HOPE LECLAIR, a Portland Maine native, is currently based in New York City. She has been dancing since she was five years old and has always been a kinesthetic learner. Having a diverse background in both classical and commercial styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz, Hiphop, and Heels techniques, Hope is a multifaceted performer. At the Studio for the Living Arts Dance Complex she trained with: Sasha Yapparov, Elizabeth Avantaggio, Jamie Werner, Victoria Perrault, Amanda Preble, and Brea Perdue.
She received a BFA in Dance from Florida State University in Spring of 2023. There she trained under Donna Uchizono, Jawole Zolar, Illana Goldman, Caleb Mitchell, Irvin Gonzalez, and Kara Wilkes. She was cast as a dancer in the faculty original work, “Light on Blue on Black”, by Tim Glenn. She performed and choreographed in multiple showcases, including her own piece, “Wish You Were Here”, which was selected for the Spring 2022 School of Dance Concert. She directed and edited the dance film “Catherine” in Fall 2022, which jump started her passion for film and photography. Upon moving to New York, she completed a semester internship with Battery Dance in the spring of 2023. This endeavor included assisting a film research project, organization of their archives, and facilitating ‘dancing to connect’ outreach programs impacting NYC public schools.
Hope’s interest in education began when she was employed as an assistant hiphop teacher for two years at the Studio for the Living Arts Dance Complex under Amanda Preble. In 2021, she taught Jazz and Hiphop at Wakulla Dance Academy in Crawfordville Florida for students ages 6-18, alongside conducting substitute dance classes across Tallahassee. In the School of Dance at Florida State, she was employed as a teacher’s assistant in Fall 2022, for the class ‘Movement Analysis’ taught by Tim Glenn, which explored movement theory in choreography based on the techniques of Alwin Nikolai and Rudolf Laban.
After moving to New York City, Hope trained with David Thomas as a dancer in his company “We Run This” during their 2023-2024 season. She performed with “WRT” in multiple shows across the East Coast, including “World of Dance Competition” – New York division in 2024. She has performed in dance festivals in New York City including Club NYC, Sybarite, and Carnival with multiple choreographers, Kayla Maria G, LIK, Mia (MISO) Sommer, and David Thomas. In June 2024, she performed at Madison Square Garden in the opening act for A Boogie Wit da Hoodie for his “Better off Alone Tour”, choreographed by Charles Smith. As a dancer, she has also performed with artists including “MRG” and Kevin Corr. Hope is also the resident creative director, and social media manager for rising pop star Paige Corwin, and in 2025 produced the full music video “Seven Days.”
Hope has presented her choreography in both the concert and commercial realms at Center for Performance Research (CPR) in Brooklyn with her contemporary installation piece “22”, and multiple commercial works with her curated dance group, “The Coyotes”, who have performed at Club NYC. She most recently launched her media company “Hope LeClair Film” with the release of her film “COYOTES”, which premiered in August 2026.
