Director for the Sewanee Dance Conservatory

Ashley Jenkins has been the Director for the Sewanee Dance Conservatory, since August 2015.  Ashley was born and  raised in Northern Virginia, and her training, passion and love for dance began at age 3. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and modern at her local studio as well as at conventions and intensive programs all over the east coast.  She has over a decade of dance instruction experience in addition to experience in community theatre.

Ashley attended Shenandoah University where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While at Shenandoah, she received the Dance Ensemble Award and had her choreography featured at festivals in Northern Virginia. Upon graduation, Ashley auditioned for Stiletto Entertainment and had the privilege of working for Holland America Line. Dancing on cruise ships for 7 years, she is returning to Sewanee after traveling the world dancing in production shows as well having served as Dance Captain and Company Manager for traveling companies.

In 2013, Ashley ended her career on ships and moved back to her hometown of Centreville, Virginia.  She returned to teaching at Encore Performers, where she grew up dancing. At Encore, she was the Assistant to the Director in their Performing Arts Company.  Ashley has always had a passion for dance and teaching and is so excited to be a part of the Sewanee Dance community.  She lives in Sewanee with her husband David Jenkins who is the University’s head baseball coach.

To contact Ashley directly, please email her at ashleymcmanamay@gmail.com.