Ashton Edwards

Ashton Edwards (born 2002 or 2003) is an American ballet dancer with the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Edwards is non-binary, and has trained in and performs both male and female ballet roles.

Life Edwards is from Flint, Michigan, They first became interested in ballet after seeing a local production of The Nutcracker at age three.

In February 2024, Edwards performed a pas de deux in The Times Are Racing at New York City Ballet with another non-binary ballet dancer, Taylor Stanley. Gia Kourlas, of The New York Times, noted that "their performance glowed, and not just because it was newsworthy...what mattered more was the energy between their physical forms; the warmth they radiated even at a distance; and their phrasing, which was so fluid that at times they seemed less two bodies than one". She noted of Edwards specifically, "Edwards...is all radiance. While small, Edwards moves with big scale and ever-growing extension; there is no hesitation, only constant attention to detail".

In December 2024, Edwards was a guest performer at the Flint School of Performing Arts's production of The Nutcracker, where they performed as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Peter Boal has credited Edwards with sparking internal review at Pacific Northwest Ballet regarding gendered classes and roles at the company.

Repertoire

A Midsummer Night's Dream - Puck The Nutcracker - Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow corps, Flowers corps Quick Pleasures (Kiyon Ross) Swan Lake - Swan corps de ballet, Little swans

Awards and recognition

2021 Princess Grace Award 2023 "25 to Watch", Dance Magazine