Ashley Ellis
{{short description|American ballet dancer}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox dancer
| name = Ashley Ellis
| image = Ashley Ellis for Swans for Relief 02.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Ellis dancing for Swans for Relief in 2020
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|37|2021|03|11}}
| birth_place =
| nationality = American
| citizenship =
| education =
| occupation = Ballet dancer
| years_active =
| height =
| spouse =
| partner = George Birkadze
| children = 2
| website = {{url|https://www.ellisashley.com/}}
| current_group = Dallas Conservatory
| former_groups = {{ubl|Boston Ballet|American Ballet Theatre|Corella Ballet|Sarasota Ballet}}
| dances =
| module =
}}
Ashley Ellis (born {{birth based on age as of date|37|2021|03|11|noage=1}}) is an American ballet dancer. She joined the American Ballet Theatre in 2002. She danced at Corella Ballet from 2007 to 2010 and then Sarasota Ballet for a year. In 2011, she joined the Boston Ballet, and was promoted to principal dancer in 2013. Ellis retired from performing in 2021.
Early life and training
Ellis is from Torrance, California. She trained at South Bay Ballet in her hometown.{{cite news|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/on-the-rise-ashley-ellis/|title=On the Rise: Ashley Ellis|work=Dance Magazine|last=Rivers|first=Ashley|date=December 15, 2011}} She participated in the summer intensive program at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) between 1999 and 2001.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/02/arts/dance-review-a-study-in-ballet-both-clean-and-lively.html|title=Dance View; A Study In Ballet Both Clean And Lively|work=New York Times|last=Dunning|first=Jennifer|date=August 2, 1999}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/08/arts/dance-review-ballet-theater-shows-off-a-nation-s-students.html|title=Dance View; Ballet Theater Shows Off a Nation's Students|work=New York Times|last=Dunning|first=Jennifer|date=August 8, 2000}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/15/arts/dance-review-ballets-with-fresh-twists-and-fresh-faces.html|title=Dance View; Ballets With Fresh Twists and Fresh Faces|work=New York Times|last=Dunning|first=Jennifer|date=August 8, 2001}}
Career
In 2001, Ellis was invited to join the ABT Studio Company. The following year, she moved to the main company. Throughout her time at ABT, she was a member of the corps de ballet. In 2007, Ellis learned that ABT principal dancer Ángel Corella was going to start a company in Spain, and approached him about joining his company. She spent six months at his touring troupe before the Corella Ballet officially started. She held the position of soloist, and she danced as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. In 2010, Ellis returned to the United States, and danced at the Sarasota Ballet as a soloist for a year.
In 2011, Ellis joined the Boston Ballet as a second soloist. In 2013, she was promoted to principal dancer.{{cite news|url=https://dancespirit.com/boston-ballet-prima-ashley-ellis-writes-a-letter-to-her-teenage-self/|title=Boston Ballet Prima Ashley Ellis Writes a Letter to Her Teenage Self|work=Dance Spirit|last=Ellis|first=Ashley|date=October 17, 2018}} Among the ballets she danced in Boston were Swan Lake,{{cite news|url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2014/10/30/swan-lake|title=Mikko Nissinen's 'Swan Lake' Premieres In Boston|work=WBUR|last=Knox|first=Lawrence Elizabeth|date=October 30, 2014}} The Sleeping Beauty,{{cite news|url=https://www.patriotledger.com/story/entertainment/arts/2017/04/24/sleeping-beauty-is-ultimate/21307860007/|title='Sleeping Beauty' is the ultimate fairy-tale ballet|work=The Patriot Ledger|last=Feinberg|first=Jody|date=April 24, 2017}} The Nutcracker{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2015/12/01/sugar-plum-fairies-boston-nutcracker/|title=Meet the Sugar Plum Fairies of Boston|work=Boston Magazine|last1=Bilis|first1=Madeline|last2=Khvan|first2=Olga|date=December 1, 2015}} and Le Corsaire,{{cite news|url=https://pointemagazine.com/ashley-ellis-dishes-boston-ballets-new-le-corsaire/|title=Ashley Ellis Dishes on Boston Ballet's New Le Corsaire|work=Pointe|last=Schrock|first=Madeline|date=October 18, 2016}} Balanchine's Serenade,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/jul/07/boston-ballet-coliseum-review|title=Boston Ballet – review|work=The Guardian|last=Jennings|first=Luke|date=July 7, 2013}} Jewels,{{cite news|url=https://dancetabs.com/2014/05/boston-ballet-jewels-emeralds-rubies-diamonds-boston/|title=Boston Ballet – Jewels: Emeralds, Rubies, Diamonds – Boston|work=DanceTabs|last=Helms|first=Alan|date=May 27, 2014}} Episodes,{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater-art/2015/03/20/boston-ballet-finds-many-colors-shades-sound/9OuyJF3BhMd0cjBepUxrIK/story.html|title=Boston Ballet finds many colors in 'Shades of Sound'|work=Boston Globe|last=Gantz|first=Jeffrey|date=March 20, 2015}} and Coppélia,{{cite news|url=https://bachtrack.com/review-boston-ballet-coppelia|title=Boston Ballet's Coppélia delights, but gives few chances for stars to shine|work=Backtrack|last=Maus|first=Kathryn|date=May 21, 2013}} Robbins' The Concert{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater-dance/2015/05/15/boston-ballet-provides-some-season-ending-thrills/qNxi0sWVvvjjhfq1S8NrQJ/story.html|title=Boston Ballet provides some season-ending thrills|work=Boston Globe|last=Gantz|first=Jeffrey|date=May 15, 2015}} and Fancy Free, Ashton's Cinderella,{{cite news|url=https://dancetabs.com/2014/03/boston-ballet-cinderella-boston/|title=Boston Ballet – Cinderella – Boston|work=DanceTabs|last=Helms|first=Alan|date=March 26, 2014}} Cranko's Onegin,{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater-art/2016/02/26/superb-onegin-from-boston-ballet/DGdbBnWDyv6Rk3o9EYdKDK/story.html|title= A superb 'Onegin' from Boston Ballet|work=Boston Globe|last=Gantz|first=Jeffrey|date=February 26, 2016}} Landar's Études,{{cite news|url=https://dancetabs.com/2014/05/boston-ballet-pricked-etudes-d-m-j-1953-1977-cacti-boston/|title=Boston Ballet – Pricked: Etudes, D.M.J. 1953-1977, Cacti – Boston|work=DanceTabs|last=Helms|first=Alan|date=May 13, 2014}} Wheeldon's Polyphonia and McGregor's Chroma.{{cite news|url=https://www.patriotledger.com/story/entertainment/movies/2013/05/05/chroma-stuns-boston-ballet/37937568007/|title='Chroma' stuns Boston Ballet audience|work=The Patriot Ledger|last=Fanger|first=Iris|date=May 5, 2013}}
Outside of the Boston Ballet, in 2014, Ellis started her dancewear brand RubiaWear, which focuses on warm-up attires and accessories.{{cite news|url=http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/meet-ashley-ellis-rubiawear-jamaica-plain/|title=Meet Ashley Ellis of RubiaWear in Jamaica Plain|work=Boston Voyager|date=June 5, 2018}} She conceived the idea after her colleagues noticed her handmade leg warmers and asked her to make some for them.{{cite news|url=https://pointemagazine.com/ashley-ellis-boston-ballet/|title=Inside Boston Ballet Principal Ashley Ellis' Dance Bag|work=Pointe|last=Brandt|first=Amy|date=March 31, 2016}} In 2020, when performances were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ellis was among the 32 ballerinas that participated in Misty Copeland's "Swans for Relief" fundraiser. All of the ballerinas filmed themselves dancing Fokine's The Dying Swan to raise funds for the participating dancers' companies and the arts.{{cite news|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/ballet-dancer-relief-fund/|title=32 Ballerinas From Around the World Perform "The Dying Swan" for COVID-19 Relief|work=Dance Magazine|last=Stahl|first=Jennifer|date=May 4, 2020}}
In 2021, Ellis retired from dancing. She did not have a farewell performance due to the pandemic, and she was on maternity leave after giving birth to her second child.{{cite news|url=https://pointemagazine.com/ashley-ellis-ballet/|title=Boston Ballet's Ashley Ellis Talks About Retirement and Her New Role at The Dallas Conservatory|work=Pointe|last=Deocariza|first=April|date=March 11, 2021}} She then became the associate director of the Dallas Conservatory's newly founded professional division, with her husband George Birkadze as the director. Ellis said the position came about when the couple were looking for opportunities in Dallas, where her parents reside. The couple contacted the conservatory, and Birkadze pitched the idea of a program that prepares older students for professional careers.
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official|https://www.ellisashley.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Ashley}}
Category:People from Torrance, California
Category:Boston Ballet principal dancers
Category:American Ballet Theatre dancers
Category:Dancers from California
Category:21st-century American ballet dancers