Ashley is a very passionate, proud and professional dance fitness instructor. She started dancing at a young age and has had training in Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Latin and African Dance. She was awarded “Best Zumba Instructor in Los Angeles” in 2013.
Who got you into dance?
Initially, my mom. She thought it would be a great hobby to keep me occupied, so she threw me in a pair of dance shoes as soon as my little legs were ready. Once I started, I fell in love with dancing and the arts so I decided to keep studying and the rest is history!
What is your favorite part about dancing?
Dance allows me the freedom to express myself without judgement or insecurity. It’s also a great stress reliever, keeps me in shape and gives me an excuse to be the crazy, wild and goofy person I secretly am.
What is your favorite style of dance?
I love African dance because the movements and music make me feel energetic and vibrant. Plus African dance gives me one of the best workouts of my life!
Do you have any dancer role models?
Even though I was never a huge ballet fan, I really admire Misty Copeland and her story of perseverance and breaking boundaries. It’s always empowering to see strong examples of women and diversity within the dance world.
It’s always empowering to see strong examples of women and diversity within the dance world.
Have you had any challenging moments with dance that you can share? If so, how did you overcome that challenge?
My biggest challenge is learning how to rekindle my passion for dancing/teaching dance fitness after doing it for so many years. After a while, I begin to feel stagnant, so the best way I overcome that is by learning a new dance format or genre that challenges me in a way I’ve never experienced before. It definitely works!
What is your choreography process like?
I’m a very visual person, so I like recording myself throughout my choreography process. I’ll also take other dance classes, listen to new music or do something artistic for inspiration.
Many young dancers worry about their body types. What are your thoughts on body types in the world of dance?
As someone who has always been a curvy gal, my belief is that dance and fitness is all about your state of mind and how you feel versus how “skinny” you are. Having confidence and knowing your self worth is more important to me than body type. Don’t be afraid to own your body and werk it!
Having confidence and knowing your self worth is more important to me than body type. Don’t be afraid to own your body and werk it!
Want to have a dance party AND burn calories at the same time? This is the class for you! Get jiggy with us and workout to your favorite old skool hip hop beats! Old School Hip Hop with Ashley is featured on our Kickstarter video and we have a Virtual Flashmob of this class just for you! Join in on the fun by watching or dancing to our Virtual Flashmob workout and sharing on social media with #HipShaker. Move with us and help this dance community grow.
Real Women of Hip Shake Fitness is a way to get to know our dancers. These are women and special dudes who are not afraid to shake it and change the world one dance step at a time. Today we’re meeting a super mom, Pauline who has danced in our Dancehall Jam dance workouts!
Halloween is one of the best times of the year. We’ve made it even better with a dance tutorial to Shakira’s hit song She Wolf! Join Zen and our Dancehall Jam crew and find your inner She Wolf with this easy dance workout. She Wolf by Shakira Dance Tutorial More Dancehall Jam Online Anytime, Anywhere Zen…
Want a fun and fast choreography? Zen’s here with Afrovibe and you know she’s going to make you sweat with just one song. If this is your first experience with African dance, you’re in good hands. So come vibe with us today. African Dance With Zen I’m so happy that Afrovibe is in our platform and…
A burpee is one of the best total body move you can add to your fitness routine. It turns your body into a moving fitness equipment and helps train to improve your muscles. BUT, it can be boring. To add some sass and some pizzaz, we’ve incorporated dance in the burpee so you can slay all day! PLUS,…
I’m so excited to show off this sexy burlesque dance babes. It’s got everything from revenge, thigh slams and leg warmers. There’s nothing better than feeling so good and so confident plus add in a little dance and you’re good to go. Wear Your High Heels With Pride Ladies, we’ve all been there. You hear…
High heels dance classes are becoming more and more popular. If you’ve wanted to try one for yourself but you’re a little intimidated, we’ve got virtual classes that can help boost your confidence in heels. High Heels Dance Classes Discovering heels dance class for me was a game changer. Not only did I get to…
