Erica Sturman – DAYCo & DAG Manager, Instructor

Erica is a native of Springfield, Illinois, where she began dancing at the age of 3 under the direction of Grace Nanavatti. She joined the Springfield Ballet Company in 1999 under the direction of Julie Ratz, performing many leading and soloist roles, including Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Odette in Swan Lake, and Princess Florine in The Sleeping Beauty.

In 2005, Erica moved to Greenville, SC, to begin her professional training and career with Carolina Ballet Theatre under the artistic direction of Hernan Justo. She performed numerous leading and soloist roles in both classical and contemporary ballets choreographed by Hernan Justo and resident choreographer Francesca Genovese. Her roles included Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara in The Nutcracker, Carabosse and Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Ambrosia in Francesca Genovese’s The Ribbon, Eva Perón in Hernan Justo’s The Chestnut of Your Eyes Erased, and the wife of a military soldier in He Never Came Back. Other performances include Tangofusion, Le Corsaire, Giselle, True Blue, Down Home, Cinderella, Pulling the Strings, Virginia’s Mine, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Paquita, Raymonda, and Celebration of Women.

Erica had the privilege of working with and performing in Alonzo King’s Map and Dwight Rhoden’s Beetlejuice. She has been a dance instructor for the past 17 years and began teaching at DAG in 2007. After spending two seasons in North Carolina with the Piedmont School of Music and Dance, Erica returned “home” to DAG and DAYCO students, where she now serves as the DAYCO Manager and DAG’s Office Manager. Additionally, she holds the positions of Repetiteur and Stage Manager for Carolina Ballet Theatre. Erica looks forward to a fun and exciting year ahead! She is married to Andrew Sturman, and together they have a beautiful son, Beckett.