At a young age Lesley learned the appreciation of music and dance.  Being the typical parent, Lesley's mother who in trying to ensure that her children stayed preoccupied with extracurricular activities, enrolled Lesley in the orchestra where she had to pick an instrument at the age of 6, selecting the violin only because the family could not afford to buy her first choice which was a piano.  In addition, Lesley was also enrolled in ballet and jazz.  As Lesley gravitated more and more toward the violin she had the opportunity to play with the Los Angeles Young Philharmonics Orchestra (usually vying for 1stchair, 1st row with a few friends she had grown up with, and also had the phenomenal experience of being trained at USC’s Idyllwild Summer Music Camp while still in junior high school.  

Although Lesley loved dancing, it took the back seat to music until becoming a varsity cheerleading with jazz as a requirement.  So where does the salsa come in.  Lesley attribute’s a great friend by the name of Karen who said “Let’s go salsa dancing one night”, which Lesley responded with “I don’t want to go salsa dancing”.  After learning the basic step In Karen’s living room, they headed to Sportsman Lodge.  On the dance floor social dancing was Edie and Raul, Luis and Joby, Francisco and Monica, the band was Johnny Polanco and although no one in the audience may have known, they had a guest violinist who is to this day one my favorites – a sister by the name of Karen Briggs.  Needless to say Lesley was hooked the first night with the dancing and the music, started taking private lessons with Raul Santiago the next week, going to various group classes, and hitting a salsa club every night.  It was her new addiction. 

Lesley’s actual first experience although very brief on a team was with SalsaConfunction (Laura Carnellias) and only left because she had a friend by the name of Melonee that had recently joined a group called Seaon Stylist.  Thus Lesley’s experience began as a Stylist opening up an entirely new feeling, passion and artistry for Salsa.  Traveling all over the world not only allowed Lesley the opportunity to meet other performers, but meet new friends in the salsa community. 

After the retirement of the Seaon Stylist Dance Company which provided us with the foundation, technique and performance skills, Sakara Dance Company was formed with the original "Stylist" core traveling team, which was later continued by co-directors Lesley and Violeta.  Continually challenging themselves to create a stronger foundation of technique and embrace the many forms of dance and musicality with each choreography.  

In July  2006 co-directors Violeta and Lesley formed a secondary team "The Sakadelics" as a way to give back to new dancers the technique and foundation which we have further developed over the years as our personal style, which we still constantly challenge ourselves to grow as dancers.

Lesley continually challenges herself as  a dancer performer, choreographer, and instructor, but will forever be a student.  For without wanting and yearning to learn, you limit your ability as a dancer.