Ashley Donahue (she | her)
Intimacy Coordinator/Director &
Indigenous Wellness Coordinator
Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles
Ashley is eligible to work in Canada and the US and is a member of UBCP-ACTRA.
Ashley's work as an Intimacy Coordinator and Intimacy Director with Principal Intimacy Professionals has become the next evolution of her dynamic career. She has been recognized as Canada’s first Indigenous Wellness Coordinator; through this role she offers culturally based care to cast and crew, focusing on emotional wellness planning and tangible backstage resources. Ashley believes that offering culturally based care allows for storytellers and performers to explore challenging cultural content in a mindful and judicious way.
Ashley has a unique background that combines social justice advocacy with the performing arts. She is a dancer, choreographer, actor, and producer who has dedicated her life to the studio and stage. A graduate from the University of British Columbia, Ashley has over a decade of experience in social work and victim services, with a focus on Indigenous communities.
While at UBC, Ashley honed her choreography skills by working on musicals such as The Boyfriend, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Crazy For You, Sweet Charity, and Into The Woods. After graduation, she transitioned into solo performance art and created the award-winning burlesque persona Ruthe Ordare. As "Ruthe," Ashley headlined festivals across North America and co-founded Virago Nation, an all-Indigenous burlesque collective. From 2016 to 2022, she served as the Artistic Director for the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival, advocating for diversity and representation on the burlesque stage.
Proudly a member of the Mohawk Nation of Six Nations, ON, Ashley currently resides on the traditional lands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations (also known as Vancouver) with her wife Trish and a sassy Betta fish named Levi.
Testimonials
“I have worked on over twenty short films and in the production office of a few studio productions but I experienced a whole new facet of filmmaking working with Ashley. I worried that it would be a burden to our schedule to incorporate an Intimacy Coordinator but Ashley actually saved us time on set, quickly helping me solve choreography challenges and offered language that helped me direct sensitive scenes. Our actors also expressed huge appreciation to me for pulling her on. She was an absolute asset to our team.”
— Rana Shemirani, Director/Writer, 2 Days of Danny
“I recently held a development workshop for a new Indigenous musical I wrote which included actors, and one of my highest priorities was finding someone who could take on the job of both intimacy direction and mental health facilitation. While the musical is meant to be a love story, it also has some sensitive themes, involving racism, colonization and violence. Ashley was the perfect person to hire for this job. While her title is Intimacy Director, her knowledge and experience, especially with Indigenous participants, was particularly helpful in ensuring the mental health and safety of all persons involved in this project. She is an excellent communicator, a kind and warm person, and she creates a very comfortable environment. She thinks ahead and comes up with solutions for issues before they can become a problem. She was a pleasure to work with, and I will absolutely be reaching out again for the next stage of development.”
— Michelle Bardach, Writer/Director, Coast Salish Love Story
“Having worked professionally in the film, television, and theatre industries for over a decade, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with numerous Intimacy Coordinators. I can confidently say that Ashley has not only surpassed my expectations but has also set a new standard for the role. Her comprehensive approach and excellent communication are equally matched by her level of care and dedication to the people she works with. Ashley ensures that everyone feels safe, respected, and empowered, and her attention to detail creates an environment where both artistry and personal boundaries can thrive.”
— Cody Kearsley, Actor/Director/Writer/Producer, Vagrant Players Theatre Society & Persephone Pictures Inc.
