Choreographer | Educator | Interdisciplinary Artist | Energy Practitioner
Leslie A. Yancey is a dynamic choreographer, educator, and interdisciplinary artist whose creative journey spans continents and decades. A native of Brooklyn, New York, she holds a B.A. from Oberlin College, with a double major in Inter-Arts (Modern Dance) and French, and pursued further studies at La Sorbonne in Paris.
Her professional career launched internationally with the Calck Hook Dance Theatre Company in Paris. Since then, Leslie has performed and taught across the United States, Europe, and South America, collaborating with renowned choreographers, directors, and performance artists. In 1990, she founded Yanceydance-Theatre, a multidisciplinary company blending dance, film, voice, and music. Her choreographic works received critical acclaim in New York City, including praise from The New York Times, and were presented at leading venues supported by prestigious residencies and grants such as Yaddo, the Harkness Choreographers Space Grant, and the Joyce Soho Salon Project Series.
Leslie’s extensive teaching career spans over 35 years
in public and private schools, from New York City to Europe, New Mexico, Africa and now Montana. She is a passionate advocate for arts-integrated education, having led numerous artist residencies and teacher training workshops focused on using creative movement to enrich academic learning. In Santa Fe, she worked with the National Dance Institute of New Mexico (NDI-NM), and in Montana she has partnered with the Montana Arts Council to bring movement and literacy programs to public schools.
Leslie now teaches Afrofusion Dance
Drawing from her rich background in Modern Dance (Limon and Hawkins techniques), West African and Haitian dance, theater, and performance art, Leslie has choreographed for both adult and youth theater productions throughout and now teaches Afrofusion Dance—a grounded, expressive, and inclusive style that welcomes all bodies and abilities. She is honored to work with Dr. Bob Sherrick who is Head drummer.
Leslie is a certified Reiki Professional and A.P.P.-level Polarity Therapist,
In addition to her artistic work, she integrates wellness and energy work into her teaching and creative practices. Whether in the studio, classroom, or on stage, Leslie inspires joy, connection, and transformation through the power of movement.