Ashley Kroft is an interdisciplinary choreographer, educator, and movement artist. Over her thirteen years as a performance artist, Ashley has transitioned from performer to choreographer, receiving her MFA in Choreography from the University of Jacksonville, Florida. Ashley’s impetus for her research began from her competitive dance experience with a focus in the reorientation shift of the competition dancer body, working through the transitional growth from competitive dance to movement exploration. Ashley has won the Choreographic Excellence Award for her piece "Ashes", showcased in Santa Fe, NM, her pieces "Cornfield Chase" and "Rescue" showcased in Albuquerque, NM, and her pieces "Holding Out For A Hero" and "Believer" showcased in El Paso, TX. She has performed and collaborated with Orlando, Fl dance company's such as, Red Right Return Dance Company and DRIP as a Principal performer and co-director. Her works have been accepted and presented at IMMERSE Festival and Orlando Fringe Festival, at which the show she collaborated with "Does That Make Sense", won Best Dance Show Award at the 2019 Orlando Fringe Festival. Ashley has transitioned from Orlando, FL to El Paso, TX where she instructs at The University of Texas at El Paso, UTEP, as dance faculty. At UTEP, Ashley has instructed Jazz, Intro to Dance, Contemporary I, Ballet Foundations I & II, Int./Adv. Ballet, and Choreography I, as well as choreographing annually for universities, local dance studios/high schools, and festivals for the mainstage. Ashley Kroft has recently received the position of Adjudicator for dance competitions locally, regionally and nationally.