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.

©2011 Lesole's Dance Project. All Rights Reserved.