Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashten Falter.
Ashten, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am originally from Knoxville, TN. I moved to the northeast for college where I received a BFA in Musical Theater. I made the big leap and moved to New York City to pursue my dreams of becoming a musical theater performer. As I lived in New York, I learned so much about the industry but more importantly, I learned about myself. I found new passions like cinematography and acting on film as well as modeling. I was able to explore different creative venues and grew exponentially as an artist and person. I choreographed dance pieces for my college and church, acted in short films, modeled for a clothing company and a large tech company, danced with incredibly driven and excellent dance teachers and choreographers, performed regionally with a theater company, and learned that waking up at 4 am and working five jobs did not suit me anymore. I wanted to find a way to live a creative and HEALTHY lifestyle. That eventually led my husband and I here to Austin.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has most definitely NOT been a smooth road. I still am very much figuring everything out. I have so many passions and desires to create in different avenues that I can easily get overwhelmed. My time in New York was one of the most difficult times of my life. After six months of waking up before dawn to go stand outside in the freezing cold to maybe or maybe not get seen and working jobs all over the city- I burned out. I became a shell of a person. I remember my roommates at the time telling me I had to stop or I would break. They were right. I was living paycheck to paycheck and the stress and anxiety of that kind of life weighed on me emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally. I chose then to take a break from auditioning and to just focus on my well-being. I plugged myself into my local church, New Life Fellowship, and found stability. I worked my butt off to pay off as much as I could of my student loans and found purpose in taking care of myself and the two girls I nannied. I truly believe I went through all that hell for a purpose. When I moved to Austin and said goodbye to the girls I had nannied for five years, I told them “I wanted to fall in love with New York, but I fell in love with you guys instead.” In short, New York brought me some of the most painful memories but some of the most beautiful ones too. Filled with joy, laughter, tears, hope, depression, and exhaustion. When I tore my ACL and meniscus last year and had shoulder surgery six months prior to that, I could tell my body was telling me it was time to let go of New York. I’m very glad I did.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, model, producer, director and an aspiring filmmaker. I am currently producing and acting in a short film written by my friend Alex Beck from Austin School of Film. I have performed in different regional theaters across the country and done various work acting in short films, choreographing shows for my college and church, as well as modeling for a clothing line and commercials. I am most proud of playing the role of Cassie in A Chorus Line at my college. The director and choreographer, Luis Villabon, believed in me by casting me as Cassie and by doing so changed my life. I had “Cassie boot camp” to prepare me for the 13 minute dance solo in “The Music and The Mirror.” I was forced to believe in myself more than I ever had before. Despite all of my insecurities telling me my voice wasn’t strong enough, my acting wasn’t good enough or my dancing wasn’t solid enough, I gave that role everything I had. To this day, I look back and treasure the time I lived and dreamed Cassie.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I loved to swim and swam in summer league growing up. I currently teach swimming at the local YMCA and swim with the Master’s Program.
Contact Info:
- Email: ashtenfalter@gmail.com
- Website: www.ashtenfalter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashtenfalter/?hl=en
Image Credits
Photos by @thru.paulas.lens and @doyouseeproductions
