Members

Tumi Nkomo

Artistic Director/Founder/ Choreographer 

Tumi Nkomo’s work is inspired by her life experiences around the world, as well as the socio-political and economic circumstances that she has encountered in her life. Tumi Nkomo (Choreographer/Founder/Artistic Director: Nyane Khosi Dance Theatre) was born in Wilmington, Delaware. Her family moved back to help rebuild their home country of South Africa at the end of Apartheid. Tumi graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelor’s degree majoring in African dance and minoring in Contemporary dance, during which she had the opportunity to work with Maxwell Xolani Rani training in Ntsika Technique. She has been dancing professionally since 2005, both on-camera and onstage. Her on-camera work has aired nationally and internationally. Her repertory experience has included African, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop, as well as an array of historical, cultural and social dances. She has also trained with the Garth Fagan Dance Company.

Her work as an artist has sent her to various parts of the world; including Mauritius, Japan and Australia. Her most recent choreographic work included lead choreographer for the Mantsho x H&M Campaign. In 2012 she co-founded Nyane Khosi Dance Theatre with Judene Jean-Louis in New York City. Nyane Khosi’s movement vocabulary is grounded in the principles of African Dance, while utilizing the versatility of dance styles found around the African Continent and in Diaspora communities around the world. 

Anne-Lise

Dancer and Educator

Anne-Lise began her professional training in 2009 at the Rick Odums Institue in Paris, France, where she studied ballet, jazz, Graham and Horton for 4 years. She became part of the Rick Odums Jeune Ballet Jazz in 2011 and toured all over the country for La Saga du Jazz Tour. That same year she also started to dance with the Hip Hop / Caribbean dance Company, LB Crew, with whom she appeared on several TV shows, Fashion shows and Artists videos.

In 2013, while working with Jose De La Cruz, she decided to leave Paris for New York, where she enrolled the Independent Study Program at the Alvin Ailey School.

Since then, she danced for Matthew Rushing, Cedan dance Company and was a teacher assistant and dancer for Eddie Stockton.

She is currently dancing with Nyane Khosi Dance Theatre, Les Gazelles Africaines, Kofago Dance Ensemble , and is a teacher assistant and dancer for Harambee Dance Company.

Jalila Bell

Dancer and Legal Consultant

Jalila Bell is a dancer, choreographer, film producer and yogi (RYT-200). She has been with Nyane Khosi Dance #nkgoddessgang (NYC / South Africa) since 2013. She is always grateful for the opportunity to share the stage with these amazing artists! Jalila has danced with the Vissi Dance Theater,  the World Dance Fusion Company (NYC/SF), Delucia Benson Dance, and more. She is a graduate of the American Dance Festival’s six-week school, where she studied with Donald McKayle and Marlies Yearby. She received her Bachelors of Art in Dance and Government from Oakland, California’s Mills College, and her Vinyasa Yoga Teacher training through YogaKoh at the Power Of Now Oasis, in Bali, Indonesia. A graduate of the Golden Gate University Law School, Jalila is also a licensed attorney in private practice in New York State and the United States Courts. Follow her on Instagram at @troubleesquire.

Leslie Ann Kilpatrick

Dancer

Leslie Ann Kilpatrick, an Alabama native, relocated to Brooklyn after graduating from Birmingham-Southern College with a Bachelor’s in Dance and Mathematics. Kilpatrick's performance history includes original works by Callie Hatchett, Tumi Vil-Nkomo, Germaul Barnes, Giada Ferrone, Winthrop Corey, Elie Lazar, and Teri Weksler; as well as restaged works by Robert Battle, August Bournonville, Bob Fosse, George Joffrey, Bill T. Jones, Mark Morris, Vaslav Nijinski, Jules Perrot, Marius Petipa and Jerome Robins. She has collaborated on many improve structures with artists such as Germaul Barnes, Maria Gillepsie, Amanda Selwyne, and The Rogue Dancers. Her own choreography has been presented at WestFest 2014, Nachmo! 2014, Choreoquest 2013, and NY Dance Parade 2012. Her artistic focus is musically and scientifically inspired dance that challenges the role of audiences with respect to the Elements of Earth and Human Experiences consisting of Physical Explorations of Spiral Dynamics, Political and Social Dialogs, and Ultra-Contemporary Motifs. As an educator, Kilpatrick is currently developing Mathematical Movement an educational arts program for kinesthetic and visual learners. She sees the method as a tool for retaining and understanding principles of math and science in a physical, applicable, and fun environment. Her research has been presented at Troy University's Math Conference, BSC Honors Day, BSC Board of Directors Annual Luncheon, and LIU-BK Dept. of Dance. Mathematical Movement classes are offered at Brooklyn Music School and through NIA-Community Service Network. Kilpatrick also volunteers for Dance for PD, Dance/NYC, NY Dance Parade, Choreoquest, and Prospect Park Alliance.

Mackenzie Beck-Esmay

Dancer

Mackenzie Beck-Esmay earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from the University of Minnesota, She has had the privilege of dancing with the Minneapolis based companies Threads Dance Project, Alternative Motion Project and Eclectic Edge Ensemble, as well as with José Limón’s touring performance of Missa Brevis. Since moving to NYC, she has performed with the band 21 Pilots on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” the band One Truth’s music video “XTC” with DoubleTake Dance, and throughout New York City and Virginia with Nyane Khosi Dance Theatre. Mackenzie is passionate about dance and healthcare, and also works as a registered nurse at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Shannel Resto

Dancer, Rehearsal Director and PR

Shannel Resto is an internationally based artist, currently residing in New York City as a choreographer, dancer, artist activist, photo editor, and photographer. Resto grew up in Boston, MA where she graduated from high school at Boston Arts Academy and graduated with her BFA in dance at Rutgers University from Mason Gross School of the Arts. She has also trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire for dance and choreography in London. She currently dances for Nyane Khosi Dance Company and in her own works. Resto's choreography has developed into a unique style and borrows from ranges of techniques. She has performed her work at Rutgers University, Triskelion Arts, Earl Mosley Institute of the Arts, Trinity Laban and many more places. She has also worked with Matthew Bourne, Kevin Wynn, Ronald K. Brown, Randy James, Paul Ocampo, Fernadina Chan, Kieth Thompson and many more. The message she communicates through her art is the freedom to explore the possibilities of the impossible, while also conveying an activist voice through art to help greater causes. She hopes to broaden different communities minds through showing different perspectives through her dance and artistry.

Kristin Renee

Dancer, Educator and Marketing Consultant

Kristin Renee is a multimedia creative from New York who has enjoyed a lifetime of song and dance. A classically trained French Hornist, singer & songwriter, Kristin has been performing on stage since childhood. She began choreographing in 2002 and has worked with various dance troupes and independent artists over the years. She joined Nyane Khosi after partnering with it’s founder in 2015 to choreograph a music video for afrobeat artist Ayoinmotion. She specializes in voguing, partnering and latin dance styles.