Shannon Ashlia grew up in and around Atlanta, Georgia, cultivating a passion for music, dance, and all artistry. She has been trained in ballet and tap since the age of four and began competing in jazz, hip-hop, and tap at age seven. Shannon began singing in her church and school choir at the age of six and developed a passion for fashion at an early age as well. Shannon danced competitively until the age of 15, dancing 6 days a week and traveling across the country to compete. At the age of 16, Shannon's stage transformed into a stadium, where she became the captain of her award-winning high school dance line throughout high school. As a freshman at Howard University, Shannon became a Bison cheerleader, where she perfected her gymnastics and tumbling skills. She cheered for football, basketball, and competitively, and joined and directed a hip-hop performance group, RAMPAGE. Shannon graduated cum lade from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a minor in Theatre Arts. 

 
After college, Shannon broke into the DMV dance community as a creative director for a couple of companies in the area, including a stint as director for Oasis Dance Collective in Washington, D.C. Throughout the last decade and a half, Shannon has been choreographing award-winning competition routines for several dance companies across the DMV area. Shannon is currently working as a professional dancer/choreographer and arts educator in Maryland.  She also works as the Creative Coordinator at Joe’s Movement Emporium, an arts non-profit in Mount Rainier, MD. 

Shannon has worked with notable artists and performers, choreographing and dancing in concept videos, music videos, live shows, and showcases. She has toured and performed with many talented artists, including DMV’s own Grammy-award-winning Mya, RuPaul's Drag Race superstar Tatiana, award-winning gospel artists Anthony Brown and Kirk Franklin, Lil’ Kim, and more. Shannon is currently choreographing, teaching, and performing in the DMV area and is one-half of The Bridge Millennial Podcast, shared with artist and mental health specialist, Robert Saint Michael.

 
Shannon's goal is to encourage expression and storytelling through the creative and performing arts by providing access to artists to perform, train, and enjoy art themselves. In the future, Shannon aspires to create a clothing brand, write novels, and continue traveling the world to share her passion for the arts on all platforms.