Heidi Rodney

Heidi Rodney-Nakanishi is a first-generation, Trinidadian-American performance artist who began her craft in theatre as a teenager before cultivating her talents in college. Later, she attended TVI Actors' Studio in New York City and subsequently had the pleasure of studying in London, England UK where she participated in an intensive musical theatre program at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, as well as, honed skills for acting in front of the camera at American InterContinental University - London. Since then, Heidi has done Off-Off-Broadway at The Producers' Club in the racy production, "Colours", voice-over work and been involved in several independent and industrial film projects. Heidi's most rewarding performance, to date, has been playing the dual-roles of a feisty, no-nonsense nun, "Sister Chantelle", and diva-like "Virgin Mary" in the 2011 traveling production of the controversial musical, "Bare: A Pop Opera" which deals with the church and teen suicide in the LGBT (gay) community. The New York City-based cast proudly took the show to Albany, shortly after the historic decision to legalize same-sex marriage in the state of New York. After spending many years as an actor, Heidi began to pursue interests in ballroom, salsa and belly dancing, but ultimately, fell in love with Argentine tango which has been her passion since 2006. Inevitably, the ever-evolving artist also set out to journey through other avenues of singing and soon discovered her calling as a gritty, powerful, "Rock-n-Soul" vocalist, influenced by the likes of Aerosmith, The Black Crowes, Tina Turner and Stevie Nicks. She then shared the stage with a popular, local band in Coma-Ruga, Spain and did recurring gigs as a lead and back-up vocalist for different musical acts in New York City that included The Steve Marshall Band and Obsidian Oz. Since 2009, the multi-faceted performer has had the honor of being a member of the United Nations Singers, a choir considered unofficial "goodwill ambassadors of the world" who perform, mostly a cappella, in a multitude of languages.