Biography
Ashley Reed is a dedicated ballroom dance educator with a rich background in competitive dance and teaching. Originally from Idaho Falls, ID, Ashley discovered her passion for dance at an early age, inspired by her siblings' involvement in the sport. Her journey began on her high school's ballroom team and flourished at the Idaho Ballroom Academy (IBA), where she represented the academy at the prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival in 2008.
During her time at Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-I), Ashley immersed herself in the vibrant dance community, assuming diverse roles as a competitor, performer, student teacher, director, and choreographer within esteemed organizations like the BYU-I Latin Team, Collegiate Dancers, and Dance Alliance. Her commitment extended beyond campus, coaching youth teams at IBA while also competing with their Adult Medley Teams.
Upon graduating, Ashley joined the BYU-I Dance Department as Adjunct Faculty, focusing on refining the technical proficiency of aspiring dancers. She finds fulfillment in nurturing their growth and fostering artistic expression through strong fundamentals. Concurrently, she continued coaching at IBA for six years, competing for three of those years. In this time, she married her high school sweetheart and former ballroom teammate. Together, they enjoy a variety of activities including traveling, concerts, sporting events, paddle boarding, and spending time with their dog.
Ashley remains dedicated to advancing her craft, having earned her Bronze American Smooth certification with DanceVision and actively pursuing further certifications and personal development. In 2023, she participated in an international European ballroom tour, supporting one of her couples as they trained for and competed at the German Open Championships. This experience not only intensified her love for dance but also exposed her to top-tier competition, igniting her pursuit of excellence.