The South Otago High School year 13 pupil says since she started dancing as a pre-schooler, the challenge of learning new dance styles and improving techniques has continually inspired her.
"I really enjoy dance because it is a good way to keep active and with some styles - like jazz dance - there is so much room for interpretation."
Ashleigh lists participation in national dance competition finals and performing in, choreographing and organising school groups for Stage Challenge events from 2005 to 2008 as recent cultural highlights.
She takes pride in seeing junior pupils improving their skills in the recreational jazz classes she has taken for the past three years.
These mentoring roles and experiences as a school council member and peer support leader have been "very good for time-management skills".
Achievements: Social netball team (2006-08); School sports exchange participant (2006-08); British Ballet Organisation New Zealand excellence award modern dance; elementary level with honours and RAD intermediate with distinction; Most promising Modern Dancer Otago (2006) dancer en pointe (2006); Runner up for Rowena Jackson Scholarship for Ballet variations in Southland (2007); Otago Polytechnic Fashion Show (2007) and id Fashion Week model (2008); Diploma in modelling (2007); Stage Challenge (2005-08).
Role model: "Anyone who is driven and motivated and independent and is enthusiastic about whatever they are doing."
Hopes for the future: "To study English and geography at university, and possibly return to dance teaching later."