Full Name: Ashleigh Ingersoll Di Lello

Nickname: “When I was young, my dance company called me “Energizer Bunny” – now they call me “Firecracker”!”

Specialty: International Latin Ballroom

Ashleigh finished in 5th place in So You Think You can Dance Season 6.

Hometown: Orem, UT

Currently Resides: Orem, UT

Age: 26

Audition City: Salt Lake City, UT

School: “I graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU). I studied political science and history.”

Professional Work: “Recently I did a show for MAC cosmetics in LA. Louis van Amstel’s “Ballroom with a Twist” Sept ’09 Jerry Lewis Telethon and in Texas, Louis van Amstel’s “Invitation to Dance” on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Louis van Amstel’s “Latin Revolution” in Salt Lake City.”

Favorite professional dancer: Yulia Zagoryuchenko

Other talents/hobbies: “I love to sing; I play the piano. I love sports – especially football. I love politics and love to cook. I love outdoor sports; skiing, cycling, boating, 4-wheeling, etc.”

Looks up to So You Think You Can Dance Alumni: “I look up to both Chelsie Hightower and Lacey Schwimmer for how well they did as ballroom dancers adapting to the other styles. I hope to follow in their footsteps, but go all the way to the end! ”

Ashleigh Di Lello graduated from Brigham Young University in Utah with a degree in political science and served as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C. She and her husband, Ryan Di Lello, used to compete against each other in local ballroom dance competitions and became dance partners a week before they were married.

How did it feel on the recent day with the press and photo shoot? “Today is a dream come true and an amazing opportunity. I’m very, very grateful, and especially grateful to be here with Ryan. (FOX)

Dance Signature Move:

The female half of the first married couple to ever make the show’s Top 20, she’s overcome a lot to get this far: “I became really sick when I was 13 and went through a four-and-a-half year illness. I almost lost my life, fought through it. But when I recovered from that, I injured my back because my body was so weakened. I had to rehab for over a year. For six years, I was told I wouldn’t dance again. But at age 20, I came back to it. It’s a miracle for me to be dancing at all. I’m so grateful.” by Korbi Ghosh, Zapit

UPDATE: In the Top 10 performance night personal video clip for Ashleigh, she revealed that her sickness was diagnosed as a “rare parasitic infection” that caused her pain all over her body particularly the joints. (December 1, 2009)

From Fox Dance Profile:

Ashleigh Di Lello began dancing at the early age of 3. After 5 years of company work in ballet, jazz, and hip hop, Ashleigh fell in love with ballroom dancing when she was 12 and became a DanceSport Junior Latin Champion and a United States Junior American Latin Finalist. At the age of 13, Ashleigh became very sick with a life-threatening illness that she would battle through for the next 4.5 years. After overcoming this illness, she suffered a serious back injury when trying to return to dance and spent the following year and a half in rehab.

After an imposed six-year break, Ashleigh returned to ballroom dancing and has since become a 3-time DanceSport Amateur Latin Champion and a United States Amateur Latin Finalist. Ashleigh has performed and taught in 19 different countries and is now so excited to be in SYTYCD Season 6’s Top 20 with her husband, Ryan! Ashleigh now hopes to show America her passion, love, and appreciation for dance and go all the way to the season finale!

Solo, December 1st 2009: