Community Engagement Manager
Larissa is responsible for community programming, outreach and audience development. In the fall of 2022, she moved to Victoria from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is thrilled to live and raise her family in such a beautiful city and be part of the amazing team at Dance Victoria.
Larissa possesses a profound passion for the art of dance which has defined her life’s journey. She started dancing at the age of five and has studied various styles of dance from Ukrainian dance, hip hop and then ballet, lyrical and jazz at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet school. This led to a 15-year career teaching dance to children and adults. “Teaching dance allowed me to give the power of movement to others. It’s not just about teaching the steps, it’s about nurturing creativity, building confidence and guiding each student through a journey of self-discovery through the language of dance.”
Outside the world of dance, she obtained a degree in the Social Sciences, with a major in Cultural Anthropology and minor in Sociology. She has worked as a program manager for a non-profit organization which provides physical literacy and movement opportunities for youth and young adults belonging to vulnerable populations. She is excited to continue to foster inclusivity, creativity and positive social change and make dance accessible to all. Larissa enjoys anything that keeps her body moving, from hiking and yoga, to running after her young daughter. When she does need a break, this is usually done over a Netflix series and a glass of red wine. A dance highlight for Larissa was attending the artistically beautiful performance by Ballets Jazz Montréal in Dance Me with music by Leonard Cohen.