Ackerley is originally from Richmond BC, she attended the Ballet BC Mentorship program and two Banff Festival Dance Programs where she worked with choreographers Shawn Hounsell, Wen Wei Wang and Crystal Pite. Ackerley then danced with Ontario Ballet Theatre and Desrosiers Dance Theatre in Toronto before moving to London, England. Here Ackerley worked with various independent choreographers and visual artists. Ackerley began her teaching career working with Chicken Shed Outreach programs, a mainstream and special needs inclusive theatre company, as well as GreenCandle Deaf Dance Summer Programs. Ackerley taught at The West London School of Dance and their professional school, The Young Dancer’s Academy, for 11 years.