Erin Puskar

Erin Puskar, originally from Allentown, PA, earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education ('15) and her Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership and Management ('16) from Shenandoah University Conservatory in Winchester, VA. Erin began dancing at age four at Steps In Time Academy for Dance Studies, where she competed with Inner Rhythms Dance Company. She graduated from the Lehigh Charter High School for the Arts in Bethlehem, PA with a concentration in dance. Throughout high school, she also studied with the Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, with whom she performed numerous roles in The Nutcracker and other classical productions.

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During her college career, Erin had the opportunity to perform in 16 main stage dance productions. Faculty ensembles include Tiffanie Carson, Linda Miller, Maurice Fraga (Ekilbre Dance Company), Alan Arnett, Erica Helm, Bob Boross, and Ting-Yu Chen (Flying Lions Dance Company); guest artist ensembles include Jon Lehrer (LehrerDance), Mike Esperanza (BARE Dance Company) and Katie Vickers/Albert Quesada. In addition, Erin worked under the direction of Jonathan Flom as ensemble in two main stage musicals at Shenandoah—All Shook Up (also served as associate choreographer) and the collegiate premiere of American Idiot, which she performed in Fall 2014.

 

Erin has participated in numerous dance workshops, studying with Alejandro Cerrudo, Christopher K. Morgan & Artists in the Washington D.C. and Amalgamate Dance Company in New York City. In March 2015, Erin was selected to present her group choreography, "Homines in Machina", at the American College Dance Association Festival at Towson University. She also performed as a featured dancer in Maurice Fraga’s "Quartetto".

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During her time at Shenandoah University, Erin served the community through dance education. In Spring 2015, she was a student teacher for both primary and a secondary levels, earning her K-12 dance teaching certification. She choreographed two high school productions—Hairspray and Godspell—in Inwood, WV; taught jazz and tap at the Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy; and choreographed for the Handley High School Show Choir in Winchester, VA. In Summer 2015, Erin served as a teaching assistant and administrative intern for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's Youth Dance Program. During Summer 2016, Erin was Artisan-in-Residence at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in Winchester, VA and a ballroom dance instructor at Social Graces Ballroom Studio in Berryville, VA. She also taught at various summer dance and musical theatre camps in Virginia and West Virginia. In 2016-2017, Erin taught various ages and styles at Studio West Dance Centre in Allentown, PA. 

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Erin’s experiences abroad have influenced her as a person and artist. In 2013, Erin traveled to Nepal with Shenandoah’s Global Citizenship Project. In 2014, she participated in La Bella Vita, a three-week dance intensive in Livorno, Italy, where she was able to teach dance, take various classes, and perform. In Spring 2016, she studied dance and musical theatre at Balettakademien in Sweden. Erin was also a semi-finalist for a 2017-2018 Fulbright U.S. Student Grant in Dance at the National Taiwan University of the Arts in Taipei, Taiwan. 

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In Fall 2017, Erin moved to New York City to pursue a performing career. Since then, Erin has performed internationally as a singer-dancer for Norwegian Cruise Line (3 contracts) and has performed at Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre for three consecutive seasons. Before the Covid-19 Pandemic hit in 2020, Erin performed as a singer-dancer for RWS Entertainment Group at King's Island in Mason, OH.

 

Throughout the 2020 pandemic she continued to teach dance at The Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley, Studio West Dance Centre, and served as an adjunct Jazz Dance faculty at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA. She also started to venture into the fitness realm, earning her Personal Training certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and starting her own business, Showbizfit Training, for cross-training performing artists. 

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Erin has continued to pursue fitness and is currently a group fitness instructor for Orangetheory Fitness and Equinox Fitness in New York City. In early 2023, she received her certification in Sports Nutrition and conducts workshops for gym members and corporate wellness events. She is passionate about holistic well-being, habit forming, and goal-setting, and could see herself being a successful life coach in the future. 

 

In Winter 2022, Erin was able to live out her "Rockette high-kicking dreams" in Dublin Worldwide Productions' Christmas Wonderland in Reno, NV. She plans to keep moving "onward and upward" from here!

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Erin is grateful for her family, friends, and mentors for their endless guidance and support. 

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“This world is but a canvas to our imagination”

-Henry David Thoreau 

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