Dancer, Choreographer and Instructor Nikki Ashby is a descendant of the Kaurna and Narrunga peoples from South Australia.

Nikki trained in theatre and dance from 8 years old, in styles including contemporary, modern, jazz, ballet, cultural hip hop, Latin and Capoeira, having studied the foundations of hip hop overseas in Philadelphia, USA.

Nikki danced with Bangarra in Unaipon, and acted and danced in Wesley Enoch's I Am Eora, choreographed by Yolande Brown. Nikki was a featured Dancer on Series 1 of So You Think You Can Dance and Choreographer and Co-Host for Move it Mob Style.

As an Actor, Nikki toured nationally as storyteller host with Erth Physical and Visual Theatre of their show I Bunyip and with Ilbijerri Theatre's Chopped Liver National Tour and was leading support Actor, Dancer and Choreographer for Blak Cabaret's tour to Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair, Sydney Festival and Darwin Festival. Nikki was also the Movement Coordinator and Cultural Consultant for State Opera's musical theatre production Cloudstreet, based on Tim’s Winton’s classic novel, and the Director and Choreographer for Beautiful - a work by Of Desert & Sea Dance which won the South Australian Emerging Artist Award at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2020.

She has travelled extensively throughout remote Australia working in Aboriginal communities including as a Choreographer-in-residence for Cunnamulla Dreaming, and through various dance and theatre projects in schools and youth centres.

As a Dance Teacher and Mentor at organisations including Kurruru Performing Arts, D'faces of Youth, Riverland Youth, Jumbuck Theatre and NAISDA Dance College, Nikki’s training has been a powerful and positive influence in the lives of many young and aspiring First Nations Dancers.

Nikki’s Choreography has been featured in festivals and events such as the Commonwealth Games Melbourne, The Dreaming Festival, and Dreamtime at the G Opening Ceremonies.