Ashifa began studying ballet at the age of 6 and pursued it for 14 years. Primarily a student of the Vaganova technique, she learned under the tutelage of Renee Chatelain, Cecile LeMoine Bankston, and Susan Perlis in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. She received intensive training on full scholarship at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York and at the renowned The Rock School for Dance Education (formerly The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet). She was also accepted to the Joffery Ballet (on partial scholarship), and South Carolina Ballet, and Boston Ballet summer programs. Ashifa participated from 1993-1996 in the Southwest Regional Ballet Association annual festivals studying modern, character, jazz, ballet and repertoire under notable teachers. Throughout her training, Ashifa has taken master classes from distinguished teachers such as Winthrop Corey, John Magnus, and Suki Schorer.

Ashifa performed with the Baton Rouge Ballet Theater Company, the Mid-City Dance Project, Inc. and with a local dance studio from 1990-2001. Her repertoire includes The Nutcracker with roles as Clara, Snow, Flowers, Chinese, Doll, Arabian, Snow Queen, and Sugar Plum Fairy; soloist in Sleeping Beauty; lead in Les Sylphides and Carousel; excerpts from La Bayadere and Paquita; Cinderella; Giselle; Act II of Swan Lake; Messiah; Alice in Wonderland, Rodeo, and original pieces by Renee Chatelain, Amelie Hunter, Susan Perlis, Trey Gillen, and Byron Suber among others. Her experience ranges from local community engagements to full scale professional performances.

Ashifa began teaching ballet in 1999 and has continued teaching through today working with diverse students. When she moved to India in 2005, she brought her love of ballet with her. In 2008, Ashifa began sharing her craft with her fellow Mumbai-ites. She moved back to the USA in 2014 where she will continue her work with her beloved art form.