Erica Johnston
Erica Johnston trained at the Champaign Ballet Academy for six years, and took part in many productions of the Champaign Urbana Ballet, dancing roles such as: Rose Queen and Arabian Princess in The Nutcracker; the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella; and Odile in Swan Lake. After graduating first in her class from Centennial High School in 2010, Erica was awarded the Presidential Scholarship from Butler University to pursue her BFA in Dance Performance. As a first year student at Butler, Ms. Johnston was cast by Susan McGuire as a soloist in Butler Ballet’s Midwinter Dance Festival, as well as winning the “Outstanding Freshman Dance Major” award, and in subsequent years received multiple departmental honors and scholarships. She has spent school breaks studying with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Paul Taylor Dance Company in New York City, and LINES Ballet in San Francisco, working with renowned teachers such as Ruth Andrien, Susan McGuire, Alonzo King, Maurya Kerr, and Sandrine Cassini.
Erica has danced professionally with the Southern Illinois Music Festival Dance Company, performing in works such as The Firebird and Petrushka. She appeared with members of Butler Ballet in a production of Paul Taylor's Le Sacre du Printemps: The Rehearsal, as well as the world premier of Gustavo Ramirez Sansano's "En Camino". She graduated from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance in May 2014 and now freelances in and around New York, NY. Her most recent credits include Harlem Live! At the Apollo and a performance with the Harlem Creates Music Festival at Riverside Park, as well as independent improvisational collaborations with Rachel Koblyakov, violinist. She is a current performer with the Victory Dance Project, and also works with independent choreographers Allyson Ross (Southern Belle Stories), Christopher Jackson (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) and Justin Metcalf-Burton (NYU Tisch). Erica is also a guest instructor at the Champaign Ballet Academy and the Hudson Valley Youth Ballet/New York Dance.
Ms. Johnston is heavily involved in costume design, and runs her own business under the title Pointe Creations. She trained in the arts of design and costume construction under Deanna Doty, director of the Champaign Urbana Ballet, Kathleen Egan of Butler University, and Karl Kaufman, formerly of Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Lexington Ballet. Following a chance encounter, Erica was offered a position in the wardrobe department of the Ailey School by Mondo Morales. She is currently on staff at the Ailey school under Mark Eric Rodriguez, and on the Marymount Manhattan staff under Mondo Morales (TrustMondo). Ms. Johnston has toured to New Orleans with Jose Limon as their production wardrobe supervisor, and works as a shop assistant for designer Bradon McDonald (Jessica Lang Dance). She has done privately commissioned work for ballet, contemporary choreography and musical theater as well. Recent costume design commissions include choreographers Virginie Mecene and Claudia Schreier.
Erica has danced professionally with the Southern Illinois Music Festival Dance Company, performing in works such as The Firebird and Petrushka. She appeared with members of Butler Ballet in a production of Paul Taylor's Le Sacre du Printemps: The Rehearsal, as well as the world premier of Gustavo Ramirez Sansano's "En Camino". She graduated from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance in May 2014 and now freelances in and around New York, NY. Her most recent credits include Harlem Live! At the Apollo and a performance with the Harlem Creates Music Festival at Riverside Park, as well as independent improvisational collaborations with Rachel Koblyakov, violinist. She is a current performer with the Victory Dance Project, and also works with independent choreographers Allyson Ross (Southern Belle Stories), Christopher Jackson (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) and Justin Metcalf-Burton (NYU Tisch). Erica is also a guest instructor at the Champaign Ballet Academy and the Hudson Valley Youth Ballet/New York Dance.
Ms. Johnston is heavily involved in costume design, and runs her own business under the title Pointe Creations. She trained in the arts of design and costume construction under Deanna Doty, director of the Champaign Urbana Ballet, Kathleen Egan of Butler University, and Karl Kaufman, formerly of Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Lexington Ballet. Following a chance encounter, Erica was offered a position in the wardrobe department of the Ailey School by Mondo Morales. She is currently on staff at the Ailey school under Mark Eric Rodriguez, and on the Marymount Manhattan staff under Mondo Morales (TrustMondo). Ms. Johnston has toured to New Orleans with Jose Limon as their production wardrobe supervisor, and works as a shop assistant for designer Bradon McDonald (Jessica Lang Dance). She has done privately commissioned work for ballet, contemporary choreography and musical theater as well. Recent costume design commissions include choreographers Virginie Mecene and Claudia Schreier.