FACULTY

ASHLEY KROFT

Leaps/Turns/Conditioning, Lyrical and Company Instructor

Ashley Kroft is an interdisciplinary choreographer, educator, and movement artist originally from Orlando, Florida where she began her dance career. Ashley has trained extensively with the infamous Melissa Stokes at the Shooting Stars School of Performing Arts which is ranked Top 10 Studio in the Nation. She has studied many genres of dance and obtained her BFA at the University of Central Florida, who is lucky to have studied from Judi F. Siegfried, Earl D. Weaver, and Dr. Katherine White. Wanting to further her education, Ashley acquired her MFA in Dance Choreography at Jacksonville University in 2022. This achievement has gifted her a position as Dance Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso. 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.

As a dancer, Ashley has won numerous scholarships and awards which led to her experience as a performer and collaborator 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.

In addition to her dance career, Ashley is an experienced educator and choreographer that led to her obtaining 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. Ashley has been known for her “Outstanding Stage Presence” as a performance artist and she wants to use this to disseminate to dancers her passion for dance and performance to the evolving generation of dance artists. And now as a seasoned Adjudicator, Ashley will be able to share her knowledge and experience by helping dancers grow into their confidence throughout the competitive season from the judge’s lens.

ALANI HATTEN

Ballet Instructor

With 17 years of dedication to dance, Alani Hatten began her journey receiving specialized ballet training under the guidance of Andree Harper and Ouisa Davis. It was through their mentorship that Alani had the opportunity to study at the Jillana School of Ballet Intensive, where she refined her technique. Her passion for dance led her to Dallas Baptist University, where she was a member of the DBU dance team that won its third national championship. Currently, Alani is part of the national-winning UTEP dance team while pursuing a Bachelor's in Dance with a minor in Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. Proficient in classical ballet and skilled in choreography, Alani has experience creating original dance pieces for various performances and showcases. She is committed to nurturing and developing exceptional dancers.