LYDE Artistic Director, Teacher and Choreographer
Director, Laois Dance Platform
Owner & Principal, Laois Dance Academy
Nominated in 2018 by Arts Council Ireland for ‘Peer Panel for Arts Council Ireland – Dance Department’
Nominated in 2018 by Dance Uk for ‘Inspirational Community Dance Practitioner Award’
Recent Works:
2019: ‘Textured Flow’ – in collaboration with Terry Conroy (Photography), Caroline Conway (Visual Arts) and Marco Pessanha (Videography).
2018: ‘Heart’ – Dance Photography (in collaboration with Terry Conroy). Funded by Creative Ireland 2017 – Exhibited at Stradbally Arthouse (Officially opened by Alex Iseli, Iseli-Chiodi Dance Company), Laois Dance Platform and Lisbon Dance Platform.
2018: Director, choreographer Bridges Dance Film (Laois Youth Dance Ensemble, in collaboration with Company B)Funded by Arts Council Ireland – Yes Scheme 2017. Screened at Laois Dance Platform, Lisbon Dance Platform and Wicklow Screendance Festival.
Brazilian born, Erica believes that dance encourages us to stay rooted in our bodies as we act, make decisions, and participate in the world; it all transpires from the personal. She has been nurturing and enabling people to become involved in dance so they can better understand and appreciate it.
In 2013 she founded Laois Youth Dance Ensemble with the support of Dunamaise Arts Centre and in the same year she launched Laois Dance Platform. The festival is funded by Arts Council Ireland and features performances by young dancers, national and international professional dancers.
Erica has worked with Cathy Coughlan (YES Scheme) , Mariam Ribon (DYDC), Iselichiodi Dance Company (Dance Residency mentored by the French choreographer Helene Chatala), Ciaran Gray and others. She had been funded for 4 consecutive years by the Laois Arts Office to teach dance in schools as part of the Artist in Schools Scheme.
