Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Zardus.
Hi Ashley, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am currently the Director of the Dance Program for the Novi Community School District. I have always had a love and passion for dance, I grew up in the private studio sector and graduated high school in 2017 as a 4 year member of the Oxford Dance Conservatory. It was the experiences and teachers at Oxford that helped me find my calling in life and goal of teaching dance in the public school setting. After high school, I attended Hope College in Holland, MI where I Majored in K-12 Dance Education and Minored in Secondary Math Education. Throughout my time at Hope I had opportunities to perform in Chicago and Las Vegas, as well as attending the National Dance Education Organization Conference in Miami, FL. After graduating from Hope College in 2021, I was lucky enough to land my dream job at Novi High School.
The Novi Dance Program includes academic classes at the high school level, a Pre-Professional Company for advanced level for dancers ages 13 to 18, as well as after school programs at the Middle School and a dance camp for 4th through 6th graders in the district.
In addition to teaching full time I also have a handful of part time jobs. I am the Assistant Director of Diversiform Dance Project as well as a dancer and choreographer with them for the past 5 years. I work on the weekends at a dance apparel store where I provide pointe shoe fittings. I also am the schools musical choreographer.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not exactly. There have been many moments throughout my life after high school where I have had to overcome personal challenges.
In High school I was diagnosed with patellar tendonitis which progressively got worse and in the Fall of my freshman year of college I tore my meniscus. It was supposed to be an exciting time in my life and dance career, but fighting through an injury that first year while finding balance in schooling and social life was very difficult for an 18/19 year old. My body is my instrument and it was broken. Dancing was my source of relief, not being able to destress during a stressful time transitioning into college life was rough on my mental health. Thankfully, I eventually got surgery and have been able to dance without limitations today. This experience has also promoted teaching safety to my students and how to preserve their bodies to keep them moving as they get older.
For the last three years I have been struggling with my physical health. While dancing has been my safe haven and a place to forget about what was going on, I have had to work through creativity blocks. Between being sick, dealing with a severe case of oral thrush and being diagnosed with a large fibroid tumor, I found my passions slipping behind and the negativity peeking forward.
I have hopes that this school year will be better and that my health will no longer be an issue. I feel those creative juices flowing and I am slowly getting back the excitement of creating new pieces.
Another challenge I face in my career is declining numbers of students wanting to participate in dance classes. It is a dream of mine to teach a full 5 classes of dance. There are three factors causing an abnormal decline in program numbers. Due to the competitive nature of our school, most kids would rather take an AP class over an art. Students today are overwhelmed with levels of anxiety that prohibit them from wanting to try something new and push themselves out of their comfort zone. Lastly, people do not know the program exists because it is not a mainstream/universal class like band, choir or orchestra.
I plan to face two of the three contributing factors above this school year by promoting the high school classes at the Middle School more and shifting performance requirements for the lower level elective dance classes, eliminating the intimidation behind live performances.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Throughout the past 5 years at my full time job at Novi High School I have taught a wide range of different classes. I have taught 4 levels of dance classes, ranging from absolute beginning levels to advanced. In 2025, I taught Algebra 1 and a special ed dance class. A “computer applications” class, teaching kids how to navigate google docs, sheets and slides. Along with Geometry both during the school year and in the districts summer school program.
I am most proud of being able to call myself a professional dancer. I think if I were to meet my younger self, she would be shocked to believe that I was able to accomplish that goal.
I always get a surprised reaction from people when I tell them I teach dance and math. Apparently those subjects are on two complete opposite ends of a spectrum, and rare, that I have not met anyone else currently working in both professions.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I have little time to explore media outside of work/life. I read on occasion but when I do its fantasy/romance books.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novidanceprogram/
