RICH ASHWORTH

CLASSES OFFERED: Tap, Hip Hop, Body Percussion, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Modern

Richard Ashworth, now living in Chicago, IL, is an educator, choreographer & performer whose technical abilities & historical knowledge have made him a sought after resource in urban & rhythmic dance communities. After graduation from the University at Buffalo where he received a BFA in Dance, he performed aboard Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas. Afterward, Rich danced in several live performances & industrials including artists such as Amungus and The Goo Goo Dolls. He has performed & toured with several internationally celebrated dance companies including Lehrerdance (dir. Jon Lehrer), Chicago Dance Crash (dir. Jessica Deahr), & Chicago Tap Theatre (dir. Mark Yonally), where he served as a choreographer & rehearsal director.

As an educator, Rich has served on the faculty of several dance based organizations including Dance Masters of America, CNADM, & the Interdanza Organization of Mexico. Currently, he performers & choreographs for several companies & colleges around the country. Rich’s own productions Blue Collar Music Box & Shoestrings have been highly praised in the Chicagoland media. He is currently a dancer/percussionist for Be the Groove’s Collective Beat, a rhythmic performance ensemble teaching kids the concepts of individuality, teamwork, & creative music making through live dance, theatre, & the percussive arts.