Conversations with Ashley Monroe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Monroe

Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I currently own the Rhinettes Dance and Burlesque Company in Denver, CO and it has been quite a journey. I started tap dancing at the age of 3 and got kicked out of Ballet Class for tapping at the ballet bar. I grew to love Ballet for it’s technique, but just later in college. I was always a singer in church and took acting classes starting at the age of 7. I decided to major with a BA in Musical Theatre from Chico State for my love of all three things- dance, acting and singing. I was the director of a student run, faculty advised Dance Program called,Chico Dance Theatre which helped my love of choreographing big group of dancers flourish. I did many summer theatre programs all over California and discovered my love of teaching dance to all levels of dancers. Then I found burlesque and I truly fell in love with the art form. What I loved most about burlesque was that EVERY BODY could do it and it wasn’t just about ONE SIZE or ONE SEX. It was all inclusive!!! It was the universal LOVE LANGUAGE OF DANCE and it made me appreciate it even more. I have body dysphoria and it truly is healing me everyday to do burlesque and teach burlesque to others and watch them heal through this art form. I’m all about learning to love your body where it is at. My body has survived and thrived through injuries, 2 pregnancies and many dance artforms including- tap, jazz, hip hop, ballet, lyrical and burlesque. Miss Monroe aka Ashley Morgan Monroe has always been a performer and storyteller. Born in the Bay, formed in Brooklyn, I now live in Denver. I’m a 5’2 petite powerhouse that doesn’t limit myself or my students/clients potential. Pilates Instructor by day burlesque artist by night I currently teach out of my home and use my home studio to run rehearsals for my company shows.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Super bumpy, but soo worth it. Money was always tight for my husband and I. I found a wonderful partner that hustles and works just as hard as I do and the two of us have grown together into a POWER COUPLE! When my husband and I moved to New York he went back to school to become doctor and I went into training for pilates to heal and stop injury myself through dance. We both wanted a family so we thought long and hard about what kind of life we wanted for our children and what new job opportunities could do for us as far as financial and time freedom where concerned. I was a major in Musical Theatre and my husband was a Sound engineer and Musician, so going into the health field made sense to us. Almost four years ago we bought our first home with a dance studio inside and have two beautiful children. Home ownership is crazy hard and super frustrating at times, but worth it. I work from home and teach online classes on zoom and in person. My job allows me to take off work to be invested in my children’s activities at school and take care of them when sick.
The biggest struggle is time management and juggling everyone’s schedule- kids, clients, rehearsals, touring and hubby’s always changing, never consistent schedule. It takes A LOT of planning and some tears, but anything worth doing or having takes effort and hustle. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I do however recommend ALL ARTISTS to get a minor in business or take some classes. WE ARE THE PRODUCT we are selling so it would have taken a lot of the self doubt out of my situation. Learning along the way has always been a struggle for this business owner so if I could do it all over again I would invest in thinking as myself as a business.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I LOVE TEACHING! Whether it be The Rhinettes or my Wednesday evening Burlesque Open Level Class or solos or pilates.
In dance, I am the queen of choreo and love integrating the art of the tease into complex choreography for dance.
In pilates, I love how it heals the body and the brain from trauma. It has kept this 41 years young lady stay healthy.

Truly-I’m most proud of the family my partner and I have created and cultivated. I love watching my children discover their passions without influence or pressure from us. Only LOVE. Through that, I learned new passions and new ways of practicing patience that I would have never gotten the chance to. I continue to learn how to find joy through my children and ways of giving myself grace. As a capricorn that’s really hard.

My credits include:
-Featured Solo Performer at The New Mexico Burlesque Festival 2025
-Winner of Weirdo Supreme at Weirdlesue Festival in Oklahoma City 2025- 1st place
-Choreographer and Performer for Femme Fatale LIngerie Fashion Experience 2024 Dynasty IV at Temple Night Club Denver, CO featuring the Rhinettes.
-Featured Solo Performer at Colorado Burlesque Festival 2024
-Featured Solo Performer at The Kansas CIty Burlesque Festival 2024
-Featured Group Performer at Mile High Burlesque Festival with the Rhinettes 2024
-Featured Solo Performer at Vermont Burlesque Festival Queens City Showcase 2024
-Featured Group Performer at Weirdlesque OKC Tower Theatre 2024
-Best Buds Winner- Mike High Burlesque Festival 2023 with Georgia May Wake
-Best Story Telling – Golden Legend Champion Challenge 2023 piece entitled Bloom.
-Golden Mic Winner/Best Host- Golden Legend Champion Challenge 2023
– Featured performer and choreographer for Latin Fashion week Nelly Bernal 2023 and 2022.
– Featured Performer and choreographer for RETT foundation Mardi Gras Celebration 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024
-Miss Monroe Presents- producing shows in Denver, CO for 4 years.
– Tease Me Burlesque School artistic director.
-MC for Miss Monroe Presents, Tease Me Burlesque School and Tease Studio Denver.

What are your plans for the future?
I recently parted ways from my business partner in The Rhinettes within the last 6 months. Having this business as my own is very scary but honestly I’m excited for the change and looking forward to growing the business and all that solo ownership has in store.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.therhinettesco.com
• Instagram: @therhinettes, @missmonroeburlesque
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558759382155
• LinkedIn: none
• Twitter: none
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@therhinettes7977
• Yelp: none
• Soundcloud: none

Image Credits
@d2ophotography – christmas show

@gcaballerophotography- fashion show

@meghannoellephoto- headshots

@therhinettes- our logo