ASHLEY JOHNSON

DANCER

she/her

A native of Chicago, IL, Ashley began her dance training at Ballet Legere in River Forest, IL, and at the Chicago Multicultural Dance Center (CMDC). She earned her high school diploma at The Chicago High School for the Arts (Chiarts), where she continued to study dance. Ashley graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance and a minor in criminology from Webster University. While at Webster University, Ashley worked with artists such as Michael Uthoff, Maggi Dueker, Dawn Karlovsky, Betsy Brandt, Xi Zhao, and Beckah Reed. She has also had the privilege to perform works by Ballet Hispanico, José Limón, Tara Webbe, Filomena Cacciatore, Monica Newsam, and Gregory Dawson. During college, Ashley served as a company member with the K/P Project under the direction of Kameron Saunders and Prince Lyons. She also had the opportunity to present her self-choreographed solo “Resilience” at the American College Dance Association Conference in 2022. In 2022, Ashley traveled to Accra, Ghana, to study traditional West African dance and Noyam techniques.

Currently, Ashley is a teaching artist with South Chicago Dance Theatre and Chicago Ballet Arts. She is also a performing artist with The Rooted Space Company as well as Dance in the Parks. In March 2025, Ashley opened her dance studio, Ashley J’s Dance Center (AJDC), on the west side of Chicago.

Ashley joined the company as an apprentice in 2023, and she is excited to be returning to Dance in the Parks for her 3rd season as a company member.

Photo by Al Hardy