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Ashley Rose Marcum
Artistic Director

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Ashley Rose Marcum is the Artistic Director of Flowing Grace School of Dance and has dedicated more than two decades to inspiring dancers through technical excellence, artistic expression, and compassionate leadership.

Ashley began dancing at the age of twelve at Janet Carleton's School of Dance, where she trained under former Cincinnati Ballet Ballet Mistress Janet Carleton. After discovering her passion for dance, she continued her classical training at the Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy. Over the next six years, she studied under respected instructors including Janet Carleton, Patrick Notaro, Daniel Simmons, Nancy Fountain, and others while performing in numerous Cincinnati Ballet productions at Music Hall and the Aronoff Center for the Arts. Her training also included intensive summer programs consisting of five to eight hours of daily instruction.

In 2002, Ashley further expanded her training at Ballet Magnificat! under Kathy Thibodeaux, Jiri Voborsky, John Vandervelde, and Sol Nazario.

Classical ballet, pointe, and partnering form the foundation of Ashley's dance education. She has also trained extensively in classical variations, contemporary, modern, jazz, flamenco, tap, Pilates, yoga, improvisation, and movement interpretation. From 2005 to 2010, she performed with Miami Valley Ballet Theatre and collaborated on several productions with choreographer Demetrius Kline.

Ashley began teaching dance in Oxford in 2003. In 2007, she and Angela Brooks became studio owners, and in 2014 Ashley became the sole owner and Artistic Director of Flowing Grace School of Dance. Beyond the studio, she has taught dance and movement programs for gymnastics teams, theatrical productions, summer camps, Vacation Bible Schools, and homeschool cooperatives.

Throughout her career, Ashley has choreographed more than 800 performed dances across approximately 50 full-scale productions, mentoring thousands of dancers of all ages. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes both technical excellence and personal growth. She is passionate about helping dancers discover confidence, perseverance, creativity, and authentic self-expression through movement.

Ashley believes dance develops far more than performance skills. Her goal is to encourage students to become determined, resilient, and courageous individuals who are willing to work hard, pursue excellence, and express what words alone cannot communicate. Few things bring her greater joy than walking alongside her students as they grow both as dancers and as people.

Outside the studio, Ashley enjoys life on her family homestead with her husband and their six children. She is a lifelong artist whose creative interests include music, painting, drawing, photography, woodworking, and home design. Ashley is also an award-winning author, publishing under the pen name A Shy Rose and a public speaker. She has written six books, three of which have received literary awards.

Ashley and the entire Flowing Grace School of Dance family are honored to be part of each dancer's journey and look forward to helping students grow in confidence, artistry, and grace.

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