LESOLE Z. MAINE, Dancer, Teacher and Choreographer was born in Sebokeng, South Africa, a small township, just outside of Johannesburg. A place of rich cultural diversity, Sebokeng inspired Maine’s love for dance and his appreciation for the many ethnic customs surrounding him. During Apartheid, Maine studied Ballroom and Latin American Dance, and received several community awards for outstanding performances in competition. In 1996 he received a scholarship to study with the Johannesburg-based Moving Into Dance Mophatong (MID) “Community Dance Teachers Training Course” (CDTTC), where he trained in Contemporary, Jazz, Afro-fusion, Modern, Ballet, Jive, Hip-Hop, and Traditional African dance. After graduating in 1997, Maine was offered a position as a dancer and teacher with the Moving Into Dance Company (MID).

Maine performed with MID for 5 years, in pieces by such acclaimed artists as Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe, Gregory Maqoma and Themba Nkabinde. He has also worked with internationally recognized choreographers and companies, including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; South Africans Vincent Sekwati Mantsoe, Sylvia Glasser, Gregory Maqoma and Jackie Semela; Michel Kelemenis from France; and Canadian artist Joe Laughlin. Maine has toured internationally both in performance and delivering workshops in Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, France, Germany, Holland, Jordan, Lesotho, Malaysia, Nigeria, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United States.

            In 2002 Maine moved to the United States where he has contributed to several performing arts projects. He was a resident instructor for the Kuumba Ensemble Heritage House Community Theater and a guest lecturer/residence teaching master classes at University of Colorado, Community College of Baltimore County, and (guest teacher at ACDFA 2008) Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. 

            In 2002 and 2003, Maine received a grant from the Washington Post to teach South African dance to students in the Montgomery County Public Schools system, where he emphasized cultural awareness and leadership skills to encourage academic achievement. Lesole also performed with the University of Maryland-based choreographer Alvin Mayes and Nejla Yatkin at Dance Place and the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage in Washington, DC. 

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Tianna Ross attended Jams Hubert Blake High School, a Fine Arts and Humanities school were she studied acting and dance. While attending Blake, she formed a dance group in which she choreographed all their dances, and she aspires to become a choreographer. Tianna is now attending Montgomery College where she a dance major.

Valerie Branch graduated in 2008 with her BA in dance from the University of Marlyand, College Park.  She is a recipient of the Phillip Merrill Presidential Scholars Award, the Shirley Chisolm Award for academic excellence and a CAPA scholar.  She has had many opportunities to work with and perform work by professional dance artists in and out of the MD/DC metropolitan area.  Valerie began her career in the professional dance field when she began dancing with Lesole’s Dance Project in 2007.  Her future plans include continuing to perform, teach, and investing more time in gaining knowledge within the field of arts administration.  Her goal is to continue exploring aspects related to choreography, performance, and dance education so that she can be a useful asset to all aspects of the dance world. Valerie is grateful for all of the wonderful people that have positively impacted her life, and knows that without God all of this would be impossible.

Ashley Card has trained with several companies, ranging from Carolina Dance and Dee Crump Ballet. She attended the College of Charleston’s School of the Arts, where she minored in dance and studied its various disciplines. While attending the college, she trained under Robert Ivey, founder and artistic director of Robert Ivey School of Ballet. She studied various choreographers of different dance disciplines ranging from ballet, hip-hop, jazz, and modern. While attending the college she performed with College of Charleston Dance Ensemble, while training at the Robert Ivey School of Ballet, and she started her very own dance group entitled, “More Than Conquerors”.  The dance group consisted of dance pieces choreographed by Ashley, along with the use of her very own curriculum to train her dance team members. Ashley is currently training in several studios of the D.C. area and teaching at various locations. She also has her very own choreography business entitled, “Choreography by Ashley Card,” in which she choreographs for various local and well-known artists, organizations, and functions.  

Latasha Janae graduated from George Mason University with a BA in dance in 2009. Latasha has created her own organization called "Dare 2 Inspire" where she gets artists of all genres to perform every year in DC. She is currently in her first season with Lesole's Dance Project

Megan Merchant is the Education Associate at Washington Performing Arts Society, providing the DC metropolitan community with arts education programs for all ages. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland- College Park with a degree in Dance. During her time at Maryland she performed at the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center, Project Exposure at Atlas Performing Arts Center, Maryland Dance Ensemble, Choreographer’s Showcase, and taught and performed as part of the National Choreography Initiative Program. Megan most recently performed for three years as part of the Washington Wizards Dance Team, performing for the president, celebrities, and the community.

Patina Lynette Strother started her dance career at the tender age of five in the city of Philadelphia, where she is originally from. She has performed with the St. Thomas Dance Exchange Program, Empowerment Through the Arts, and the Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco). She now resides in Maryland where she received her B.A. in Dance from the University of Maryland, College Park. Patina is currently dancing in several companies including: Soul In Motion (West African Dance), Liaison Movement Ink. (Modern, Hip-Hop, West African Dance), and Lesole’s Dance Projects (South African & Modern Dance). Upon dancing with these companies, Patina has choreographed and performed at schools, local dance companies, and churches in the area. She is grateful to be one of the newest members of Lesole’s Dance Project, and she looks forward to performing with them in the near future.

BOARD MEMBERS:

Delicia Reynolds - President

Lindeire Felix - Treasurer

Pam Smith - Acting Secretary

Diveena Cooppan

Sarah Farley

Haroun Habib

Ntshiuwa Sato-Bess