Today, we’d like to introduce you to Erika George.
Erika, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I began dancing when I was two years old, and from the second I walked into the studio, I fell in love. My mom would ask me if I wanted to try soccer, karate, or gymnastics, but all I wanted to do was dance. I attended my first Adrenaline Dance convention when I was 10. The second I came home, I laid out every one of my stuffed animals and proceeded to teach them all the combos I had learned. I knew then that dance was my destiny… so did my mom.
I continued my competition dance career through high school. I was lucky enough to be signed with my first agency when I was 12, started teaching when I was 14, and set my first piece with my then-duet partner at 16. Along the way, I was lucky enough to be mentored by some of the greatest humans, artists, and creatives. Without Matt Aylward, Nick Bass, Marty Kudelka, Maddi & Ms. Kerrie Burg (Serendipity Dance Company), Matthew Kazmierczak, and, of course, Morgan Burke, I wouldn’t be the person, dancer, or teacher I am today. It is because of you all that I can call myself a professional dancer.
I knew at the ripe old age of 13 that college wasn’t for me. All I wanted to do was dance, and nothing was going to get in the way of making my dreams a reality. Immediately after high school, I began teaching, assisting, judging, and choreographing. In addition, I attended the CLI Conservatory under the direction of Teddy Forance, where I was fortunate to continue furthering my training, forging new relationships, and experiencing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
Upon graduation, I returned to my hometown of Los Angeles, where I signed with MSA. I teach, judge, and assist at multiple competitions/conventions across the country, and I teach and choreograph at various Los Angeles-based studios.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth? Not quite. I experienced my first symptoms of anxiety when I was in elementary school. It wasn’t until high school that I was formally diagnosed with severe GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and separation anxiety. It was bad enough that I had to drop out of high school in favor of being homeschooled from freshman to senior year.
Dance was really the thing that saved me. It was the only place I felt seen, heard, safe, and loved. It was there that I learned to trust and believe in myself and my worth. I have always described dance as my greatest love and toughest heartbreak. But through every stage of childhood, adolescence, and now as an adult, it has never left me… and I will never leave it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I booked my first dance job when I was eleven, and I never looked back. Having grown up in the convention world, I learned versatility, leadership skills, and the ability to adapt quickly, which I believe are some of my greatest assets.
One of the jobs I love most is assisting, as it provides a space to use all of those tools and then some. It allows me to be a collaborator in a quick-paced creative role. Fun fact: I can proudly sit here and say I have only made a paycheck from dance, and I hope to be able to say that sixty years down the road.
Another of my greatest passions is teaching and choreographing. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention two of the biggest reasons I am teaching/choreographing: Rhonda Notary, the director of The Industry Dance Academy, and my beautiful and wicked smart mom, Amy. Rhonda, a former Rockette, was one of my dance teachers. She always saw that fire inside for dance. She was the first person to teach me how to run a rehearsal and clean a piece.
Fast forward several years, and I have been teaching her for six years now. She is quite literally the greatest boss. Thank you for taking a chance on me and for your trust. My mom, Amy, on the other hand, knows nothing about dance. She’s a writer/producer from an elementary school. A teacher who did everything in her power to make sure I had every opportunity imaginable to be able to pursue my dreams. She flew with me all over the country for years to attend classes, conventions, and intensives.
She supported me unconditionally, showed me grace and empathy, taught me independence and resilience, and loved me more than anything. Beyond that, she instilled a great sense of self and the ability to be myself unapologetically, which definitely bleeds into my choreography. Mom, thank you for being my biggest supporter and best friend. I love you more… yes, possible.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love this city. I grew up here. It’s home. You can ask anyone (especially my friends), but I have BIG hometown pride. The array of opportunities, both within the dance industry and just in general, are endless. It seems like there’s always something going on, which is amazing.
I love the people that Los Angeles attracts. Some of my dearest friends are from Idaho, Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, and Orange County (yes, I know it’s in California, but it’s not the same as LA). Though some of them have moved to other places, I may not have met them if it weren’t for the LA dance community. Oh, and let’s not forget the food.
I mean the sushi alone. The most important thing to me is my family. Everyone is within a 30-minute driving distance (yes, I included 405 traffic), which is so special. I am incredibly lucky to be surrounded by loved ones in my home.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikageorgee/
Image Credits
Alissa Roseborough, Dyson Campbell, & Drew “Dizzy” Graham
