The Grounded Girl Interview Series Welcomes Vanneza- Miami Fire Bellydance Extraordinaire

We are so excited to introduce our Grounded Girl for the month of July for Groundedco.

We look forward to sharing with you these amazing women in our community that are empowering and inspiring others.

I introduce to you Vanneza, Founder of Miami Fire Bellydance Extraordinaire. Vanneza is a natural born performer, and she is always excited to put her entertainer skills to the test in front of a crowd. Throughout the years, she has worked hard to develop her own artistic voice and make sure she stands with her performances. For her the pleasure of performing comes from forming a connection with her audience and providing a memorably entertaining experience.

Hi! I’m Vanneza! 

Groundedco: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

Vanneza: My name is Vanneza. I am a 1st Gen American to Colombian born parents.  I grew up surrounded by music and culture and loved to dance. My mother always played a good variety of modern music playing in the times and the classics. I always looked forward to the family dance parties to practice and learn to dance.  When I moved to Miami at 8 years old my cousins introduced me to The Box, which is now MTV.  Those days I was learning dance from Mr. Sirmixalot Baby Got Back to Muevelo by El General.

Groundedco: How did you start becoming involved in belly dancing and what made you interested in this dance form?

Vanneza: When I was about 14/15 and going into high school, I wanted to find something to do after school and make some money. I was allowed to get a job if I wanted or join an after-school sports activity and I chose to get a job. At the time you had to be 16 to work anywhere, but I happen to walk into a family-owned dance studio.  Irene Rimer was the owner and master instructor of her school, and she took a liking to me and said I can take on as the receptionist there while she taught the classes.  She was a renowned Flamenco performer and instructor as well as middle eastern dance “Bellydance”.  The class partition has a window to the front, so I always watched.  Around the time Shakira had released Ojos Asi which was a belly dance fusion and then 2 years later the Brazilian soap opera El Clone influenced my liking even more.  Irene taught me the history, the authentic music and the technique while I absorbed the entertainment and modern part of what belly dance could be.  Irene soon after invited me to take her classes when the office was slow, and I was trained to eventually teach and take her place in her absence.

Groundedco: Who has been your greatest inspiration and why?

Vanneza: My mom. She always allowed me to explore my wildest dreams and showed me good work ethic and working towards the things you want in your life.

Groundedco: What is your favorite way to stay active?

Vanneza: Aside from dancing on a weekly basis I take Pilates reformer classes that help me stay strong and flexible for dancing. I’ve recently picked up hot yoga which my body really needs to recover and a run from time to time.

Groundedco: What inspires you when creating a belly dance routine?

Vanneza: Good music!  When a song just hits my core to the point that when I close my eyes I can flow with every part of that song.  I’m not big into choreographing as I used to. I am very big on improvisational dancing. It’s more authentic to let the music move you rather then depend on steps that go on counts

Groundedco: What is one or some of the biggest challenges you have had and how have you overcome them?

Vanneza: Community. We have a large Bellydance community, and the head of those communities always want to dictate how everything should be in the Bellydance world.  What I do and how I performed wasn’t always well received because it’s categorized as unauthentic belly dance. This goes from using props, your choice of music and costumes too.  Also dancing for money was also not so accepted either, yet in the Middle East that’s what is done all the time. It’s always a bunch of old non-Middle Eastern Americans trying to be the cultural appropriation police over an entire community. Here we are lucky to be culturally diverse and so music evolves that way too, middle eastern music is the same.  I took advantage of our colorful taste in Miami and used it to entertain people and get paid for it! I overcame by creating my own community.

Groundedco: Who are the belly dancers that you have most been influenced by?

Vanneza: Didem! She was sexy, modern, sleek, and her moves are what has made her iconic.  I also love Sadie a lot.  She reeks femininity in her body and her moves.

Groundedco: If you could pick any place in the world to be and stay grounded, where would it be and why?

Vanneza: The dance floor this is where we lose and find ourselves at the same time.

Groundedco: If you could give one piece of advice to people who are looking to get into belly dance what would it be?

Vanneza: Research, learn, create, feel.  Great dancers aren’t always the ones who took all the master classes with teachers around the world or won Belly dance competitions, it’s the dancers that feel. You can see the joy in the face, in their moves in their vibe.  They are authentic and show their personalities in their craft.  They leave a memory.