Artistic Director

Ashley Dowling – started dancing at the age of 3 at the Dalton Ballet Studio in Dalton, MA. She danced lead roles such as Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”, Captain Hook in “Peter Pan”, and the Wicked Witch of the West in “The Wizard of Oz”. Upon graduation she continued her dance studies at Dean College School of Dance in Franklin, MA where she received her A.A. Degree. She choreographed many student productions and performed in the community. Pursuing her career Miss Ashley went on to Mount Holyoke College and received her B.A. Degree in dance. There she taught dance in places such as Elementary schools, Nursing homes and Jails. She has taken master classes with performers such as Merrill Ashley, Marta Renzi, Charles and Rose Flachs, Lydia Clarkson, Ethan Steifel and Denise Jefferson. She has studied with Constance Valis- Hill, Rebecca Nordstrom, and Amie Dowling. Her teaching experience has included Pittsfield High School, Dalton Ballet Studio, Terpsichore Studio, Berkshire Pulse, and Flowering Child Performing Arts School and Simon’s Rock College of Bard. Miss Ashley also founded the Pittsfield High School dance team, has received numerous dance awards such as the Henry Houston Award, and has competed in the Massachusetts Junior Miss competition as Berkshire County’s Junior Miss, after winning the title Dalton Winter Carnival Queen. She has choreographed many full scale productions, and looks forward to creating many more. Her choreography has received many standing ovations for style, creativity and excitement. She is a member of the Artists for Action council.  Miss Ashley and her husband Ryan have a daughter, Kytalin and son, Turner.  As of 2008 Miss Ashley is a member of the National Dance Educators Organization.

New to the Academy This Year

Allysa Lake - has dance training in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, lyrical and contemporary. She recently received her certificate in dance education with highest honors from Northern Essex Community College. Allysa has taken several master classes throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York including a hip-hop master class with Ian McKenzie Lady Gaga’s back up dancer. Allysa has taught jazz and hip-hop dance to elementary school students for an after school enrichment program. This is Allysa's first year as an instructor at the Academy.

Erica Smith - is a recent graduate from the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School, has been dancing since the age of four. The majority of her dance training has been at the Alton Dance Academy where she has been dancing since the academy opened its doors in 2001. Erica’s dance training has included training in concentrations such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, contemporary, Irish, pointe, lyrical, and character. She has had the privilege of taking classes from dancers and choreographers such as Victoria Perreault, Nikki Sell, Dee Keri-Mattox, Elizabeth Goulet, and Peter Kalivas. Erica has been involved in dance productions such as the Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Peter Pan. She has held the role of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and as Alice in Alice in Wonderland.

Ashley LeClerc - is a 33-year-old wife, mother of 3 children, and 10-year resident of Alton. She has been practicing pilates since 2003 using the Windsor Pilates Method and Malibu Pilates. She has studied at Studio One Pilates in Concord, NH. After major surgery one year ago, she has returned to a full pilates routine! She is very excited to share Pilates Mat Class with Alton!

Sarah Alexandra Umberger - is a recent graduate of Plymouth State University with a B.A. in Theater. Her passion for movement began at the age of 7 dancing for Cindy Flanagan at Concord Dance Academy. From there she became a year round athlete and performer through high school, then pursued her outdoor career in skiing, backpacking, and climbing. After studying abroad in London she collaborated her passions to backpack through Europe and South America studying everything from ballroom to bikram. Sarah came back to the US to work with Amanda Whitworth, Director of Dance at PSU along with various instructors and choreographers in Plymouth, NH. She currently resides in Wolfeboro, NH where she practices yoga, slacklining and longboarding on a daily basis. She is extremely excited to share her worldly experience and musicality with the lakes region!

Kaylin Dean - started her dance training at the age of eleven. Her training includes Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Hip-hop, and Musical Theatre. She is a competitive dancer and has traveled all over the state to compete in regional competitions such as StarQuest, DTI, American Dance Awards, Headliners, Showstoppers, International Dance Challenge, and Ticket To Broadway. She has received special awards and was a youth dance ambassador for DTI in 2004. In addition she has also performed for charities, festivals, showcases, parades, and has been in numerous musicals. Kaylin is also a talented choreographer and has worked on many dance productions.

Siroun Braun- has studied music all her life. In college she majored in Pedagogy in piano. She enjoys teaching one on one solfege and piano theory to youth. She is the Alton Dance Academy’s Music and Me instructor. Sewing and knitting are some more of her passions, along with the study of ballet. She can also be found brining her daughter Nora to and from dance class multiple times during the week. She enjoys performing and the stage. Siroun and her husband are both integral in helping the studio with props and scenery ideas! Miss Siroun speaks over 3 languages- and has traveled to lots of places.  She is the Alton Dance Academy prop and costume mistress.

Kim Smith- started her dance experience at the age of eight in Haverhill, Massachusetts with a wonderful teacher who laid the foundation for her. She knew then that some day she would be working with children of all ages in creative arts. Her senior year of high school was very exciting as she took over her Instructors classes when she moved away with her family. Kim continued to take lessons at all stages of her life improving upon her dance and business skills - with the idea of “giving back”. After her daughter started to dance at the age of four it was confirmation for her that the love of dance was not going away. God opened doors for her in 2001 as Alton Dance Academy became a reality. It was time to “plant the seeds” in Alton. In 2006 she transferred the studio to her dear friend Ashley Dowling who is now the Owner/Artistic Director. She is blessed to remain a part of the Academy and work with Ashley in providing you and your children the experience of a fun, professional dance season.

Sherry Meyer- has forever enjoyed the latest mainstream dance. She began her formal jazz training with teachings from Ms. Linda Berube, a former Radio City Rockette and has continued her interests through various Hip Hop lessons at Attitudes School of Dance in Manchester, NH. When Sherry and her family moved to Alton in 2002, her passion continued by assisting Ms. Kim with the upcoming popular Hip Hop classes and inevitably taught independently by the third year. Now, Sherry continues to support Ms. Ashley as an alternate backup Hip Hop teacher and excitably looks forward to leading an Adult Hip Hop Fitness Class beginning this Fall.