Ashalee Fann

At the tender age of 4, Ashalee Fann entered her first Ballet class at the Stanley Holden Dance Center in Westwood, CA, and never looked back. As she trained extensively for the next decade, Ashalee caught the attention of legendary dancer, actress, and director, Debbie Allen. As one of the first scholarship students at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Ashalee studied Musical Theater, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Tap, Dunham, African, and Flamenco. In 2002, she was cast alongside Broadway legend Matthew Dickens, and comedian Buddy Lewis, to play Seriah in Allen’s theatrical production “Pearl” at the Geffen Playhouse.

Ashalee went on to study dance at San Francisco State University under the guidance of Dr. Albirda Rose. She worked directly with the Master Teacher and Director of Dunham Technique Certification, and it was Dr. Rose who offered Ashalee her first teaching job. In her junior year of college, Ashalee shifted her primary focus from dance to television and film, as she gained interest in multiple sectors of the entertainment industry, leading her back to her hometown.

Ashalee has performed on stage, television, choreographed music videos, and live performances. Her most recent work has been featured on the HBO hit series “A Black Lady Sketch Show”, the NAACP “Image Awards”, and “The Late Late Show with James Corden” on CBS. She is currently earning a M.A. in Dance from California State University, Long Beach, and holds a B.A. in Television, Film, and Media Studies from California State University, Los Angeles.

Ashalee is honored to lead the formation of the dance program at Cleveland, encouraging students to commit to excellence, nurture their individuality, and strengthen their technical foundation. Promoting mental wellness through creative expression is at the forefront of the program’s core values.