Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Reyna.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Erica. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have been dancing since I was a little girl about 3 or 4 and trained in all styles of dance! I trained in tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and Latin.
I loved competing and training in Latin styles so much that I began competing and traveling as a professional Latin dancer full time in my early 20s. I have won three Professional World Championship titles 2016, 2017, and in 2019. As well as 2 Pro Am world Championships. Competing became an amazing way for me to train, challenge myself and set goals.
Over the years, I began coaching and teaching people my style of movement from ladies styling to partner work and tricks and lifts. I Co-Directed a company for five years with my previous partner when I decided to leave and start my own company called Emotion Dance Company. This company is fulfilling to me because it allows me to fuse my knowledge of several dance styles within the scope of Latin dance. I am able to train and mentor many dancers of all ages with all kinds of goals. My company creates a space for men and women with a passion for dance at any level.
Outside of my dance company, I teach privates lessons and dance in numerous projects full time.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a professional dancer does not come without a life filled with many struggles and sacrifices. The amount of time and energy it takes to develop the skill is extremely taxing. It comes with much financial investment in your training as well as physical distress at times. On the logistical level, it takes a lot of work to become a professional dancer. Much time is spent training your body and mind to handle high physical and mental pressure. Many times working as a dancer doesn’t offer the type of payment that is deserved-which is truly a testament to the passion it takes to stick with this career.
On top of the logistical struggles, there is the thick skin that it takes to handle the rejection and failures that will inevitably occur. No one can be perfect. Every show can not be perfect. We are only humans! It takes many mistakes and failures to make a dancer a true professional in my opinion. The ability to move on from a mistake and learn from your failures is a skill any professional dancer will have to face.
In terms of having a dance company that also takes so much commitment and discipline to maintain a student base and make sure the vibe stays positive in the room. It sometimes takes a lot of financial investment on my part to make sure the teams I run stay afloat. But its all worth it in the end because that passion and positivity eventually bring the students who have great attitudes and who are invested in the process of being apart of a training dance environment.
Emotion Dance Company – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My dance company is a recreational company that teaches people how to control their bodies, own their movement and have confidence. I have students from all levels- some who are training to become professional and some who just enjoy movement.
I truly believe that dancing is about YOU and about how you experience being in your body in any given moment. The steps and the fundamentals allow you to express yourself better. So to start, technique is very important to me. Understanding weight placement and transfer, balance, control, timing, and undulation… these are all very crucial and important to me. But the main goal is to use all these skills to express yourself and feel amazing in your body. Learning a choreography is not the only thing that skill can give you. It can be very therapeutic and empowering for you.
I think this intention sets me apart from other recreational dance companies. It is hard to find an instructor who values both clarity and technique with emotional experience. I really hope my students become more complete versions of themselves while learning proper technique.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My championship titles and trophies are all proud moments! They are all so special to me because I know how hard I have worked to have them. I am also proud of every moment that I performed in high-stress situations. I deal with a lot of anxiety and sometimes my nerves get the best of me. Every time I walk on stage and don’t let those feelings win makes me proud. It makes me feel like I can do anything.
As an instructor, the most proud feeling I get is when I see how much my company has enriched someone’s life. If I see someone’s confidence improve or just overall posture lift when they walk in the room, I feel so proud and like I am making a difference.
Pricing:
- 1 team 100/mo – men and women welcome
- Private lessons are 100/ hr +studio
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: ericareynadance personal* emotiondanceco company*
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ericareynadance
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