DanceFIT Studio Instructor Spotlight: Ashley!

Our Instructor spotlight is on the newest member of our DanceFIT Studio Team, Miss Ashley!  Miss Ashley has been a member of the DanceFIT community for a long time starting as a client in Brookline!  She has taken over 100 BalletFIT classes with DanceFIT Studio! She just finished teacher training which consisted of 30 long and intense hours!

Ashley's energy, excitement and love for children is contagious and we are SO excited that Ashley has joined our team as a Children's Ballet instructor and she will also be teaching BalletFIT in Natick starting in March: Wednesdays at 5PM!  Please give a warm welcome to the wonderful Miss Ashley!

1.  Tell our readers a little about yourself!

I grew up in a small town in the mountains of northwestern NJ. Contrary to what you might think about NJ, yes, there are mountains and we even have great skiing and golfing!  I made the move to Boston for college and I graduated from Boston University with my degree in Science Education and I’ve been teaching 7th grade science in MA ever since.  I absolutely love teaching, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else!

2.  How did you begin dancing?

I have always loved ballet ever since I was a little girl.  My first dance class was in my teacher's basement turned dance studio at the age of 2!  Dancing, especially ballet, was part of my weekly routine.  Looking back, I am so thankful to my parents for all of the drop off, pick up, and carpooling that they did for me growing up! They really fueled the fire and supported my love for dance.  When I went off to college, I signed up for elective ballet classes offered through BU, and loved every minute of every class!   After graduation, I began to look for a studio where I could continue to take dance classes, and landed myself in one of Gina’s balletFIT classes in Brookline.  I immediately fell in love with the class! BalletFIT was unlike anything I’ve ever tried before I loved how the class was a unique blend of ballet, intense cardio, strength training, and toning all wrapped up into one awesome workout!

3. We are so excited to introduce you as one of our fabulous children's ballet instructors! What do you love most about teaching young children?

I love the energy and curiosity that kids have.  Young children are so curious to learn and their energy and excitement is contagious!  I love seeing the young dancers every week in class, it’s the highlight of my week! Dancing has always been something that I love to do, and career wise, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else besides teaching!  I’m so excited to combine my love of dance and teaching with the DanceFIT community.

4.  We know you are a school teacher as your "day job".  How do you integrate your school teaching methods into our children's ballet program?

In a middle school science classroom, I think that it is so important to always keep my students engaged and to create a classroom where students love to learn.  As a children’s ballet instructor, I also want all of the young dancers to stay engaged through the music, the children’s ballet program curriculum, and through my energy and love of dance!  Just like my science students, my hope is to create a ballet class where dancers love to learn and are excited to come to class every week.

5.  What is your favorite piece of fitness inspiration or advice you would love to share?

My first piece of advice is to always stay positive.  I find that no matter how difficult a workout is, if the instructor is smiling, encouraging, and motivating, then the workout just became a little bit easier to complete. By staying optimistic, it makes fitness enjoyable.  I think that too often people look at fitness as a chore or something that they have to do.  But between the fun yet challenging classes offered at DanceFIT and having a positive attitude it makes fitness a priority in my life and it keeps me coming back class after class!
My second piece of advice is that fitness is something personal, and it's never the same from one person to the next. Don't ever get down on yourself because you didn't last through an entire set, just think that you lasted 8 counts longer than you did the last time you were in class (I'm particularly thinking of can-can from balletFIT when I say that!)

6.  What is your FIT Style?  What do you love to workout in?

I am the definition of a maxxinista!  Most of what I workout in is something that I found on the racks of a TJ Maxx or Marshall’s!  Some of my favorite pieces come from Nike and a 90 degree line that TJ’s carries.  My favorite thing to splurge on, are Sparkly Soul headbands! If it’s not comfortable, then I’m not wearing it!

7.  What do you love to do when you’re not on the dance floor?

That depends what season it is! In the summer, I love to golf and paddle board.  In the winter, you’ll find me on the slopes snowboarding, some of my favorite spots are Jay Peak, Sugarloaf, Stratton, and Killington.  I love to travel and when I have free time, I try to visit my family and friends as often as possible!

9.  Children in our ballet programs really resonate with you.  What is one thing you do to make kids feel comfortable in their ballet class?

I think positive encouragement goes a long way with children.  Even though I only see the dancers in class for 45 minutes each week, I want those 45 minutes to be a positive and fun experience so they look forward to coming back the next week!

Thank you for letting us feature you this week, Miss Ashley!  We are so proud to have you as one of our beloved DanceFIT teachers!  Welcome!