Anna Ashy, Kempner High School Cougar Brigade Dance Team Head Director

Ms. Ashy is a 32-year veteran teacher in the public school system. She began dancing at age five in her hometown, Laredo, TX, under the tutelage of renowned Flamenco dancer and teacher, Altagracia Azios Garcia, where she studied Ballet, Jazz, and Flamenco.  

She attended United High School, where she danced in the award-winning United Longhorn Larriettes, under the direction of Lolly Betancourt. After high school, she attended Sam Houston State University, graduating with a BFA in Dance, and was a member of Spectrum Dance Company and of Chai Tau Epsilon Dance Honor Society.  She was awarded a dance scholarship and continued her graduate studies while on staff for the dance program as a teacher's assistant. Upon graduation, Ms. Ashy taught Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip-Hop, Tap, and Flamenco Dance at the Vidal M. Trevino Performing Arts High School in Laredo, TX. 

In 1995, she moved to Houston, TX, and became the Head Dance Director for the Brigade Belles Dance Team at McArthur High School in Aldine ISD. Anna then moved to Alief Independent School District, where she founded the Alief Jazz Ballet Dance Company (AJB). The performance company consisted of male and female dancers from four high schools – Elsik, Hastings, Taylor, and Kerr.

Ms. Ashy led the students to excellence throughout her 19-year tenure as the AJB Artistic Director, instilling a love and passion for the arts. The members of AJB experienced the music and dance world by performing in musicals throughout the district, the city of Houston, and beyond, attending numerous dance conventions, including Tremaine, Monsters of Hip-Hop, LA Dance Magic, and New York City Dance Alliance. 

In 2019, Ms. Ashy returned to her hometown of Laredo and became the Head Dance Director for the award-winning John B. Alexander High School Dazzlers, leading the team to 8 Regional and 2 National titles during her 8-year tenure. She also founded, directed, and choreographed the Dazzler Elite Dance Company – a group of elite dancers who toured and performed with the Alexander High School Award-Winning Band. During her transition from Houston to Laredo, Ms. Ashy Directed the Klein Cain Legacies, leading them to a National Title.

Ms. Ashy has served as a staff member of Marching Auxiliaries Dance (MA) for 25 years. She has worked in numerous studios throughout Texas as well as California, where she was invited to teach Latin Jazz to teenage studio members at a summer intensive in Sacramento. While a coach for Champion Superstars Cheer and Dance, she choreographed National Award-winning solos for grades 4-6. She also took home a National Dance title, grades 4-6.  Ms. Ashy has taught studio dance at Progressions Performing Arts Studio, Adamson School of Ballet, and Higher Ground Dance Studio as the Ballet and Pointe instructor.

Drawing from her extensive education and skill, hard work, discipline, positive outlook, and quick wit, Ms. Ashy inspires the very best in her students. She is thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with the fabulous Fine Arts Department in the "Land of Sunshine and Greatness" at Kempner High School.

GO COUGARS!