Ashley Suta shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Ashley, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity is everything to me. I try to keep integrity at the heart of every single choice I make in the arts. In this day and age, it’s entirely too easy to sell yourself or your product short in exchange for following trends and chasing money. As a dance educator, though, I recognize that we can’t choose what’s “easy” or sometimes even what’s most profitable if we’re going to put the students and their needs first. I’d rather have quality over quantity any day, and I think it’s surprised me in my career path to realize the lack of standards and accountability that still exist within dance education in the modern age. So I’ve made it both a personal and professional goal to bring more integrity to every meeting, program, class, workshop, dance competition, etc. that I find myself a part of because nothing is more important than genuinely supporting and uplifting the next generation.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! My name is Ashley Suta.
I graduated from Kennesaw State University, where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance (Summa Cum Laude) with a concentration in Classical Ballet.
During college, I began my teaching career at Hickory Flat Dance Academy and have since built over a decade of experience as a dance educator. My immense passion for dance pedagogy and working with kids of all ages has opened up opportunities to instruct and guest teach all across the metro-Atlanta area, for which I am immensely grateful.
I’m currently in my 9th season with the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, where I serve on faculty as well as in a variety of administrative roles. I’m one of the original faculty members at the Virginia-Highland Centre in Amsterdam Walk and have been honored to further serve the Virginia-Highland families and student body as its Centre Manager since 2023.
During my time with Atlanta Ballet, I’ve spearheaded additional programming such as the Kids In Step Student Matinee Field Trip Series for local school groups and Educate.Motivate.Elevate, the Centre’s student mentorship program.
I am also affiliated with the the Addicted2Dance Competition/Convention in Colombia, South America. I’ve had the honor of traveling to both Pereira and Barranquilla to serve as an adjudicator and faculty member for their events.
Across all my roles, I strive to make the arts more accessible and impactful to students of all backgrounds. I seek to create a community, where all students feel represented and can thrive at their fullest potential.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I had many incredible mentors throughout my college and young professional life. These individuals always pushed me and encouraged me to see the potential in myself. Nicole Adams, whom I had the pleasure of working under at Atlanta Ballet for many years, shaped my perception of leadership and remains a close friend and mentor to this day. From my time at KSU – David Tatu, Mara Mandradjieff, McCree O’Kelley, Christine and John Welker were all a huge support and helped get me where I am today. I am beyond grateful for all of these wonderful humans.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
When I was younger, I was always a little bit scared of standing out and being different. I wanted to blend in and often didn’t speak up for myself or others in ways that I should have. It took time in my professional career to realize that my unique voice and opinions matter. I’m proud to be able to stand up now and go against the status quo when need be. It’s a skill that didn’t come right away, but more and more I began to realize in certain spaces that if I don’t speak up, who will? That’s really important to me, especially since I’m centered in dance education and work with kids. I always want to be that person who advocates for my students and my faculty members. I’ve had to learn that that doesn’t always make you everybody’s favorite person, and that’s okay. Being a leader means you have to make sacrifices and stand up when no one else will.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I believe that when you create a safe, nurturing environment for dance students, that it impacts their progress in a monumental way. We have to fuse an emphasis on strong technique with compassion. Without compassion, your students are going to burn out, be at more risk for injuries, and miss out on their full potential. When dancers feel comfortable with their teacher/studio, have mutual respect for each other, and feel loved and supported from the inside out, the results are incredible.
In this day and age, it’s so important that we care for the dancer as a whole. We want to make choices that are supporting our dancers’ physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. We can’t just come in to class with our demands for them to do this exercise, make this correction, etc. We, as dance educators, also have to be listening and in tune with what our students need. It’s a two-way street. The more you give your students, the more they’ll give you. It’s a win, win. But we have to be willing to break some of the antiquated ways that dance, particularly ballet, has been taught in the past.
We have to recognize that we aren’t teaching robots but living, breathing, impressionable young human beings that are discovering everything for the first time. As a teacher, that perspective changes everything.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
In a work setting, I feel most at peace when I’m physically in the classroom teaching.
Teaching, for me, is almost like a kind of meditation, similar to if I’m actually taking a ballet class myself. You have to be all in and completely 100% present. You can’t bring in outside distractions. You have to put aside anything else and dedicate yourself to the present moment with your students.
Teaching often feels like a break from reality, and I think that’s really beautiful. I find that if I’m ever having a bad day, stuck in a funk, etc. that I always leave the studio from teaching in a better headspace than I started. It helps me clear my head and reminds me why I do what I do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ashleymaekayla
Image Credits
~ B&W headshot (Kim Kenney)
