ERIKA EDISON

dance educator ★ dance competition judge

studio + competition director

Erika is a dance and musical theatre professional with 7 years experience in New York City and 5 years in the Philadelphia-area. She’s worked across 35 US states, 8 countries and 3 continents as a performer, teacher, adjudicator, and studio/competition director.

Erika moved from the Philadelphia-area to New York City at 19 to pursue her professional dance career. She completed the Professional Semester at Broadway Dance Center. 

As a performer, she appeared as Enid Hoopes on the International Tour of “Legally Blonde: the Musical,” which made stops in Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, and other major Asian cities. She is a proud member of Actors Equity Association. 

As a teacher, Erika has been on the faculty at AMDA NY and the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts.

As an adjudicator, she has been welcomed onto the judging panel at a multitude of dance competitions and conventions, including: World Dance Championship, World Dance Pageant, KAR/Rainbow, Artists Simply Human, REVEL, Starquest, In10sity, Onstage America, True Dance Challenge, and DECA. She has experience not only as a regular panelist, but also as a head judge, a teacher judge, and in live critiques. In addition to dance events, she has judged pageants - including the Miss America Organization. She is a proud member of Impact Dance Adjudicators. 

Since COVID-19, Erika relocated back to the Philadelphia-area, assuming her role with her family-owned dance studio. For 4 years, she has been the Administrative Director and Lead Teacher at The Dance Gallery - an ADDC Studio of Excellence. She teaches styles including ballet, 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, the Rock School, and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. 

Alongside her dance career, Erika is currently a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, completing her Bachelor's Degree in Creative and Professional Writing.

Find Erika at @eedisondance on Instagram and TikTok!

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.”