2021 Princess Grace Award
Nominated by: Pacific Northwest Ballet School
Martyn Ravenhill Dance Honor
Ashton Edwards, originally from Flint, Michigan, started their training at the Flint School of Performing Arts. Ashton has attended summer ballet intensives at Joffrey Academy of Dance in Chicago, Houston Ballet School, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. In 2018, Ashton represented Flint in the NACCP National ACT-SO competition. In the Performing Arts, Ballet dance category, Ashton came in 3rd place, winning a bronze medal. Ashton competed again in 2020, coming in 2nd place, winning a silver medal.
In 2019, they began training at Pacific Northwest Ballet as a Professional Division student. The following year, Ashton started training en pointe at PNB in addition to his “Men’s” training. In the fall of 2021, Ashton will join Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice with the intention of performing all roles regardless of gender.
Photo credit: Lindsay Thomas for Dance Spirit