Isaac Gasangwa

Isaac Gasangwa, aka Izo Dreamchaser is an educator, creator, and ambassador of African cultures in Vancouver. He is the founder of Afro-Beats Van, an organization offering dance classes and performances to introduce, educate and inspire Vancouverites to connect with African culture and history, as well as tackling social issues of racism and police brutality.

In his own words:

I was born and raised in Rwanda. When I was growing up, people did not take dance classes or even consider dance as an “Art.” Dance is in everything we do; it is a way of life. In my late teens - after the 1994 Tutsi genocide - Rwanda and the whole of Africa changed. The internet had also arrived and developed many things, including dance.

In 2007, I started a dance group that won multiple national competitions. With this community support, I created the first dance festival in Rwanda in 2011 as well as the first dance studio in the country. To help rebuild Rwanda after the genocide, I started a dance program for underprivileged kids, and this program is still running and supporting the kids who need it most.

In 2014, I had the opportunity to move to Vancouver, Canada. Here, I was introduced to a whole new world of dance. I trained in Hip-hop, martial arts, and gymnastics. I learned English, and now speak five languages: English, French, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, and Kirundi. Vancouver is every creative individual’s dream, but the lack of diversity and African representation has been deeply unsettling for me.

In 2017, I founded and continue to direct Afrobeats Dance Van. Afrobeats was my way of offering a place to bring diversity to the dance community and the city. I wanted to feel represented with a place where my brothers and sisters could come to feel closer to home. I have created events, performances, and seminars that celebrate African dance and artists. In addition to Afrobeats Van, I also founded “Black Vancouver Artistry Night” in 2021 as an annual event to celebrate local creatives.

I’m proud to be a pioneer of African culture in Vancouver, educating the community about my beloved African continent's histories, cultures and dances.