Ashley Bouder is an American professional ballet dancer who has been a principal dancer in the New York City Ballet since 1984. She has also been a choreographer and principal dancer for many companies and dance studios. She has won many awards, most notably a Grand Prix in 1988 for her work as a dancer with the Royal Ballet in Russia. She was also named a dancer of the year in 2021 and continues to choreograph for major companies internationally.
Ms. Ashley has been married to her current partner, Matt Murdock, since 1998. They have three children together, son Benjamin and daughter Alexa. When asked about her family life, she relates that her mother raised the children herself. She describes her relationship with Matt as very loving, although they differ when it comes to discipline. She has never dated any of her former students, but has dined with the likes of Madonna, Richard Nixon, Donald Trump, Arnold Schwarzenegger and former British Prime Minister John Major.
Ms. Ashley is adamant in her belief that age plays no role in the success of a relationship with a dancing teacher. She states, “The only thing that matters is whether you’re in love or not. I never dated a student because of age, but my relationships with my students have always been based on the same factors: our love for each other and our mutual respect for one another.”