Jessica Ashton is the 17th year owner/director of Up North Dance Studio.  Jess started dancing in Massachusetts at the age of 12 and continued her training when she moved here to Vermont. She has taken classes and competed in Modern, Lyrical, Jazz, Ballet, African, Salsa, Irish but really discovered the love of dance when she was introduced to Hip Hop. She started teaching and choreographing at age 16 for such events as the Boston Celtics Pregame Show and Disney’s Magic Days, and always dreamed of having a studio of her own.  After meeting studio owner and long time friend, Sarah Cover, Jess discovered the Urban Dance Complex in Williston VT where she started teaching and taking classes. She was then inspired to take the big step and open a studio. Along with running the studio and teaching at North, Jess travels around the state to teach dance at schools, do workshops, and judge dance competitions. With each year getting bigger and better UP NORTH, she is excited for what is in store for this year! 

"UNDS is a family - we cry, laugh, dance, and grow together. It's what I've always dreamed of and its happening"

Kalli is a sophomore at BFA St Albans and has been with UNDS for many years. She is technically trained and has really become an amazing hip hop dancer as well. She is known for her fearlessness as she is always the dancer to be thrown, flipped, and lifted. She is teaching Modern this year and the students are loving her new way of teaching. 

Maekayla Brower is 22 years old and lives in Sheldon VT. When she is not dancing she is running her own cleaning business "Neatly Maid". She is a big sister to 3 siblings and loves spending time with kids.  Maekayla has been assisting, subbing, and teaching for many years and is a huge asset to our ballet and hip hop programs. 

Jaylynn is a lifelong dancer who has brought her talent of contemporary and tap to UNDS. She loves to help in our little kid hip hop classes and is in our adult and contemporary competition groups. She works as a cosmetologist and loves to share her acting and dancing as part of Nightmare Vermont every year. 

RJ is 42 years old and lives in Georgia VT. When he is not dancing he is a full time preschool teacher working on getting his teaching license. He has been dancing since he was 11 years old and has been with UNDS for 9 years and teaching tap for 7 of those. From teaching kids the beginning basics of tap to the advanced classes with the adults. When he dances he puts his heart and soul into his dances and his students. When he isn't at the studio or at work he likes to relax and get together with friends and family. RJ's motto is "Dance like noone is watching"

Kaylee "Robot" Robie has been a huge part of UNDS for many years. She graduated in 2020 and we are lucky enough to still have her here dancing and teaching. She is known for her Robot like skills that are self taught and is a positive sweet addition to our studio. 

Karlee is 25 years old and not a new face at UNDS. She was one of our very first students and has grown up dancing with us. She was a hit last year with her Hip Hop 4 class and has taken on Hip Hop 3 this year as well. The kids love her different style. When she is not dancing she is managing McGillicuddies on the Green in Colchester. 

Rianna is 18 years old and lives in Milton VT. She has been dancing for 10 years at UNDS and has done hip hop, lyrical, modern, and contemporary. Rianna has been assisting and subbing classes for over 4 years and is very excited to sub and assist while she attends college at Champlain this year.