Ashley was born in Boston Massachusetts. At a young age of three, she began taking Irish dance lessons from her father and mother, Michael and Noreen Smith: owners of the Smith-Houlihan Irish Dance Academy. (www.smithhoulihanacademy.com)

After years of training and attending many competitive Irish Dancing competitions, Ashley was crowned the World Irish Step Dancing Champion in Belfast, Ireland, in 2004, at that time, being the youngest American female ever to win the world title. Ashley went on to win two more gold world medals in 2005 and her last in 2009. Ashley was also named one of the Top Irish Americans in 2004.

Ashley moved to New York in 2006 where she attended Manhattanville college for four years: graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both dance and theatre. Upon moving to New York, she continued to grow in all dance forms such as Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre Dance and Tap. In 2009 Ashley auditioned for the Fox hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance, and was seen on TV as a top 30 female dancers, during Vegas week. In 2012 she was cast as a featured dancer on the Academy Award winning film, Silver Linings Playbook, directed by David O. Russell.

When Ashley is not on stage, or in front of the camera she continues to study dance at Broadway Dance Center, and Steps On Broadway. She studies acting at HB studios and singing lessons with vocal coach Eric Michael Gillett.

Ashley currently lives in New York City and is working professionally as a dancer, singer, actress and also a dance instructor/choreographer. Check out her performance and work resume page for more specific details.

EDEDUCATION

Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY
Bachelor of Arts Dance/Theatre Concentration: Dance Minor: Communications Studies GPA: 3.4
Thesis: A Drum and a Clog: African and Irish influences on American tap dancing

ACHIEVEMENTS

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Top 30 Vegas Female Finalist.
Gold Medalist World Irish Dancing Champion, Six Times
Gold Medalist All Ireland Dancing Champion, Four Times

• First and Youngest American Female to win Six World titles
• Recognized by Boston Mayor Menino who declared August 22nd to be Ashley Smith Day

Dance and Theatre Scholarship, Manhattanville College
National Foundation Advancement in the Arts College Scholarship
Academic Achievement Award, 2003-2006 Westwood High School
Sportsmanship Award, Westwood High School Cheerleading

EXPERIENCE

Smith-Houlihan Academy of Irish Dance, Boston, MA (www.smithhoulihanacademy.com)
Dance Instructor/Assistant Chorographer/ Personal Assistant 2005-Present

• Manage productions, choreograph and performed with team winning 2009 World Champion Dance Drama Competition
• Organize two to three fundraising shows for academy to raise money for world competitions
• Instruct children between ages of 4-18 in Irish Step technique
• Choreograph routines for yearly recitals and World Championship competitions
• Inspire and teach students to build confidence and reach goals
• Organize paper work, file, answer phone calls, office work

Dance Elite, Mamaineck, NY (www.danseelite.com)
Dance Instructor/ Choreographer 2011-Present

• Teaches classes in Musical Theatre, Jazz, Tap, and Irish Step Dancing for ages 3-18
• Choreographed for Dance Fest in the fall of 2012 and Danse Elites own performance of The Nutcraker in Decmber 2012 and 2015
• Provides assistance during both Winter and Summer Dance Recitals.
• Inspire and teach students to build confidence and reach goals

Pound Ridge Dance Center, NY (www.poundridgeschoolofdance.com)
Dance Instructor/ Choregrapher 2014-Present
Dance Instructor/ Choreographer Spring of 2014-Present

• Teaches classes in Musical Theatre, Ballet, Jazz Funk and Irish Step Dancing for boys and girls ages 5-16
• Inspire and teach students to build confidence and reach goals

Sephora, Manhattan NY.
Seasonal Worker/ Colorist, October 2010- 2012.

• Assisting clients in finding the perfect product to enhance inner and outer beauty.
• Keeping the store clean, stocking products, organizing shelves.
• Show good costumer service, always great with a smile, always alert.

Manhattanville College, Purchase NY
Secretary in Dance & Theatre Office, August 2006- May 2008

• Collected mail, organized files, managed phone calls and completed other administrative tasks as assigned

LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES

President, Irish Step Dancing Club, Manhattanville College
Member, Manhattanville Dance Troupe

COMPUTER SKILLS

Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel