Ashley Par-Due
Ballet, Pointe

Ashley is originally from Atlanta, GA and began her dance education at the age of 3.  Lyrical, Jazz, Modern, Tap, and Hip Hop were all interests as she participated in performance companies and competition teams throughout Georgia. Starpower Talent Competition invited her on their Power Pak tour in 1999 where she worked with many amazing teachers and choreographers performing across the country.  Her heart and drive were always for ballet though.  She later spent summers with the Rock School and Pacific Northwest Ballet where she received solo roles in program-end performances.  She received her ballet training and mentorship under Christine Auchincloss.  Christine encouraged her to audition for Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker, where she received the special role of “Baby Lamb” as her first performance at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre.  In her teens, she was accepted into the pre-professional division at Atlanta Ballet’s Centre for Dance Education and performed in the Nutcracker for several years.  She placed top twelve in a regional Youth America Grand Prix competition performing Giselle pas de deux and a contemporary piece.  She is grateful for her exposure to so many ballet influencers and teachers like Robert Barnett, Maiqui Manosa, Reiko Kimura, Armando Luna, Carol Szkutek, just to name a few.  As a teacher, she is most passionate about the wholeness of a dancer and the role of body, mind and spirit in the arts.  She is most inspired in the studio and loves to share the many values of ballet with young dancers.