Choreographers
Ashley Sass began her training at the South Dayton School of Dance and was also a member of South Dayton Dance Theatre for 10 years. She received additional training on full scholarship at the Rock School, Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, International Summer Dance, Craft of Choreography, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. After graduating high school, Ashley attended Point Park University, under the direction of Susan Stowe, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2006. While at Point Park she worked with faculty and choreographers such as Margo Sappington, Christian Holder, Alan Hineline, Ron de Jesus, Doug Varone, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, and Ron Tassone. The highlight of her time at Point Park University was when she earned the opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center, and was awarded the Northeast Performer of the Year. After graduating from Point Park University Ashley danced professionally with both Atlanta Ballet and Dayton Ballet, and had the opportunity to dance principal roles in Alan Hineline’s Thresholds, William Whitener’s Caprice, and Christopher Flemming’s Tommy. She is now on faculty at South Dayton School of Dance and an adjunct professor at Wright State University. In 2009, Ashley received the Monticello Award for Best Emerging Choreographer and the Barbara Weisberger Award for Best Choreography for Aloft. Most recently at the 2010 RDA Northeast Festival Ashley was awarded both the Project Tier Award and National Choreographic award for her piece Sudden Impulse.
Kassandra Taylor graduated cum laude with a BFA degree in Dance from Point Park University. She has choreographed and performed throughout the country as well as in Austria, Germany, and Italy. Ms. Taylor has won numerous choreography awards: National Choreographic Recognition Award 2007 & 2010 (Presented for best choreography in the Southeast RDA); Project Tier Outstanding Choreography Award 2008, 2009, 2010; Outstanding Choreographer for Youth American Grand Prix 2009 (where 5 pieces of her choreography were chosen for the top 12 to attend the National Finals in New York City); and Monticello Choreography Award 2004. She has had 2 works selected to be performed for the American College Dance Festival (Regional and National)-presenting her work at the Kennedy Center as one of two choreographies chosen among 20 universities to attend from the nation. In 2007 Ms. Taylor moved to San Francisco to join the trainee ensemble with Alonzo King’s LINES Contemporary Ballet, and in 2008 she became ballet mistress and educational director for the Salt Lake Ballet Conservatory in Utah. Ms. Taylor has danced professionally with Dance Theatre of Pittsburgh as well as Pillow Project Dance Theatre. Ms. Taylor has recently accepted a position as a founding member of the Winston Salem Festival Ballet and has become a full time faculty member and guest artist for High Point Ballet. www.KassandraTaylor.com