With over twenty years of dance education and experience Ashley Reyelts became the Owner and Artistic Director of Barefoot Dance Studios in June 2023 following the 15 year legacy of its founder, Andrea Schaefer. Miss Ashley began her time at Barefoot in 2016 and has spent the last seven years growing as a student, instructor, administrator, and is now honored to take on her role as the new studio leader. Reyelts has been trained under many local studios in her hometown of Rapid City, SD; as well as under the instruction of Mark Morris Company, Repertory Dance Theater, the American Tap Dance Foundation, the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre and the Joffrey Ballet. She has also been trained by a diverse set of teachings in higher educational dance from South Dakota State University and studied dance education through Arizona State University; in Phoenix AZ. Her training has led her to performances such as Clara in "The Nutcracker", and Sillibub in "Cats". Reyelts has had the opportunity to perform in the National Broadway Tour of "The Wizard of Oz", and at Disneyland. Locally, Reyelts has been hired to choreograph for the Chamber Music Festival of the Black Hills, Black Hills Community Theatre, West River Dance Company and has won many awards for choreography with the Barefoot Dance Team. Miss Ashley is a local board member of The Black Hills Dance Theatre and an active member of The National Dance Education Organization, (NDEO). Certifications include: AcroDance Preschool Certified Instructor through Acrobatic Arts. - Level 1 Certification, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).

 

"If you know me, you know that artistry and dance education are my whole world. Barefoot Dance Studios has become my home over the last decade and I couldn't be more proud to represent that to my community."