Achievers Award, been selected by the Foundation for Young Australians as a Young Social Entrepreneur, been an Ambassador for the Human Rights Film and Arts Festival and I'm the best dance teacher my mum has ever had, according to my mum.
I've also worked with famous people that include, but are not limited to; Troye Sivan, Flume, Duckie, Em Rata and The Inspired Unemployed.
I've been lucky enough to movement direct global campaigns in New York and Australia for Nike, Adidas, Apple, MTV, Samsung, Google and Victoria’s Secret.
At the end of the day though, I just think dance is really great way to warm your cold, dead heart.
Give me a buzz and we'll see what we can do about making your next project look less awkward.
