Ashlee knapp Stewart

Ashlee Knapp Stewart danced professionally with the New York City Ballet for seven years and has taught at Rye Ballet Conservatory since 2009.

Miss Ashlee started her ballet training in Omaha when she was eight years old under the tutelage of Robin Welsh. At age twelve, Miss Ashlee spent a year at The Rock School. At age thirteen, she accepted a full scholarship to study at the School of American Ballet (SAB), where she won the Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise, as well as the Princess Grace Award. During her time at SAB, Miss Ashlee toured with the New York City Ballet and performed an original featured role choreographed by former artistic director, Peter Martins. In 2001, Miss Ashlee joined the New York City Ballet at age fifteen.

While at the New York City Ballet, Miss Ashlee learned over forty ballets and performed full-time at Lincoln Center. She originated roles in Christopher Wheeldon's "Carnival of the Animals," Peter Martins' "Romeo and Juliet," and Robert La Fosse’s "Land of Nod." She toured with the company to Saint Petersburg and Copenhagen, and appeared in the PBS documentary “Bringing Back Balanchine.” Miss Ashlee retired after seven years of performing professionally. Miss Ashlee began her teaching career at Columbia University’s Columbia Ballet Collaborative program. In the fall of 2008, Miss Ashlee became a permanent faculty member of Rye Ballet Conservatory. In 2014, Miss Ashlee was one of twenty-three ballet school directors and teachers invited by SAB to attend its National Teachers Weekend. She has completed the Teachers Workshop at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. In 2018, Miss Ashlee was named the Director of Rye Ballet Conservatory.