Originally from Montgomery, AL, Ashley began dancing with the Alabama Dance Theatre under Kitty Seale and Foye DuBose. She received training from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theater, Mark Morris Dance Group, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and the Alabama Ballet. Ashley attended Birmingham-Southern College before transferring to Webster University and graduating with a BFA in Dance, Ballet Emphasis (with honors). During her two years at Birmingham-Southern, Ashley received Faculty of Dance Honors for Choreography and the Fine Arts Society Award for Excellence in Dance. As a sophomore, Ashley was asked to set a work on Southern Danceworks, alongside Teri Weksler (formerly of Mark Morris Dance Group) and the iconic Reggie Wilson. She represented BSC at the NSAL Choreography Competition, where she placed 2nd. While at Webster, Ashley performed works by Kathy Diehl, Maurya Kerr, James Robey, Antony Tudor (staged by Sally Bliss and Kirk Peterson), Michael Uthoff, Jennifer Huffman, and Omar Olivas. Ashley was named a Dance Demonstration Fellow, and her work, With Strings Attached, was performed at the Honors Ceremony for the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts. During summer 2013, Ashley studied in Thailand under the direction of Pichet Klunchun. There she performed excerpts of Klunchun’s Black and White, as well as her own choreography. 

 

In addition to Southern Danceworks, Ashley has set multiple works on the Alabama Dance Theatre, Common Thread Contemporary Dance, Big Muddy Dance Company, and Arova Contemporary Ballet (where she danced professionally for a season in 2011). Ashley's works have been performed at Southeast Regional Ballet Association Festival performances, St. Louis National Dance Week, and the American College Dance Festival. Ashley received the Monticello Award and full tuition scholarship to attend the National Choreography Intensive as both a dancer and choreographer; as well as a scholarship to the Glenda Brown Choreography Project. Ashley has performed with Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company (under Jennifer Medina) while teaching in the St Louis area. Ashley choreographed/directed her own concert through ANNONYArts entitled "Variations on Exchange" presented at Satori April 2014. 

 

Ashley is currently a Guest Artist for the Kranzberg Exhibition Series 2015, collaborating with Zlatko Cosic to create a film for Laumeier Sculpture Park utilizing footage from her recent work "Laune," a site specific piece on rideable lawnmowers. Her newest evening-length work, "Drenched," will be presented March 19-21 and April 3-4 at Satori presented by ANNONYArts. Ashley is Artistic Director of Smashworks Dance Collective, a NYC based dance group.