Slay Staff
WHO WE ARE
The show is put on by professional performers, coaches and judges that want to create opportunity and unity within the community. It is our goal to create a safe, welcoming and united environment open to everyBODY. Our mission is to create a platform for performers, beginner to professional, to have a creative outlet to share their talents and build their portfolio while inspiring the next generation of performers and supporting our local studios.
MEET OUR TEAM
ASHLEY - FOUNDER & PRODUCER
Ashley is the owner and head coach of FlexyFit and Aerial Ashletes, a professional aerialist and competition judge. This dynamic and melanated aerialist and coach loves to train everyBODY and helps people achieve their aerial ambitions in pole, flying pole, lyra, trapeze and aerial yoga. She is the current Athlete Chair for US Pole Sports Federation (USPSF), and she specializes in the coaching of competitors and plus-size aerialists. Promoting body inclusion, better teaching practices, self-advocacy are passions of hers. Ashley is a master nerd and body sorceress with numerous pole/aerial certifications; she’s also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist and Human Movement Specialist with ten years of experience in fitness, flexibility, dance conditioning, pole and aerial. She’s also a business creative that loves helping soloprenuers and small businesses.
VALERIE - SHOW MANAGER
Valerie is our Event Manager, aka “the show whisperer!” She is the behind-the-scenes pro that keeps our events running smoothly! A Insurance Professional by trade, this wife and mother of two loves spoiling her family through cooking elaborate meals. When she is not cooking or traveling, you can find her training to improve her craft as an Ashlete of FlexyFit. There she is also the Team Assistant supporting the team behind the scenes. Valerie first found the love of pole/arial in 2021 when she visited a studio looking for a fun and challenging workout. She fell in love with the sport and signed up for competition with PSO Space City. She won 1st place in her division at her very first competition.
Eré - AERIAL COORDINATOR
Eré is a fierce spinning Latinx aerialist based out of the DFW Metroplex. She fell in love with Aerial Arts in 2014 and has always had an affinity for Aerial Hoop. Since then Eré has traveled to the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Mexico and across the United States to hone her skills and learn from as many aerial powerhouses as possible. Obtaining certifications to teach were a natural progression as she was a school teacher too. Now Eré is a full time instructor at Shine Fitness Studio where she specializes in Beginner and Intermediate Aerial Hoop and Dance Trapeze, she loves helping everyone achieve all their aerial goals. Being in the air swirling around the Hoop and playing with gravity to achieve a faster spin is her true happy place.
DEE - POLE COORDINATOR
Dee, aka Pole_For_Your_Soul is a pole vet with nearly 11 years in this beautiful art. Pole Fitness catalyzed her weight loss journey and stole her heart immediately. She began competing, and soon after began teaching. She is a level 0-2 instructor at Altitude Fitness Highland Village. Her happy place is low flow and floorwork. Dee feels very intently that every woman deserves to feel sexy. Feeling sexy and appreciating your sensuality causes a domino effect on other aspects of life. Dee has worked with Ashley for the last 9 years and is very dedicated to growing this showcase for our pole, circus, aerialist, burlesque, twerk, chair, floorwork and dance community.
CANDACE - PHOTOGRAPHER
Candace is Co-Owner and Photographer at Divine Photographer. She has showcased her skills from behind the camera for over 10 yrs. She has a passion for creativity and loves to use photography as a way of self expression. Candace is very excited to be a part of the Slay The Stage team.
CHARLES - PHOTOGRAPHER
Born in the Bay Area of California and raise in Texas. I started my career has a IT Professional, after climbing the corporate ladder I started my own IT Managed Service Business. I took up photography as a hobby a while back and the feeling that I see my clients experience during our photoshoots is amazing! I see people get their confidence back and feel good about themselves. I just want to share that experience with everyone. Fixing computers, managing infrastructures, employees and projects is still great but it doesn’t impact people the way photography does.
