erika Edison

Dance and Musical Theatre professional
dance Educator ★ dance competition Adjudicator

Erika is a dance and musical theatre professional with seven years experience in the New York City market. She’s worked across 35 US states, 8 countries and 3 continents! She has experience as a performer, teacher, adjudicator, college recruiter, studio director, and competition team director.

Erika moved to from the Philadelphia-area to New York City at 19 to pursue her professional dance career. She graduated from the Dance Theatre Conservatory at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (“AMDA”) and the Professional Semester at Broadway Dance Center.

As a performer, she appeared as Enid Hoopes on the International Tour of “Legally Blonde: The Musical.” She is a proud member of Actors Equity Association. As a teacher, Erika has been on the faculty at the AMDA and the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. As an adjudicator, she has been welcomed onto the judging panel at World Dance Championship, World Dance Pageant, Artists Simply Human, REVEL, StarQuest, In10sity, and OnStage America - as well as with the Miss America Organization. She is proud to be on the roster with Impact Dance Adjudicators. As a recruiter, Erika spent three years as a Dance Outreach Representative for AMDA - traveling internationally to attend dance competitions, conventions, festivals and other dance events. She taught and observed auditions, selecting dancers to receive acceptance and scholarship to AMDA’s Dance Theatre Program - awarding millions of dollars in scholarship to young, promising talent.

Since COVID-19, Erika relocated back to the Philadelphia-area, assuming her role with her family-owned dance studio. For four years, she has been the Administrative Director and lead teacher at The Dance Gallery - an ADDC Studio of Excellence. She teaches styles including ballet, modern, lyrical, jazz, tap, and musical theatre. Her students have received overall high scores, technique awards, and titles - and she’s had students accepted to prestigious programs at the Joffrey Ballet, the Philadelphia Ballet, and the Rock School.

Alongside her dance career, Erika is currently a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Leadership and minoring in Professional Writing.

check out Erika’s tiktok: @eedisondance

teaching reviews

“Before starting classes with Erika, I was very unsure of myself and was scared to attempt a new style. Erika had such a unique approach for teaching that makes you feel comfortable and taken care of, while also giving challenging choreography. She keeps the class extremely engaging - starting with her positive and uplifting energy and sense of humor. She was the first dance teacher I met who I felt really wanted you to succeed and appreciated how far you’ve come in your process. Erika’s helped me gain a much more confident and comfortable version of myself when approaching new choreography. She is patient, understanding, and invested in her students making her an extremely valuable teacher and friend.”

★

“Erika offers all the things a student needs in a teacher. High energy with patience. Accountability, as well as sensitivity. She provides tools students can bring into new classrooms and has a willingness to take time with individuals - whether it’s teaching a new step to a beginner in class or offering sought after advice to performers at the start of their careers.”