Gold locks and all, “Mama Bear” Ashley is “just right” to be Director of the Boston Cannons Dance Team

Living a bit outside of Boston, Ashley, the Director/Choreographer of the Boston Cannons Dance Team, finds herself spending a lot of her time in the car. But Ashley puts her drive time to good use. “I have a really long commute to my full-time job and, well, everything, since I live out in the boonies,” Ashley says. “That’s actually where I do 95% of my choreography is in the car. I just play the music over and over again until I can visualize something. It’s the best way for me to utilize my commute time since I don’t have a lot of down time.”

And Ashley’s lack of down time is inversely related to her abundant “devotion to dance” time, which includes dancing for Boston’s pro lacrosse teams, both outdoor (the MLL’s Cannons) and indoor (the NLL’s Blazers), and directing both a pro lacrosse and college dance team. Ashley shared with UltimateCheerleaders how dance affected her college choice, how she has known her best friend since birth, literally, and why Ashley seems like such a carefree dancing spirit, yet is a renowned worrier.

Just like the bouncing sport of basketball, bouncing baby Ashley was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. “I was born in Springfield and moved to Ashburnham when I was four years old,” Ashley explains. “I currently live in Westminster, Massachusetts, with my fiancé Mike, dog Gunner, and cat Ginger. I come from a pretty small family, with one older brother, Justin. My favorite memories growing up are our yearly family vacations, living at the dance studio, and playing flashlight tag in the neighborhood.”

Ashley’s time at dance studio began when, “My mom put me in ballet when I was four years old and I guess I never looked back,” Ashley recalls. “When you’re an adolescent, you get to a certain point when you either give up dance for other things (sports, friends, et cetera) or decide to stick with it. After high school, I went to West Virginia University to major in Business. They had a small dance program but it just wasn’t enough for me. I realized I wanted dance to be my main focus in life, so I transferred to Dean College (in Franklin, MA) to major in dance.”

And despite her connection to music, Ashley claims her vocal skills are not Great White Way worthy. “I played the piano when I was younger,” Ashley says. “As for singing, I am not able to carry a tune. I wish I could sing, as I’ve always wanted to be on Broadway, but that just wasn’t in my cards.”

Ashley’s dance journey to the Cannons included spending time on a basketball dance team with one of my favorite names in pro dance, the Manchester Millrats Pink Sapphire Dance Team. Oh, why oh why did the Millrats have to move from Manchester to Saint John, New Brunswick, in Canada? Anyway, Ashley’s time at the MMPSDT eventually provided a Cannons connection, as Ashley remembers, “I found out about the Cannons through a fellow dance team member (Manchester Millrats Pink Sapphire Dance Team) who used to be on the Cannons. From there, its history,” Ashley smiles. “The Boston dance community is pretty small, so word of mouth goes a long way.”

In her fifth season with the Cannons, performance and friendships are keys to Ashley’s devotion to dancing at Cannons home games at Harvard Stadium. “I absolutely love every minute of it,” Ashley explains. “You get to dance each week, perform in front of a big crowd, and some of my best friends I met through the dance team.”

Though dance is Ashley’s lifelong love, lacrosse was a new part of her life when she hit the Cannons sidelines. “The first time on the field as a Boston Cannons dancer was my first lacrosse game,” Ashley says. “We didn’t have it at our high school growing up. I’ve attempted to play catch, but even though I’m a dancer, I’m still somehow not coordinated enough for it. Lacrosse is truly the fastest growing sport in America. It is such a fast paced game that your attention stays on the field the whole time. I’m still learning, but over the years I’ve been able to understand the game a bit more, so I think it’s fairly easy to follow even if you aren’t familiar with the sport.”

So maybe Ashley is not lacrosse-coordinated, but soon enough she was coordinating the Cannons Dance Team, to be Director/Choreographer today. “I was on the team for three years before taking over the coaching position,” Ashley remembers. “My second year on the team, my coach at the time, Karen Bagley, made me captain. When she stepped down, she asked if I had interest in taking over the team. Obviously, I was thrilled! I love coaching and have a bit of ‘Mama Bear’ in me, so to see a team that I helped produce be successful, is such an achievement to me.“

Asked what might surprise people about the role and the behind the scenes aspects, Ashley responds, “It is a volunteer position, even as coach, which is a surprise to some people. There’s also a lot of behind the scenes work, as with every leadership role, but it’s all worth it in the end.”

Over five years with the Cannons, from spring through summer, what are Ashley’s most memorable games, be it weather, routines, or anything else? “I remember one game last year was so incredibly hot and humid that we probably didn’t look as picture perfect as I would hope,” Ashley recalls. “Other than that, we’ve had our share of rain but nothing too extreme. There are always routines that stick with you for whatever reason. We danced with cowboy hats last year which was fun. This year we also had a special Alumni Dance Team routine that included dances from past seasons. It was the Boston Cannons Dance Team’s 10th year anniversary, and we had about 20 alumni coming, so we wanted to do something special for them. “

Ashley also coaches the Bentley University Dance Team in Waltham, Massachusetts. After majoring in dance herself, and now coaching college dancers, what does Ashley think dance adds to people’s lives? “Dance really is an outlet,” Ashley explains. “No matter how I’m feeling, I always feel better walking out of practice/class. Whether you’re stressed or upset about life, for that time you are dancing, it just takes you somewhere else. I also think it’s great for your social life. You meet so many people whether it’s in a class, on a team or at auditions. Just looking at my Bentley girls, being a freshman and already having a group of girls by your side is huge. The people I’ve met through dance teams are amazing, especially since you have the same passion in life. To be able to have dance friends who can relate, is so comforting.”

So between living a bit outside of the city, with a full-time job, plus running two dance teams, how does Ashley get from one place to the next on time with the crowded highways and byways of Boston? “That’s a good question!” Ashley says. “Sometimes I’m in zombie mode, but I’ve always been the type of person to have my plate full. The thought of coming home from work every day and not doing anything, especially dance, sounds painful to me. The key is to stay organized so that I can be as stress-free as possible.”

But Ashley answers the question on the Cannons web site ,”Name one word that describes you,” with “Worrier.” But it seems like Ashley, with dancing and performing, seems so carefree. What kinds of things does Ashley worry about? When it comes to dance, does Ashley worry before performing, or is dance the once place she can be worry free? “Ask anyone, all I do is worry!” Ashley says. “Which in my head, I know is silly, since worrying doesn’t change anything. I’m such a planner, so I think that is why I tend to worry so much. I’m definitely not a last minute type of girl. I just have to tell myself to stop and breathe and that usually helps. Every now and then I’ll get a slight feeling of worriedness before I take the field but I get over it pretty quickly because I know my body knows what to do.”

But the one thing Ashley does not have to worry about is having a lifelong best friend, her own personal cheerleader, and confidant. On her Cannons bio, Ashley lists her mom as her role model, but she is much much more. “Both my parents are amazing role models who I would not be who I am now if it wasn’t for them,” explains Ashley. “My mom in particular, is who I’m the most like. I get a lot of my personality qualities from her. She is so supportive and has always been my cheerleader growing up. On the flip side, she will also be the first to tell me when I need to be put in my place or if she doesn’t like something, especially my hair,” smiles Ashley. “Her opinion means a lot to me because she’s such an honest person. I talk to her at least once a day, so I’d really be lost without her. We have a really special relationship where she still plays the mom role but is my best friend at the same time.”

Certainly having such good parental role models helped mold Ashley into the "Mama Bear" who is not too hard and not too soft to be Director of the Boston Cannons Dance Team. Someday Ashley would like to own a dance studio, and it would be fun to watch her Mama Bear qualities help put those "Dance Moms" in their proper place. In the mean time, Boston drivers, don't cut off Ashley in traffic, she may be in the middle of some great choreography!

Thanks SO much to Ashley for all of her time and hospitality during my visit to the Boston Cannons game back in July against Denver! I really appreciate it!

The defending MLL champion Cannons season is not over yet! The Championship Weekend with the MLL’s final four will be played at Harvard Stadium on August 25th and 26th.

And there are more photos of Ashley here at this link!