Team

Ashley Canterna Hardy *

Advanced Ballet/Pointe, Jazz, Variations, Advanced Lyrical

Ashley Canterna Hardy received her ballet training at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC on full scholarship. At 14, she was the winner of the junior division at the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition. That same year, she represented the United States at the 2000 International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria winning the silver medal (the highest awarded) and the City of Varna Award. In 2002, she went on to win the title of “Miss Dance of America” and was honored as one of DANCE magazine’s “25 Dancers to Watch in 2002.” She received the Jury Award and performed in the televised Medalists Gala and Encore Gala at the 2002 USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi that same year. Ashley was one of the featured dancers in the documentary “Dancers,” highlighting the 2002 USAIBC. She has performed in numerous galas throughout the United States and abroad. Ashley was featured on the nationally televised “A Capitol 4th” with Kristin Chenoweth, appeared on “Star Search,” and was featured in the movie “Step Up.”

Most recently, Ashley has been a company member with “Rock the Ballet” performing at the Joyce Theater in New York and on their European tours.

She enjoys traveling as a guest artist, master teacher, choreographer and judge, or spending time with her students at the Edna Lee Dance Studio in Maryland.

Mary Moran *

Ballet, Tap, Adult Tap

Mary Moran received her early training under the tutelage of Edna Lee. While in high school and college, she performed in various productions at Annapolis Summer Garden Theater and Colonial Players. After graduation from UMBC with a B.F.A. in theater, Mary moved to New York and danced professionally using the stage name of “Lizzie” Moran. She performed on Broadway for 7 1/2 years in the 1980’s production of “42nd Street”, while modeling, doing commercials and movie extra work. After 17 years in the Big Apple, she returned to her roots and is proud to continue the education traditions with which she grew up. Mary enjoys teaching all ages and levels, coaches and choreographs for the competition students and is the proud recipient of several choreography awards. She has judged dance competitions at the National level and is a member of Dance Masters of America where she served as President of Chapter 17 from 2006 – 2008.

Althea Whieldon *

Introduction to Dance, Ballet, Combination

A native of New Jersey, Althea Whieldon began her dance studies at the age three after seeing Swan Lake on public television. As a teen, she danced in local ballet company productions including the Grand Pas de Quatre as Charlotta Grisi and the younger stepsister in Cinderella. She has also studied Eastern European and Israeli folk dance. She has directed adult and children’s worship dance teams and teaches Zumba at Heritage Community Church in Severn, MD. She is a member of Dance Masters of America, where she serving as chapter president during the 2016-18 season. She is also a graduate of the DMA Teacher Training School, and will be starting graduate studies starting in summer 2017. Currently, she teaches Introduction to Dance, Combination classes, Ballet and Pre-pointe at the Edna Lee Dance Studio.

She has been married to Charles Whieldon for 35 years and together they have 3 adult children: Gwyneth, Lee, and James. In 2011, she retired from the federal government and stays busy with community-oriented projects. Today, Miss Althea finds great delight in sharing the joy of dance with people of all ages.