dancer
Competition Solo
This past competition season, Erica was asked to choreograph a solo for one of her students for competition. She was so excited for this new opportunity! Her student is 9 years old and competed in the 9-11 year old junior category. She performed a musical theatre jazz solo, which is one of Erica's favorite styles to choreograph, along with lyrical and contemporary, to Friend Like Me from the live action version of Aladdin. Erica collaborated closely with the student and her family to determine the music and the costume.
For a long time now, Erica has been wanting to choreograph a dance for competition, so when she was asked, it felt like a dream come true. She grew up competing and, in the future, sees herself working at/owning a studio that frequently attends competitions. Erica loves to choreograph and believes doing so for competition is very helpful for growth since there is direct feedback from the judges.
Erica scheduled and ran rehearsals with her student and attended the competition as her representative. It was like Erica had never left her own competition days, as she fell right back into the rhythm of a hectic competition day. She ensured her student was there early so she could be checked in and properly warmed up. Additionally, Erica played the music and ran the dance, as well as walked her to the stage to check her in with the crew. Backstage, she gave her student a pep talk and wished her luck. Erica was so incredibly proud of her student and gave her a big hug after she danced. It was such an amazing feeling watching her student light up the stage, dancing to Erica's choreography. At awards, her student received a platinum, which was an amazing feeling!
Erica greatly enjoyed the choreographic process and working one on one with her student, whom she formed a special connection with. Erica cannot wait to work with and choreograph for more dancers in the future!
To watch the solo, please click on the "Reels" tab!
Camp Danbee: Dance Fest
Erica had the wonderful opportunity to work at Camp Danbee, an all girls summer camp in Peru, Massachusetts. She worked as both a camp counselor in the bunks, living with and taking care of the girls, and a dance teacher. As part of Erica's job as a dance teacher at camp, she taught several dance classes and choreographed a dance for each one of her classes, even cutting the music herself. Erica taught 9-10 year old jazz, 10-11 year old jazz/hip hop, 11-13 year old jazz, and 12-15 year old ballet/lyrical. Throughout just six weeks of summer, she choreographed four dances to be performed at Dance Fest during the final week of camp.
In addition to being responsible for her own dances, Erica worked closely with Monica Poulos, the dance director at camp, to help put on the show. She participated in blocking and teching rehearsals, leading her students through the process, as well as assisted Monica with Dance Academy (an additional dance group the kids can sign up for to receive extra dance training in the summer). As Monica's right hand woman, Erica made announcements during meals over the microphone, partially led rehearsals, and helped Monica stage the piece for the show.
During the show, Erica worked as house staff, where she stood at the very back of the theater, maintaining a clear aisle. When Dance Academy performed, Erica was responsible for holding and shining a light from her post, a job she took very seriously. The Dance Academy dancers used the aisle at the beginning of their dance, so it was very important for Erica to alert the audience, as well as the dancers, of the tight space and the need to be out of the way.
Erica found her summer camp experience to be incredibly rewarding, as she got to watch her students improve in such a short amount of time and perform wonderfully on stage. Erica felt so proud of her dancers as she watched from the back of the theater. She worked with varying levels and ages and had very little time to herself to choreograph. The summer was hectic in all the best ways, but it was also a great challenge for Erica to choreograph and teach under these unique circumstances.
To watch the dances, please click on the "Reels" tab!
CDA Showcase
As the senior pedagogy capstone, Erica and her fellow pedagogy team planned and put on an entire showcase for the kids and families. Erica set choreography on her students, chose costumes and held fittings, and created lighting cues for her dances. In addition to focusing on her specific classes and students, she was also given the job of Staffing Supervisor and Backstage Coordinator. This meant Erica was in charge of all staff and their assignments, as well as making sure everything happening backstage and in the dressing rooms during the show went smoothly.
Erica loved the entire process of putting on a recital for kids. She made sure to teach all of the choreography at a good pace for the students that also matched with showcase deadlines. Additionally, she really enjoyed the cleaning process, as well as blocking and teching rehearsals. Erica felt like she was right in her element and led the students confidently, taking charge when her students had their stage time. She also really enjoyed being in charge of all staff and being the primary leader backstage, aside from the tech team and stage managers of course. As part of her role, Erica was required to provide packets to all staff, thoroughly explaining their responsibilities, giving them their call times, and establishing proper conduct and dress code. She also held a meeting with all staff to go over the packet and exactly how the day of dress and the show would operate.
Erica learned everything there is to know about how to put on a recital for kids and their families. She got to experience the teaching side of things, as well as the administrative side of it all too. She worked closely with her team of pedagogy majors, as well as her advisors. It was such a fulfilling experience for Erica and she cannot wait until the next time she is able to help produce a dance recital. Erica even remembers getting teary-eyed as she watched her 6-7 year old dancers perform all by themselves on stage, something they were very determined to accomplish! She was so proud of her kids, her fellow pedagogy majors, and herself for taking on such an endeavor for the first time. Without a doubt, working at the CDA was one of the best experiences Erica has had!
pictured top left: 6-7 year old ballet/tap
pictured middle left: Erica w/ student
pictured top right: 10-12 year old tap
pictured middle right: Erica w/ 10-12 jazz
senior pedagogy majors "focus foxing"