Vanessa Valecillos

Vanessa Valecillos (Caracas, Venezuela) joined Ballet Nacional de Caracas under the renowned director Vicente Nebrada at age fifteen. Valecillos continued her dance training in the United States where she earned a BFA from The North Carolina School of the Arts. After graduating, she joined Southern Ballet Theater. She relocated to Chicago in 1997, where she has performed with the Lyric Opera in 14 of its productions, including a principal role in La Traviata. Valecillos is a founding member of Luna Negra Dance Theater and also serves as the dancers’ representative to the Board of Directors.