Current Projects...
Tap Dance American History…a conversation, a performance, a history lesson.
I am currently developing a production, a conversation, about Tap Dance History or rather American History. If you are a tap dancer, or have ever taken one of my classes, you know just how important the history of the dance is to tap today, and to American culture through almost every decade, era, and civil rights issue. I love sharing the history I know and have learned over the years. My hope is that I can bring this knowledge to public school classrooms.
Why would they care about Tap History? Because Tap History is American History. Learning can take place anywhere, including watching tap dance. We all learn better when we can engage in a topic in different ways. We will focus on the current NC American History Essential Standards and meeting lesson plan requirements.
Currently Teaching Tap at NC Dance Institute.
Beg/Int. (7pm) & Int./Adv. (8pm) Monday nights starting August 15th. Drop-ins welcome.
...Past Projects
All That Jazz in North Carolina… (Spring 2022)
Chicago has always been a dream show for me. Although, I still have yet to perform in a production, choreographing it is the next best thing. As a kid, I loved all things Fosse, ever since my first Fosse class learning Crunchy Granola Suite (from Dancin’). Although I didn’t stick to a strictly jazz or Fosse track, I still love it and take Fosse classes whenever I can. I choreographed this Teen Edition at Clayton High School with only a week of dance rehearsals plus cleanup. The directors, Thea Martin and Andrew Wade, along with music director, Ann Meigs, did a phenomenal job of rehearsing & cleaning the choreography. It was a challenging show for me to do. It was my first public school work since COVID, first while having two children, & after just moving back to NC. I am so grateful to my family for their support & the creative team at CHS for making magic happen.
Doing what we can… (Dec. 2020)
Through masks & face shields, with limited audience members & unlimited hand sanitizer, A Christmas Carol came back to Yocum Institute. Again, I was brought on to help adjust the Fezziwig party scene to still feel full & vibrant with less people, spaced further apart. I worked with director, Beverly Houck, and we faced each challenge & changing precaution with a positive, grateful outlook. We were back to doing what we loved, maybe not in the most ideal way, but art is created to handle the unperfect. I watched the production with my one year old, from my couch, grateful that art was being shared again.
A masked Christmas caroling choir that appears throughout the production.
And then the world changed.
Looking back on this time… all of the heartache, sickness, death, social unrest, mental health challenges, distance, and yet many moments of joy, growth, positive change, understanding. I changed as a human and so my art has changed. I became more interested in why I’m doing things and less interested in packing everything and anything into my days. I look forward to a time again that we can all create art together in the same room, existing without screens or masks between. But, for now, I am sharing my art in new ways, and some days, not at all. And that is ok.
Another Christmas Carol & dusting off the violin… (Dec. 2019)
I had the pleasure of being a part of my 3rd version of A Christmas Carol, this time at Yocum Institute (Reading, PA). I was contracted to work with director, Jody Reppert, helping him choreograph & set period dancing for the Fezziwig scene. We had a blast with the Victorian dances & party scene staging. Then at the last minute, a violinist was needed to stroll through the scene making the music they would then dance to. I needed a lot of practice to feel comfortable, but by the production I was able to interact & enjoy experiencing the dance from a new perspective. A wonderful experience, all in all.
Theater Camps, Teaching, Directing, & Bedtime Stories… (Summer 2019)
As my family relocated to Eastern Pennsylvania, I started looking into opportunities there & fell in love with Yocum Institute. They provided a space for me to be creative, meet incredible artists, doing a lot with a little & sharing their love of theater. I was given the opportunity to teach a summer camp, co-direct a children’s play (Bedtime Stories…), teach my own small youth acting class, teach dance classes, & continue to create in beautiful ways. If you are in Reading, PA and need a place to be creative, please go by the beautiful new facility and meet the phenomenal people keeping the arts alive for the community and students there.
Bedtime Stories (As Told by Our Dad) (Who Messed Them Up).
Choreo from afar… (July 2019)
The incredible renaissance woman, Mary Stiegelbauer, choreographed North Street Playhouse’s production of Spamalot in July. However, they were in need of tap dance choreography to round out the show. Although I was not able to make it to rehearsals, I worked closely with the dance captain, Cat Yudain, to choreograph, teach, create videos, & clean the tap choreography needed for Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. It was my virtual pleasure to work alongside of both of these women.
A rehearsal photo from Spamalot.
Workshops… (March 2019)
I’ve been doing a lot of teaching this year, but this was the first time I was able to teach as a guest at a University. UNC - Chapel Hill’s Carolina Tap Ensemble was looking for guest instructors to come, teach, and set choreography for their spring showcase. This was such a fun opportunity & the ladies did a phenomenal job with the short piece we set, Jumpin’ (Yes - to Destiny’s Child). I was able to attend their showcase & it was so fun seeing how they took the choreography, made it their own, & got the entire audience jumpin’ for more!
Tap Dance at Sea… (March 2019)
I am headed back to The North Street Playhouse , this time to choreograph Dames at Sea. I am excited to be a part of this Tap Happy production & bring the joy of story-telling & tap dancing to the Eastern Shore community. Come see the show, and support this great theatre! You can get tickets HERE …
…But hurry, because I have a feeling this one may sell out!
A rehearsal shot from the soft shoe number “Raining in my Heart” - Why not have perfect yellow umbrellas?
Tale as Old as Time… (Spring 2019)
I had the wonderful opportunity to travel from NYC down to Raleigh, NC to choreograph a 50 student production of Beauty & the Beast. The students ages spanned from 5th Grade to Seniors. It was a fun challenge, but I was very impressed with how well they helped each other and practiced together to learn all of the choreography, especially as most were not dancers.
I have such a passion for education and educational theatre. Being able to encourage younger generations to embrace and grow in their art is something that is so special, and I am thankful for every opportunity I have to share that with students of any age.
Beauty & the Beast at Ravenscroft School (Raleigh, NC)
Theatre Along the Eastern Shore... (Summer 2018)
I absolutely love that theatre gives me the opportunity to see new places and meet incredible people. This last gig is a perfect example of that. I spent the month of July in a quintessential, small town on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, performing in Kiss Me, Kate! Produced by The North Street Playhouse, the show was directed by William X Stanley, and choreographed by Jimmie Lee Brooks, III. In addition to performing as a featured dancer and ensemble member, I was thrilled with the opportunities to teach masterclasses, act as Dance Captain and Associate Choreographer, responsible for the soft-shoe and tap bits in the show. Kiss Me, Kate was a joy to bring to this community and I hope to come back in the future.
A Viking Choreographer! (Spring 2018)
This past spring I traded in my winter hat for a viking helmet to choreographYo, Vikings at Applause! Cary Youth Theatre (NC). I was happy to be working with music JoAnna Li again, and with Director Ben Slate for the first time. Yo, Vikings is a wonderful show about an imaginative little girl, acceptance, and working together. I loved getting to work with these students and help them grow as artists through this process.
CONTACT me for information on choreography for your next children's show.
Dancing in A Christmas Carol (2016)
The Role of Choreographer… (2017)
A Christmas Carol at Temple Theatre (Sanford NC)
Christmas 2017 brought me back the Temple Theatre, to work alongside the incredible Peggy Taphorn - this time as choreographer! I had worked on several productions of A Christmas Carol in the past (at Temple Theatre and Theatre in the Park - Raleigh), but this was the first production I was a full member of the artist team. In the 2016 production of A Christmas Carol and Temple Theatre, I acted as Assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain as well as performing. I always enjoy working with Peggy - she brings professional, quality theatre to Sanford, NC. If you are in the area definitely check out Temple Theatre's season, you won't regret it!
Emergence: Celebrating choreographers in the Triangle
October, 2017 - Durham Arts Council PSI Theater
Choreographer, Ashley McCullough, shared her work; In.Human.e at Emergence 2017 (Durham, NC). Durham has a thriving modern dance community, much in part to American Dance Festival, located downtown, and its' rich history. I was thrilled to be a part of this piece from the beginning, through the recording, and final acceptance into this wonderful evening of dance!
Follow Ashley McCullough for more of her work!
Rehearsal at ADF Studios (Durham, NC)
Cast and Crew of Anything Goes - Temple Theatre 2016
Assistant Choreographer... (2016)
I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Director/Choreographer Gavan Pamer on Anything Goes at Temple Theatre last fall. Learning from him and being able to help him fulfill his artistic vision for the show was an honor and a great learning experience. I would love to work with Gavan again someday on another project and continue learning from him. I also hope to work on another production of Anything Goes in the future, taking what I've learned from Gavan, as well as adding my own artistic vision to the show.