Biography | Ashley Brain Pilates

Ashley began dancing at a young age and trained intensively in ballet and contemporary techniques. She became more interested in dancer wellbeing and safe dance practice during her BA degree at the University of Calgary where she studied dance with a major in ballet in conjunction with the School of Alberta Ballet. In 2004 she gained her first Stott Pilates teaching qualification in mat work and discovered dance science and the existing opportunities to study further in this field. This brought her to the UK where she completed the MSc in Dance Science at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and worked as a graduate intern.

Ashley began teaching on the BA programme at University of Roehampton in 2009 and became Senior Lecturer in Dance and Dance Science. Her teaching focuses on ballet and topics under the dance science umbrella including anatomy, biomechanics, conditioning, psychology and somatic education. Across the past 20 years she has continued her professional development with Stott Pilates and in 2023 gained further teaching qualifications in mat and reformer work.

Ashley's academic research has focused primarily on 'Dance for Health' programmes. In 2016 she completed her doctorate research looking at the potential benefits of a ballet-based dance class for people with Parkinson's. This research was done in conjunction with English National Ballet and their Dance for Parkinson’s programme. She has presented at a variety of international conferences including annual conferences held by the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) and continues to publish research in the field.