Originally from Champaign, Illinois, Erica Johnston was always fascinated by the art of the imagination. While pursuing her studies as a young dancer, she began selling decorated pointe shoes under the business name Pointe Creations in 2004. After hitting a growth spurt in her early teens, she was unable to find leotards that fit her long torso properly, and her leotard making endeavor began. 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 the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Lexington Ballet. Following a chance encounter, Erica was offered a position in the wardrobe department of the Ailey School. Now, six years later, she works regularly for all divisions of the Ailey School and AAADT, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, the Department of Dance at Marymount Manhattan College, Hudson Ballet Theater, and numerous other companies across the country, creating independently commissioned works for ballet, contemporary choreography, and musical theater. She has designed for choreographers Igal Perry, Claudia Schreier, Dwight Rhoden, Adam Barruch, and Virginie Mecene, among others.
Erica also works as a studio assistant for multiple designers in the dance world, including Mark Eric (Ballet X Philadelphia, Ephrat Asherie Dance, Ailey II), Bradon McDonald (Jessica Lang Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), Mondo Morales (TrustMondo; Philadanco, Jeremy McQueen for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, Sonya Tayeh, Rioult), and Caitlin Taylor (Sidra Bell Dance, New York City Ballet). She also works on many projects outside of the dance world; recent projects of note include assisting designer Tilly Grimes for A$AP Rocky's "Testing the Waters" at Sotheby's NYC, stitching for the Big Apple Circus, wardrobe supervising for Art Garfunkel, and building a neck piece for artist Leslie Dill's production of Divide Light for New Camerata Opera (Costume Director Sarah Dixey). Additionally, she has built costumes for television shows, including HBO's "Legendary!".
Erica's dancing life has taken her from coast to coast. She has trained with the Champaign Urbana Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Alonzo King's LINES, Paul Taylor's American Modern Dance, and Butler Ballet. She graduated from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance in May 2014 and now freelances in and around New York, NY. She is a current performer with the Victory Dance Project and a guest artist with several independent choreographers.
Check out her resume here:
johnston_resume_2018.pdf
Contact: Pointecreations@gmail.com
Erica also works as a studio assistant for multiple designers in the dance world, including Mark Eric (Ballet X Philadelphia, Ephrat Asherie Dance, Ailey II), Bradon McDonald (Jessica Lang Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), Mondo Morales (TrustMondo; Philadanco, Jeremy McQueen for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, Sonya Tayeh, Rioult), and Caitlin Taylor (Sidra Bell Dance, New York City Ballet). She also works on many projects outside of the dance world; recent projects of note include assisting designer Tilly Grimes for A$AP Rocky's "Testing the Waters" at Sotheby's NYC, stitching for the Big Apple Circus, wardrobe supervising for Art Garfunkel, and building a neck piece for artist Leslie Dill's production of Divide Light for New Camerata Opera (Costume Director Sarah Dixey). Additionally, she has built costumes for television shows, including HBO's "Legendary!".
Erica's dancing life has taken her from coast to coast. She has trained with the Champaign Urbana Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Alonzo King's LINES, Paul Taylor's American Modern Dance, and Butler Ballet. She graduated from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance in May 2014 and now freelances in and around New York, NY. She is a current performer with the Victory Dance Project and a guest artist with several independent choreographers.
Check out her resume here:
johnston_resume_2018.pdf
Contact: Pointecreations@gmail.com