Ashley Davidson

Dancer Profile: Ashley Davidson

New Hampshire senior Ashley Davidson’s Scottish pride is in her DNA. Her paternal grandparents are from Scotland, and her father has played the bagpipes all his life.

It seemed natural when she started highland dancing at the age of 4.

Though she quit for some time and tried ballet, baton and other forms of dance, the fun atmosphere of highland dancing lured her back in 2003.

Ashley Davidson ’12

The athletic training major bought a new kilt to celebrate her return—a purchase she calls “exciting”—and has been dedicated ever since.

“I love the intensity of the workout,” says Davidson. “It’s like football crossed with ballet. You need strength, but you also need grace.”

She typically attends about 15 competitions a year, making friends in places like Canada and Scotland along the way.

Since earning her dance teaching certificate, Davidson has taught the Mid-Michigan Highland Dance Academy.

She spends her free time on campus with Center for Responsible Leadership and the Little Sibs Committee as well as Alternative Breaks.

Jacki Olson ’11 was recently welcomed with open arms as an apprentice at Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre, a company co-founded by fellow alumna Kristin Bender-Polizzi ’95.

“Surfscape is more than a dance company—it’s a family,” says Olson. “I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to pursue my passion with such an awesome group of amazingly talented dancers and directors. I am lucky to be able to call them my friends.”