At Dance Ascension we are passionate about helping every child thrive! We love sharing our love of dance with our students, but more than that we value our students and their families! We are committed to inclusivity, to helping every dancer develop self-confidence, to work as a part of a group, and to providing exceptional training. We encourage our dancers to celebrate, not only their own achievements, but also the achievements of their fellow classmates.
Building Confidence in Every Dancer
About Dance Ascension - A Dance Studio in Clayton & Garner, NC
We value artistry, inclusivity, innovation, and technique. Our curriculum, developed by our studio Owner/Director, is designed to help our students grow in these areas as they progress through our program. Dance Ascension is a place where kids of all ages, shapes, and sizes excel. Our goal is to create a positive and happy experience for all of our students. We are committed to providing a safe and positive environment.
Dancers seeking a dance career can expect us to support their journey through superior technical training, exposure to career-building opportunities, and tutorials in dance business.
Our Commitment to Excellence in Dance Education
Inclusivity
Artistry
Technique
Innovation
Authenticity
Excellence
Core Values
Within a supportive and family-oriented environment. In our studio, all should feel welcome, appreciated, valued and seen. At Dance Ascension, our purpose is to make every child feel loved, valued, and accepted while fostering excellence in dance technique.
"My daughter has been at Dance Ascension for only a few months and in that time, her skills have vastly improved and she has quickly become part of their close knit community. Ms. Ashley treats each girl as her own and has excellent rapport with the parents. The communication regarding classes, recitals etc is above and beyond what is typically expected especially for recreation dance. We are so happy to call Dance Ascension our dance home!"
Jodi
"Dance Ascension and Ms. Ashley have been nothing less than a blessing in our 9-year olds’ life. We’ve felt truly welcome, included, and cared for from our very first class. Fully embracing our child as a Black male, non-binary dancer, Ms. Ashley truly lives by the principle that dance is for all. We also began classes at a very vulnerable time for our family and our child, and we’ve experienced so much compassion and care. Dance has been such a healing outlet for our child, and having now completed her first year, I’ve also seen her confidence soar. It’s truly been an honor to have Dance Ascension as our dance home."
Elana
kind words
Artistic Director/Owner
Ashley O’Quinn
Ashley O’Quinn is an award-winning choreographer and dance instructor with over 20 years of experience teaching and training young dancers to achieve their full potential. Her high standards for herself and her faculty and her encouraging in-class persona teaches students tenacity, confidence, and teamwork along with technique. She values each child for who they are and has as her mission that all of the children participating in dance at Dance Ascension love who they are, while finding joy in the art of dance. Ashley is also committed to helping dancers interested in a career in dance have training and educational opportunities that help them prepare and build their resumes. She has partnerships with artists, organizations, other choreographers, and creative directors across the country and uses these connections to provide opportunities to students who want to pursue dance as a career. Students have experienced training opportunities in Broadway productions and dance in film and music videos within the commercial dance industry.
Ashley began her dance training at the age of 3. She danced competitively for 8 years and won numerous awards for solos and team performances. Highlights from her working in the dance industry as a dancer were performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, performing as the Arabian and Snow in the Nutcracker, performing on ESPN with her dance team as the Top Ten National Finalists, and featured in the October 2003 Dance Spirit magazine as a scholarship recipient and top soloist. Ashley also spent time working in the TV and film industry as both an actor and dancer. She worked alongside well known actors such as Shirley McClaine as well as creators and directors such as Kevin Williamson, Mark Schwahn, and Michael Tollin.
As a teaching professional, Ashley has received numerous choreography awards and Critic’s Choice awards from events such as Revive Dance Convention, NYCDA, and Hollywood vibe to name a few. She has also worked nationally as a master class instructor at various studios and has set many dance pieces from solos to groups nationwide. Most recently, Ashley has created pathways for her student’s wishing to pursue dance professionally by cultivating professional opportunities for training opportunities, work, and representation both in front of the camera and behind. It is important for all of her students to find successful paths that go beyond the studio and enrich their lives.
The Heart Behind Dance Ascension
The Dance Ascension Team
Sabrina Reeves
Mady Reeves
Teaching Assistant
Hayden Porter
Teaching Assistant
Garner Admin
Lorelei Jones
Clayton Admin
Abigail Batchelor
Faculty Member / Teaching Assistant
Abigail “Abby” Batchelor has been a member of Dance Ascension Dance Company for 5 years and throughout her tenure, she secured countless first place overall and team awards as a performer. Known fondly as the “Queen of Improv,” she has also participated in our Pre-Pro program attending preparatory career training through Liberate Artists in both New York and Los Angeles. Abby won the talent award in the Miss North Carolina pageant and is currently a member of the Campbell University Dance/Drill/Pom team. She has been an assistant teacher for 4 of her 5 years at Dance Ascension and this past year, she became a full faculty member, teaching classes at both our Garner and Clayton locations.
Mikayla Moore
Adjunct Faculty Member
Mikayla Moore began her training at the age of eight. Her training has included all genres of dance. Mikayla has worked as a faculty member of Dance Ascension since 2022. Prior to becoming a faculty member, Mikayla danced as a member of the Dance Ascension Dance Company and trained under Ms. Ashley since she was 14. She has won many awards both as a performer and as a faculty member, taking several choreography awards in the last few years. She was accepted into multiple programs including Joffrey’s School of Ballet and NC School of the Arts. Mikayla’s talent and ability were recognized by Liberate Artists where she initially worked as an Apprentice and is now a member of the teaching artists faculty. She has taught Master Classes in both LA and NY. She has worked as an assistant choreographer and dancer for a music video filmed in LA and worked as an assistant to nationally known artists: Phill Wright, Eva Igo and Lauren Froderman. Mikayla will be an adjunct member as her current career path will require her to be in LA for a portion of the year. Mikayla loves passing on the love of the arts to her students and sharing with them the spirit of dance.
Sidney Boone
Faculty Member
Sidney Boone, our newest faculty member, began her dance training at the age of six. As a member of the Dance Ascension Dance Company, Sidney won numerous awards and overalls for her performances. On stage, Sidney was known as the “personality” of the dance. Her training has included ballet, pointe, lyrical, tap, hip hop, acro, cirque, jazz, contemporary and musical theater. In addition to awards, Sidney was selected for the prestigious scholarship awards at multiple conventions. In 2023/2024, Sidney was named as a Liberate Artists Dance Captain and traveled to both Delaware and LA to assist major artists in master classes and workshops. Sidney has been a teaching assistant with Dance Ascension for the last several years and now joins our team as a full faculty member. Sidney loves the creative and performance aspects of dance and how it can empower those who participate. She looks forward to sharing with her students how they can be empowered through dance.
Olivia Partin
Faculty Member
Olivia Partin joined the Dance Ascension faculty in 2023. She began her own dance education at the age of 3 and danced competitively for 7 years. Throughout high school, she was a member of her school Dance/Drill/Pom team and served as the Caption of the team her senior year. Olivia continued her dance education and training at UNCG where she was not only a member of their Dance team, but also graduated with a minor in Dance. Olivia brings a positive, kind, and caring energy to all her classes. She states, “ I believe that all dancers have a spark and can achieve anything they put their mind to and work hard for. I encourage them to be the best version of themselves and to dream big! “
Corina Knowles
Faculty Member
Corina Knowles began her dance training at the age of two and began competitive dance at the age of four. From her earliest memories, she has always had such a big passion for dance. Corina loves how dance gives everyone a safe place and a healthy vehicle to express their emotions. She says of her own dancing experience, “I cannot compare the way I feel about dance to any other feeling. My dream is to be able to share the way dance makes me feel with others.” Corina is currently a student at Meredith University, majoring in dance. She is a member of the Meredith Dance Company and a member of the Meredith Dance Crew.
Lanna Gimenez
Faculty Member
Lanna Gimenez began dancing in 2006. She quickly learned a love for dance and took classes in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, lyrical, contemporary and acro. While attending West Johnston High School, she was on the school dance team all four years and also served as a Teaching Assistant for the dance program at the school. She also served as choreographer for musical productions at West Johnston High School during this time. As a competitive dancer, she choreographed her own solo routines and won multiple awards and high scores during competitions. Lanna shares that, “Dance has always been a safe space for me and allows me the ability to tell a story without the words. I am passionate about sharing the love of this artform with my students.”
Hayden Porter
Faculty Member
As members of both our Company and our Pre-Professional training, Hayden and Mady serve as teaching assistants to our Faculty. After years of dance, both extended their training by taking part in the junior assistant training offered at Dance Ascension. Hayden and Mady are passionate about dance. They love helping young dancers find their own passion for dance and help faculty create a learning environment that assures each dancer achieves their personal goals. In addition to their teaching responsibilities, they spend many hours each week devoted to continuing their own training. Both Hayden and Mady are Dance Captains for Liberate Artists and continue their training by participating in career training through Liberate Artists in NY and LA. As part of their role as Dance Captains, they travel to assist major artists who are leading workshops or dance intensives for Liberate Artists.
Mady Reeves
Teaching Assistant
As members of both our Company and our Pre-Professional training, Hayden and Mady serve as teaching assistants to our Faculty. After years of dance, both extended their training by taking part in the junior assistant training offered at Dance Ascension. Hayden and Mady are passionate about dance. They love helping young dancers find their own passion for dance and help faculty create a learning environment that assures each dancer achieves their personal goals. In addition to their teaching responsibilities, they spend many hours each week devoted to continuing their own training. Both Hayden and Mady are Dance Captains for Liberate Artists and continue their training by participating in career training through Liberate Artists in NY and LA. As part of their role as Dance Captains, they travel to assist major artists who are leading workshops or dance intensives for Liberate Artists.
Sabrina Reeves
Garner Admin
Sabrina and Lorelei have a primary role in providing assistance to potential families and to those already member of Dance Ascension. While that is the primary role, Sabrina provides direct assistance to our company families and Lorelei serves as the bookkeeper for both locations.
Lorelei Jones
Clayton Admin
Sabrina and Lorelei have a primary role in providing assistance to potential families and to those already member of Dance Ascension. While that is the primary role, Sabrina provides direct assistance to our company families and Lorelei serves as the bookkeeper for both locations.
Jennifer
"If you are looking for a welcoming dance community, please try Dance Ascension! My 10-year old daughter joined in the fall of 2023 with zero dance experience, and all of the staff instantly made her feel like part of the family. Dance Ascension has become our second home – a place where every dancer is celebrated for their unique talents, regardless of skill level. I am so thankful to Dance Ascension for this opportunity to learn in such a positive and supportive environment. We take recreational classes in both the Clayton and Garner studios. After 1 year, my daughter is interested in pursuing a position on the competitive teams. It's been amazing to see my daughter's confidence grow, both in dance class and in her everyday life.”
Cayce
"Our family was thrilled when Dance Ascension opened in Clayton! From the very first day, our two daughters have loved attending their lessons. Just a couple of weeks ago, they participated in their recital, and my husband and I agreed it was the best show we’ve seen since our daughters started dancing. The genuine family atmosphere at this studio is fantastic, and it's clear that the owner, staff, and instructors truly care about the dancers and want to make it fun for Everyone! They work hard to help each student reach their potential while respecting their individual style. Our girls recently completed their first acro camp and learned so much in just one week—Mom and Dad were genuinely impressed! We highly recommend this studio."
