Hello
I'm Ashley! I am the founder and owner of Dance Inclusion! I have been dancing since the age of three, studying multiple types of dance from various instructors at different studios, dance conventions, and during my undergrad at Ball State University. My education includes a Master's in Education and a Doctor of Pharmacy, but I always find my way back to my passion for dance. Some of my favorite performances include dancing in the Disney World parade and performing in front of 60,000 football fans during the Capital One Bowl halftime show. I have made life-long friendships growing up dancing and some of my favorite memories were with my dance friends! I'm dedicated to continuing dance education to teach safe, proper dance technique and learn new dance styles. I have professionally taught dance for 14 years to all ages and choreographed competitive winning dances. I'm passionate about helping others reach their goals by creating an inclusive, supportive environment to thrive. I'm always looking for new talent to join the team or collaborate! Please reach out if you share the same values and passion for dance!
Our Story
As we continue to return to normal from the isolation of the pandemic, now more than ever, people are searching for belonging, human interaction, and community.
The pandemic and recent political events feel heavy on many of us. In fact, during the first year of COVID, it was reported that anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25%! Young people and women were hit worst and disproportionately at risk of suicidal and self-harming behaviors. Arguably, most of us are feeling increased amounts of stress and a continued sense of fear for the unknown.
Physical movement of dance and connecting with others have been shown to increase confidence and reduce levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Dance Inclusion offers unique dance style trends and expert dance instruction for all ages. We believe true leaders help others succeed and we are dedicated to improving self-confidence and building a healthy community together.
Our mission is to improve self-confidence by creating a community with a sense of belonging to empower, support, and celebrate the success of others.
Our Philosophy
We view inclusion as acknowledging and embracing our differences that make us individually unique and we appreciate the value individuals contribute to our success. We believe true leaders help others succeed and we are dedicated to the individual success of every dancer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for dancers to be confident and remain confident. We will continuously create challenging opportunities for individuals to reach their highest potential.
Our philosophy is based on scientific research supporting the benefits that dance improves physical health, mental health, social skills, communication skills, and self-esteem. With these benefits, individuals develop tools that are essential for living a healthy lifestyle, which includes developing valuable abilities to better manage coping with setbacks, failure, disappointment, and conflict. Improving overall wellbeing also improves motivation and determination. We believe children that are involved in a strong, supportive, dance community typically develop essential transferable skills for life, including making good choices, working well with others, practicing conflict resolution, building positive relationships that support and encourage the success of others, practicing problem solving, being innovative, and setting challenging goals, all of which competitively excels an individual’s lifetime success.
Our Core Values
Inclusion – be kind and welcoming to others
Grace – be empathetic and forgiving of yourself and others
Value – recognize, appreciate, and be proud of your talent and the talent of others
Aspire for Excellence – challenge your abilities and set goals
Support – help, motivate, and encourage the success of others
Our Methodology
Dance Inclusion specializes in providing expert technical knowledge to avoid injuries, appreciates the value of each dancer, and optimizes individual talent for the success of the group. Our method for teaching dance includes creating, improving, and providing current dance curriculum to all levels. We focus on the safety of our dancers, both physically and mentally. We believe dancers should be involved in the success of their own dance career and our approach inclusively empowers dancers to meet and succeed their own challenging goals. We strive to provide clear expectations, transparency, and engagement. Our dance program is developed so that any age can confidently participate in dance classes, regardless of experience, and we emphasize the importance of fundamental dance technique at all levels. The evaluation process is unique to Dance Inclusion and is intended to provide incentive for motivation to overcome challenges. By overcoming challenges, dancers improve confidence as they master skills and discover their true potential.Teachers are patient, encouraging, empathetic, knowledgeable, and dedicated to assisting dancers meet their individual goals. Our classes are designed to engage children in fun, age-appropriate activities, to develop an understanding for dance styles, technique, terminology, and dance anatomy and kinesiology.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.