Get to Know Syncopated Ladies Tap Dancer, Gisele Silva

Gisele Silva already had a well-established career in Brazil when, in 2017, she decided to start fresh. “I was at a level that was comfortable, but not challenging,” Silva recalls. So she accepted an offer from Chloé Arnold to join her Los Angeles–based female tap group, Syncopated Ladies. “I was 32 years old, coming to a new country where I didn’t speak the language or know how the
dance industry works,” she says, noting that the biggest battle was getting her artist visa. “But I don’t regret it one bit.” Today, in addition to Syncopated Ladies, she also dances with Viver Brasil and Music From The Sole, dividing her time between Los Angeles and New York City. “I’m living what I always dreamed of.”

On Being a Part of the Syncopated Ladies:
“Syncopated Ladies is the reason I moved to Los Angeles. I learn daily from all of them—they are fearless Black women who are highly educated and making HERstory in tap dance.”

On Her Start:
“I always danced at family parties and loved music, but I started doing ballet when I was 5 years old. My aunt worked at a gym that had dance classes, and she asked the teacher if I could try. Since then, I have never stopped.”

On Her Pre-performance Routine:
“I always try to take time to meditate and focus on the performance I’m going to do. Besides stretching, connecting with the stage physically and energetically are essential things for me.”