Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Sarver.
Hi Ashley, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a little girl, I liked being outside, playing sports, riding bikes, skating, and being the biggest tomboy in the neighborhood. Growing up, my parents were always so open to allowing my sister and I to do whatever our hearts desired. We wanted to try cheerleading, but we ended up hating it… So we tried basketball and of course the extremely petite sister, which is myself, fell in love with it even though the ball was half my size and the hoop was five feet taller than me. Once I started having a passion for basketball I wanted to try any sport I could put my hands on, but when I was ten years old a really close family friend referred dancing to my mom and she fell in love with the idea instead, as I dreaded it lol. I dreaded it, not because it was dancing, but because of the makeup, the glitter, itchy costumes, and being squeezed into leotards and tights with the big tutus. My mom thought it would be a great idea because ever since I was a baby, I danced to anything she put on. If she had friends over, I was dancing. If we were at a big event, I was dancing. And if we were at home, I was still dancing. Music was something my mother realized made me the happiest and she noticed that I absolutely loved an audience. At first, I really struggled with picking up choreography and wanted to quit only after a year of trying. But one of my teachers saw something in me and asked me to try out for their competition team, which normally they wouldn’t ask until a couple of years of hardcore training, so that told me she believed in me just like my parents did. So I thought to myself… “Why not?”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a teenager, it was a beautiful smooth road. As a young adult that decided to move to California, that beautiful smooth road got pretty messy. When I was a teenager, I was very, very passionate. Once I started competing, I saw that fire in particular dancer’s eyes that revealed a drive, dedication, motivation, and determination. I wanted to be THAT kind of dancer. I wanted to inspire others like they inspired me. I wanted to make people feel like they could do anything they dreamed of because that’s how their passion made me feel. When it was time for practice, practice was the only thing on my mind and I loved that feeling because I wouldn’t be thinking about the silly drama I was having at school or that fight I had with my sister that day, the boyfriend that broke up with me through text a few hours ago, or that family member I lost that was very dear to me… it was where I put my feelings on the floor without having to rely on someone to listen to me. Now don’t get me wrong, I was very blessed to have an amazing childhood, but when it came to music it just filled me with a field of emotions which made me have a passion for it. And connected to that passion was dancing itself. If we had a lunch break, a random fifteen minute break, or if practice ended early I would be that one dancer that would go to the back dance room to put on my headphones and work on whatever I thought were my imperfections. I am extremely grateful that my young mind processed that way because that hard work truly paid off…
As the years went by, 16 years old I got my first few scholarships, then at 18 years old I got a few more and within those scholarships I got the chance to come work with incredible artists, choreographers, producers, and directors in Los Angeles. Once I graduated high school, I did one year of college in Virginia (where I was born and raised) to then move to California at 19 to finish my Associate’s Degree in Marine Biology. When I moved to California, I kind of dropped everything all at once and went for it. When I came here, I did mostly everything independently and I worked full time, went to school full time, and danced in Los Angeles at the studios any chance I got. Yes…. it was extremely stressful and a lot, but I pushed through it just like anyone else would. Sadly many obstacles came in my path for my first three years out here, making that beautiful smooth road become messy very quickly. Lots of long stories along the way but to keep it short and simple, I lost a lot of friends, family members, moved eight times, met good people, met bad people, was given opportunities, but also given a lot of “No’s”. When I tell other’s about my experience in California, they ask “How are you even still going? I would’ve given up forever ago.” but my response to that is still “Why not?” And if it wasn’t for my decisions in the past, I wouldn’t be where I am today… and that is extremely happy and successful, but still knowing there’s is so much more incredible opportunities to come.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional dancer, actress, and model. I also love to ghost-write for musical artists and to direct music. For dance, I have trained in many different genres such as hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, modern, ballet, pointe, lyrical, theatrical, baton/twirling, heels, salsa, banda, Bollywood, African, tap, and ballroom. Throughout the genres I have trained in, my personal favorite is hip-hop! I also like to choreograph to get my ideas and thoughts out to others. Something I am most proud of is my growth in perspective towards life and others as a young woman. I try really hard to think about how someone else may feel towards something and to remember that people are always growing and going through things. Also, to be understanding because I feel it is important to try to since everyone is different.
How do you think about luck?
For the role of luck, I believe that comes in with connections. Sometimes I get really good luck of being in the right place at the right time because a lot of times it’s all about who you know. In my opinion, that could be perceived as a good or bad thing, but it’s all in what you make it.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://vimeo.com/ashleysarver
- Instagram: xxashley2nicolexx
- Other: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QxLc8nwy1BjsH27V8
