MEET MISS ERICA
Founder • Dance Teacher • Nurse Educator
My Story
Miss Erica is the founder and director of 5678 Dance Company and has been immersed in the performing arts for more than four decades. She began dancing at the age of two and received her dance training through Bradenton School of Ballet and Dance Arts in Bradenton, Florida. Throughout her childhood, she also attended a performing arts academy in Sarasota, Florida, where she participated in theatre, performance, and show choir programs that helped cultivate her lifelong love of the performing arts.
Her passion for the arts led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Theatre from Middle Tennessee State University, with minors in Dance and English. During college, Erica worked professionally as an entertainer for Dollywood and the Palm Beach Princess Cruise Line. As a child performer, she appeared in more than twenty productions and toured internationally in The Sound of Music, performing throughout Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea. Throughout her performing career, she has appeared in dozens of theatrical productions, including leading roles in The Addams Family (Morticia Addams), Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), 42nd Street (Anytime Annie), The Sound of Music (Maria), Grease (Sandy), Footloose (Ariel), and many other musical theatre productions.
In 2004, Miss Erica founded her first after-school dance program, beginning more than two decades of experience teaching dance, musical theatre, drama, and performing arts to children. Her teaching experience includes serving as a dance instructor, choreographer, Drama Teacher, Show Choir Director, Choir Director, Music Director, and Junior Artistic Director. She has choreographed productions, directed youth performing arts programs, and mentored hundreds of students ranging from preschool through middle school.
In addition to her performing arts career, Miss Erica is a Registered Nurse with more than ten years of bedside nursing experience. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing Education from American Public University and currently serves as a nursing educator at Suncoast Technical College. Since 2024, she has also been a certified Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor. Her background in healthcare and education gives families confidence that their children are learning in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment.
Miss Erica’s unique combination of professional performance experience, dance education, healthcare expertise, and teaching leadership allows her to connect with students in meaningful ways. She believes that dance education is about far more than learning steps—it is about building confidence, creativity, and the joy of movement.
Through 5678 Dance Company, Miss Erica is committed to providing high-quality dance instruction that prioritizes quality over quantity, ensuring every child receives individualized attention and the opportunity to grow as both a dancer and a person. Her goal is for every student to leave class feeling valued, confident, and inspired to achieve their full potential both on and off the stage.
Miss Erica's teaching philosophy focuses on keeping dance age-appropriate, joyful, and developmentally healthy, allowing children to build confidence while staying rooted in the joy of childhood.