Dr. Samuel Vezenegho, also known as Samy Vez in the dance world, is the Executive Director and founder of WE CAN DANCE. He earned his PhD in Medical Entomology in 2012 from Witswatersrand University in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has extensive expertise as an educator and researcher, which he gained from working in various science organizations across Africa, Europe, South America, and the United States. Additionally, he acquired leadership skills under the tutelage of great leaders of research organizations of international importance, and from the interpersonal dynamics of partner dance, and dance instruction in Kizomba and other dances. His passion for dance stems from his native Babanki tradition from Cameroon in West Africa, where important events are memorialized through dancing and community gathering. Even though Samy started dancing to African rhythms at age 5, he was only introduced to Kizomba, Urban Kiz, Salsa and Bachata in 2012 while living in France and French Guiana. The combination of the dance styles, techniques, and pedagogical foundations that he learned from top notch dance instructors, and his teaching experience obtained from academic environments, equipped him to start teaching dance in 2016 at the request of admirers of his unique style.
In 2017, Samuel hosted the Dallas Kizomba Festival, and in 2018, he was a finalist in the elite North American Kizomba Olympiads competition, and finished second in the Urban Kiz category. Shortly after competing in the Kizomba Olympiads, he lost his sight and came to learn from his blind peers, of the daily challenges that they face. In 2019, he taught Kizomba at the State Conference for the National Federation for the Blind – Austin, White Cane Day. The participants expressed their joy and inspiration at the idea that their live could change by continuing to dance Kizomba; which inspired Samuel to create WE CAN DANCE to provide additional opportunities to dance, improve their social skills, and expand their horizons.
Vanessa Yxcea first experienced partner dancing in the late 2000s as a teenager in the San Francisco Bay Area. Vintage waltzing will forever be her first love in dance.
A community builder at heart, she started organizing and teaching fusion partner dance in Dallas in 2017. This same year she first met Samy Vez (while he was still sighted) and attended several of Samy's kizomba classes and socials.
From 2017 until 2020, Vanessa grew the Dallas fusion partner dance community; including hosting Dallas’ first fusion festivals, held in March and September from 2018 until 2020. Samy, and his dance partner at the time, Shawndel, also attended some of Vanessa’s fusion events.
After 3 years of travel across the US and abroad, Vanessa returned to Dallas in 2023 to join the We Can Dance team. As a sighted person, she enjoys dancing blindfolded or with eyes closed. When she learned about the opportunity to help bring accessible dance classes to the visually impaired, she heard a voice in her heart echo back, “I was made for this!”
At the end of 2025 Vanessa returned to her hometown in California with her husband as they were growing their family beyond their two dragons, err, cats. She is currently eager to launch We Can Dance programming in San Francisco. She also enjoys reciting memorized poetry, singing before her meals, and pointing at the moon.
Mary Ma Jabas joined We Can Dance as a founding board member in 2023.
Originally from New York, Kenneth is a retired IBM professional whose distinguished career spanned roles in Consulting Services, the National Support Center for Persons With Disabilities, and Corporate Learning. At IBM, he specialized in teaching courses on Communication, Leadership, and Teamwork, empowering individuals and teams to thrive in dynamic environments.
A long-standing member of Toastmasters, Kenneth has cultivated a deep expertise in public speaking and mentorship. His commitment to service is further reflected in his work as a rape counselor at Grady Hospital, where he provided compassionate support to survivors during critical times.
Kenneth began dealing with glaucoma early in life and slowly began the journey of blindness after receiving cataract surgery and a procedure for glaucoma which spiraled into 4 surgeries resulting in significant blindness and low vision. After isolating himself and stopping being social, Kizomba and We Can Dance has given him hope that he can get back to enjoying his life.
He believes deeply that time spent helping others is time well spent. Whether through education, advocacy, or the rhythm of dance, Kenneth continues to inspire with his resilience, generosity, and unwavering belief in the power of human connection.
Charlie is a blind musician and composer who has dedicated his life to mastering the art of music and creating compelling, original compositions that resonate with diverse audiences.
Charlie’s musical journey is a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence. Over the years, he has honed his craft by studying and performing alongside some of the most well-known stars in the industry. His proficiency across a wide range of instruments—including piano, keyboard, acoustic and electric guitar, drums, bass, and several wind instruments—is hard to match, demonstrating not only his versatility but also his deep understanding of music.
What sets Charlie apart is his ability to compose and perform original music that captivates listeners. He has several copyrighted compositions, showcasing his talent for creating melodies and arrangements that are diverse, innovative and universally appealing. His performances are dynamic and engaging, supported by his own professional-grade equipment and speakers suitable for moderate-sized stage shows.
Charlie’s stage presence is as remarkable as his musicianship. He brings a unique energy and authenticity to his performances, making every show memorable. His ability to connect with audiences is an asset that will contribute to the growth of his fan base and the commercial viability of his career.
Nicole started formal dance training at age 5, but it wasn’t until she was exposed to partnering that she truly fell in love. In 1999 she simultaneously started training in salsa and aerial dance, specializing in duo trapeze. After finishing her MBA in 2001, Nicole was able to combine her passion for dance and business skills as a founding member of Canopy Studio, an aerial dance and performing arts center in Athens, GA. Under the tutelage of founder/director Susan Murphy, Nicole helped create a successful community arts organization as business manager, aerial dance instructor and performer/choreographer for the aerial dance repertoire company.
As an aerialist Nicole trained extensively with former Cirque du Soliel artists Elsie and Serenity Smith. She performed and taught both nationally and internationally including with the Moscow State Circus, Southeast tour, a residency at Zip Zap Circus School in South Africa, China, Uganda and Jamaica.
In 2007 she moved back to Atlanta to open a nonprofit community arts center which thrived for 14 years. The core mission of D’AIR was to make aerial dance accessible to marginalized communities, focused on a free after school program for teens. Over those years Nicole taught aerial dance to over 100 students a week, many of whom had various mental and physical challenges. She choreographed and produced on average 10 student shows per year, and she performed, choreographed, directed and produced annual theater productions along with 7 fellow company members. She has performed duo trapeze with her partner, Fareedah Aleem of Arrested Development (www.oppositetwins.com) for over 13 years. For the past 5 years Nicole has worked on the other side of the nonprofit world as the Director of Strategy for a Private Foundation.
In her free time, Nicole is an avid Latin dancer and has performed in numerous companies Besides Latin styles of Salsa, Mambo, Casino, Bachata, and Cha Cha, she also dances Kizomba, Urban Kiz and is learning Zouk. Her favorite dance partner is her husband, a dynamic dancer whose training is rooted in Urban Kiz. Today the two of them dedicate their lives to spreading their love for dance in the community, especially in making it accessible to those in the blind and visually impaired community through their work with We Can Dance.