Ashley Smith was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada where and when her passion for the arts- specifically ballet - began. In her youth, Ashley studied ballet through the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D) through which she completed levels 1-8.  Ashley also trained in and completed the ISTD tap curriculum. She simultaneously studied modern and jazz styles. During her teenage years Ashley discovered her love of teaching through her home studio- Kravenko Youth Ballet and Academy of Dance. This led to her decision to complete her R.A.D. certificate in ballet teaching studies. Ashley moved to Provo, Utah where she continued her ballet training at Brigham young University and also continued to develop her teaching abilities instructing at local studios. Ashley opened Orem Dance Theater in her basement in 2007. Today she is the Studio Director and also a teacher at that same studio, now called SMASH Dance Academy. Ashley has an absolute passion for growth and learning. She is determined to stay current and relevant in the dance industry as styles, trends,  science and mental health awareness all continue to morph. To do so, she has continued her education becoming a certified American Ballet Theater (ABT) instructor. In addition, Ashley is a certified Progressive Ballet Techique (PBT) instructor, and has completed countless certifications through other training programs. Ashley is equally passionate about the continual and effective growth of her students. SMASH Dance Academy has become a successful, safe, and empowering place to learn and develop passion for the art of dance because of the intense focus on the studio core values (empowered, introspective, respectful, hard-working, and transparent.) Ashley is currently serving on the board of Ballet West as well as the board for Abby Cox's Show Up Initiative through which Ashley uses the arts to provide opportunities for service in the state of Utah. Most recently, in correlation with her association with the Utah Jazz, she has had the opportunity to work closely with the Utah Jazz dancers as they build the program to be a vehicle for artistic communication and growth for professional dancers in Utah. 

Hattie Bingham is a Brigham Young University graduate with a Bachelors of Arts in Dance. She has trained for over 17 years in ballet, jazz, and contemporary, and she has also studied tap, hip-hop, and Latin ballroom.  She was a member of  BYU’s Theatre Ballet Company for 3 seasons, and with them toured the Pacific Northwest. She also choreographed for BYU’s Ballet Showcase Company and was the recipient of many dance scholarships including the A. Gary Hopkinson Dance Scholarship. Hattie performed in the Women in Dance Leadership Conference in Philadelphia (2019), and has also performed with Myriad Contemporary Company in Salt Lake City (2019, 2023). Hattie is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She loves creating and telling stories through dance, and helping her students feel capable and confident in their technique and artistry as they learn and perform.

Jenna grew up in Anaheim, CA and started dancing at age 3. She trained and competed in all styles except ballroom and hip hop, until in high school she was introduced to a lot of hip hop master classes and really loved it. After choreographing multiple numbers for the dance team in high school as a captain, she and her team performed at the Honda Center in Anaheim with one of her hip hop numbers. She joined BYU Hip Hop Club in 2014 as a way to keep pursuing her passion, while also getting a degree in Stats. She remained a very active member of the club for 4 years, acting as president for one year, and got to choreograph and perform with Gladys Night in Homecoming Spectacular. She joined Smash in 2017 and teaches hip hop to all ages.

Hannah is from Southern Utah and grew up dancing at On Stage Dance Studio starting at the age of four. She danced on her high school’s dance company for three years and then continued her dance training at BYU. She majored in Dance and performed with BYU DancEnsemble for two semesters. While attending BYU she had the wonderful opportunity to be a student instructor for the Dance Department and teach jazz for two semesters. Another one of her highlights from her college dance experience was the opportunity to dance in China with other BYU and UVU dancers for a student choreography performance tour. Hannah graduated from BYU with her B.A. in Dance and absolutely loves and is honored to continue her dance teaching career at SMASH. Aside from her passion of dancing and teaching, she loves fitness. Especially group fitness! She is certified in and currently teaches Hot Pilates and High Fitness. Hannah is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. 

Skylar has been dancing since she was three years old. She trained at SMASH Dance Academy and thrived in the supportive atmosphere of growth and hard work. She had the opportunity to start assisting and teaching classes at a young age. Skylar attended Orem High School where she danced with Orem Dance Company for three years. She served as a Vice President, choreographed multiple times, and received an award for Best Student Choreography. She is currently studying dance at Brigham Young University. Skylar recently had the opportunity to perform in the BYU Contemporary Area Concert, and is currently performing with BYU dancEnsemble. She has found a passion for teaching and dancing with her students. 

Gabriela started taking dance classes at three years old and immediately fell in love with it. At age eight she began attending SMASH Dance Academy, where she continued training until she graduated high school. Gabriela became a teacher assistant at age thirteen and started teaching her own classes her senior year of high school. These jobs quickly made Gabriela realize that teaching dance is her passion! She feels very blessed to now be teaching alongside the amazing women that mentored her as she grew up. Gabriela danced on Orem Dance Company at Orem High School for three years. This experience helped her decide to continue studying dance at the collegiate level. Gabriela is currently studying Exercise and Wellness at Brigham Young University and is working on a minor in Contemporary Dance.

Darcie has been dancing her whole life at any given moment. She spent her childhood deep in ballet classes until discovering jazz, contemporary, and hip hop later on. After finding Smash at 16 and falling in love with dancing all over again, Darcie decided to pursue a degree in contemporary dance at Southern Utah University and Utah Valley University. She participated as a member of SUU’s collegiate dance team, and then as a member of the pre-professional company Contemporary Dance Ensemble at UVU. During her time on CDE she worked with world renowned choreographers and professional companies across Utah. Darcie found her way back to Smash as an instructor in 2021, and joined Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company in 2023. 

Halle began dancing at the age of two. She grew up at The Dance Club where she trained heavily in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, tap, hip hop, and acro. In high school, she danced on Timpview’s dance company and served as an officer for two years. In college, she danced on BYU’s Cougarettes and was an assistant for the dance department’s advanced jazz classes. After graduating from BYU, she decided to pursue dance professionally. She is currently going into her 3rd season dancing with the Utah Jazz Dancers and serves as their head dance captain.

Alex Hatch started dancing when she was 3 years old and received her training from Studio Roxander Academy of Ballet in Medford, Oregon. Alex has participated in ballet competitions including the Youth America Grand Prix, World Dance Movement, and Puerto Rico Classical Dance Competition. She graduated BYU in 2023 with a BA in English and minors in Ballet and Global Women’s Studies. She danced with BYU Theatre Ballet for five years. Alex now dances for Utah Metropolitan Ballet and writes for BYU’s College of Fine Arts and Communications External Relations Office. She joined the Smash teaching team in 2022.

Quincey has been at Smash Dance Academy since the doors opened. As a young dancer, she loved being part of an art form and sport that allowed for so much growth and variety. She loves to perform, and has many fond memories dancing in the Smash Spring Shows and Nutcracker Productions. Quincey began assisting at Smash from a young age, and grew to love being on both sides of the studio. In high school, she danced for the Timpanogos Dance Team, serving as Captain senior year. Quincey feels so grateful to help other dancers experience the life-long lessons, experiences, friendships, and memories that Smash built for her!

Hannah is from upstate New York and began dancing at the age of 2. She completed her pre-professional training at Draper Center for Dance Education and began dancing professionally at Rochester City Ballet immediately following her graduation. While dancing, she had opportunities to train, perform, and compete at the national and international level in ballet, neoclassical, contemporary, jazz, and modern. After two seasons, she left New York and moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University where she is currently completing a BS in Sociology. Her teaching philosophy revolves around connectedness, mindfulness, and self expression as those are the aspects of dance that she feels transcend the studio to help create a whole person. She is very excited to be with SMASH this year and have the opportunity to work with the amazing students and faculty!

Rachel Stewart is from Bluffdale, Utah and started dancing at the age of 2. She received the majority of her dance training at Utah Dance artists in their Conservatory program. In 2022, Rachel started her undergraduate degree in dance at Brigham Young University and joined the Theatre Ballet Studio Company where she has performed in  ballets such as Robyn Hood and Swan Lake. Rachel has trained with professional schools including Ballet West, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, and Accademia Teatro Alla Scala. Rachel started her teaching journey in 2021 and has loved sharing her love of the art with her students.

Julianna grew up in Rexburg, Idaho, where she fell in love with cheerleading. Continuing to do what she loved, she joined the BYU cheer squad in 2018 while studying exercise science. After completing four years of collegiate cheer, she still works at improving her stunting skills with former teammates. Julianna got married in June of 2021 to her high school sweetheart. Together, they love to travel, spend time with family, and explore all the beauty of Utah. She has been teaching at SMASH since August of 2021 and loves watching students gain new skills and find their passion for tumbling.

Lucy is from Orem, Utah and grew up dancing at Smash Dance Academy! She danced at the studio for 13 years starting way back in the basement of Ashley Smith, and loved every minute of it! She has found a passion and love for helping students to learn to love their bodies, minds, space and effort. Creating a love for movement and creativity is something she has always loved, and is thrilled to see in students at Smash. Seeing the joy in students when they can feel accomplished in their own work makes it all worthwhile!

Shelby Colson brings over 20 years of extensive experience in ballet, jazz, acro, contemporary, and hip-hop. She received her training from The Dance Centre as well as Ballet West, where she performed in their production of The Nutcracker for three seasons. Shelby's involvement in her high school's cheer and dance teams also played a significant role in her development. During that time, she had the opportunity to choreograph for showcases and served as the captain of the cheer team. She then went on to dance for Utah Tech University’s dance team 2017-2018 before leaving on an 18-month LDS mission to Washington D.C. There, she had the unique opportunity to lead an all-women mission, further fueling her passion for empowering women and girls to reach their full potential. After returning, Shelby began working as a dance teacher and spent two years teaching in Salt Lake City before joining Smash Dance Academy.

Currently enrolled at UVU, Shelby is majoring in Psychology and is set to graduate in Spring 2024. In 2022, she married her best friend, Trevor. She is committed to hard work, compassionate teaching, and fostering individual growth in each of her students. Shelby is thrilled to be a part of the Smash Dance Academy family and looks forward to learning and growing alongside her students.

Courtney started dancing at age 3 and absolutely fell in love with it. She grew up dancing at Davis Dance Academy, training in ballet, jazz, acro, and hip hop. She danced on Layton High School’s drill team in high school and served as head captain her senior year. She now dances with Collective Dance Company while attending school at UVU.

Kennedy grew up in Draper, Utah. She began dancing and later cheerleading and tumbling for more than 11 years on competitive all-star, high school, and collegiate level teams. She is on the BYU cheer team right now and is currently majoring in public relations. She has competed for many national/world titles. Kennedy loves helping students reach their highest potential through skills, strength, and confidence. She have coached at various dance, cheer, and tumbling places over the past 5 years and Smash has been her favorite environment!