Vanessaland

One of Australia’s favourite dancers, Sydney born Vanessa Ziesing (Sew Hoy) was voted into the top 3 female dancers on the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance Season 1, 2008.

She has performed in front of millions of viewers and toured around Australia performing live at Entertainment Centres in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong and Perth. Vanessa has also performed at The Logies, The Opera House, Vivid and The X Factor. Overseas, Vanessa has been invited to perform in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Vanessa's passion is in sharing her knowledge with others and inspiring people to enjoy moving in a healthy and nourishing way. Vanessa is the Body Conditioning and Well-being Unit Manager at Naisda Dance College teaching Certificate III, IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma. Vanessa is a mother to 2 beautiful boys and is grateful for her health and fitness, supporting her to be energetically and passionately present to play with her children. 

With a passion for dance beginning with classical ballet at the age of 3, Vanessa left home at just 15 after being offered a place at the prestigious Australian Ballet School in Melbourne.

With movement being part of her life, Vanessa began studio Pilates classes at age 12, to assist her dancing by developing more strength and stability.

Genetically pigeon-toed and flat footed, Vanessa was given many exercises to strengthen her feet and correct alignment. After wearing orthotics for many years (even in her ballet shoes), thanks to Pilates, Vanessa developed functional flat feet and was able to say goodbye to her orthotics.

Vanessa’s first performance with a major company was at the budding young age of 9 in the Australian Ballet Company’s production of Madame Butterfly. Since then she has gone on to be a sought after performer, choreographer and teacher and with a host of appearances in major international dance productions and television appearances, as well as judging dance competitions and international beauty pageants.

Vanessa has been privileged to learn from some of the best teachers and choreographers in a range of dance styles. These include Sarah Boutler (Contemporary), Tanja Liedtke (Contemporary), Brian Lucus (Contemporary), Csaba Buday (Contemporary), Maggie Sietsma (Contemporary), Rosetta Cook (Contemporary), Paulina Quinteros (Contemporary), Shane Carroll (Classical Ballet), Tanya Pearson (Classical Ballet), Prudence Bowen (Classical Ballet), Juliette Verne (Hip Hop and Contemporary), Kelley Abbey (Jazz), Adam Williams (Broadway, jazz and lyrical), Andrew Hollsworthy (Broadway), Susan Wang (Chinese Dancing), Nacho Pop (Hip hop/Popping), Matt Lee (Jazz), Luda and Oliver (Salsa), Jason Gilkinson (ballroom).

Browsing the bookshelf in her high school years, Vanessa came across a yoga book called Light on Yoga by BKS Iyenger and diligently followed the instructions with persistence. From tight hips and very limited rotation and flexibility, Vanessa practiced and stretched every day and gradually her hips started to open more and more and after a couple of years she could do the splits and finally lotus pose.

Vanessa experienced her first yoga class when she was around 15. She has attended classes in the style of Bikram, Iyenger, Anusara, Power, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Hatha and Yin yoga.

Pilates and yoga were like a haven and deeply influenced Vanessa’s life, supporting her through many ups and downs. Yoga helped her get through a difficult period of depression at the age of 16, where she asked herself some really deep questions and contemplated the meaning of life. Pilates played a big role in Vanessa’s rehabilitation from injury, and enabled her to come back to dancing stronger than before.

Vanessa graduated from the Queensland University of Technology completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance).

She has a Post-Graduate Certificate in the Pilates Method at the University of Technology Sydney and is a qualified Hatha, Vinyasa and Yin yoga teacher. Vanessa has completed teacher training with YogaCoach and YinSpiration.

Vanessa is currently furthering her education with Yoga Medicine, a 500-1000 hour advanced teacher training run by world renowned master teacher, Tiffany Cruikshanks.

With Yoga Medicine and Power Living, Vanessa has studied modules Sequencing with Purpose, Chinese Medicine, Hip: Anatomy, Dysfunction and Application and Spine: Anatomy, Dysfunction and Application.

She has also completed her Yin Yoga training with well known teacher, Jo Phee.

In 2023 and 2024, Vanessa completed her Level 1 Gyrotonic Teacher Training and has been teaching Gyrotonic at Naisda College. 

In 2009, Vanessa had the pleasure to be part of the celebrity crew for Vibe Alive, encouraging, supporting and inspiring the children in rural Australia through dance.

In 2011, Vanessa was flown to Malaysia to be the special guest performer in the grand finale of Miss Global International Malaysia and also a judge for the talent section of the competition.

In 2015, Vanessa performed in a charity musical stage play presented by A.S.K Council of Australia to raise money for children born with cleft in the Philippines.

In 2016, Vanessa was chosen to be the female dancer for Vivid Australia's first ever dance collaboration water project, shown every half hour at the Laser Dragon Water Theatre, Darling Harbour.

She has appeared in various advertisements on TV, been the cover girl of the Summer edition of Australian Yoga Life, had articles written about her in a number of magazines and danced in The Veronicas hit music video "You ruin me".

Vanessa has won first prize in the Get Off Your Arts Performing Arts Competition, as well as performed at Australia Zoo, the Maritime Museum, the 2008 World Metropolis Congress, the Australian Dance Festival 2009, 2010, 2011 (teacher, choreographer and performer), and throughout 2011 performed in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

Apart from dancing all over Australia, Vanessa has traveled to dance and perform in Japan, Hong Kong, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Malaysia and Taiwan.

As well as performing, Vanessa loves teaching and contributing positively to people’s lives. Vanessa has had the privilege to teach people from the age of 2 years old to 96 years old.

Vanessa is passionate about being the best teacher she can be to better serve her community and continuously studies to expand her skills.

She is filled with happiness when she hears her students joy and gratitude for being able to now climb up stairs, play with grand children, have more range, freedom and openness in their bodies, experience calm, harmony and peace within themselves, have more energy, come off medication and be pain-free and enjoy a more enriched, beautiful and happy life.

Vanessa aims to be the best she can be for her students and continues to learn and grow. She is dedicated to her clients health, happiness and well-being and committed to the work she teaches and practices.​