Canterna-Hardy, Ashley

Ashley Canterna Hardy received her ballet training at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC on full scholarship. At 14, she was the winner of the junior division at the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition. That same year, she represented the United States at the 2000 International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria winning the silver medal (the highest awarded) and the City of Varna Award. In 2002, she went on to win the title of “Miss Dance of America.”

Ashley’s true passion is teaching. She is a certified teacher through Dance Masters of America. She enjoys traveling as a guest artist, master teacher, choreographer and judge. Her students have gone on to attend the Juilliard School, Boston Conservatory, the Cats National tour, Phantom of the Opera National tour, and many have joined ballet companies, including Derek Dunn principal dancer at the Boston Ballet. She currently serves as a teacher and is a choreographer at Akhmedova Ballet Academy, has taught at The Rock School for Dance, choreography for Maryland Youth Ballet, and is on faculty and the proud Artistic Director of Artistic Movement Academy of Dance in Glen Burnie, MD. Ashley is honored to have won many choreography awards, including the Sherry Gold Memorial choreography award, USAIBC choreography award, and most recently was named Outstanding Choreographer at the Youth America Grand Prix International Ballet Competition.

Ashley loves nothing more than being a mom to her four children Gabriella, Noah, Elijah, and Jonah!