Meet Erica Sperberg of The Dance Academy Of Siagel Productions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Sperberg.

Erica, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I lost my mom at a very young age and my dad signed me up for dance. Little did he know dance would not only help me through this hard time but become my life’s passion. I continued dancing through childhood and teenage years. I was not the best dancer or the perfect student but there was nothing I enjoyed more than dancing. The art form drew me in because it allowed me to be creative. Performing on stage was never my favorite part but what made me come alive was choreography, designing costumes and telling a story through movement and music.

I studied Public Relation and Dance at Roger Williams University. In college, I had the opportunity to choreograph for large group numbers and was exposed to hip-hop dance which changed me forever. Through hip-hop, I learned that amazing dance can be achieved not only through great technique but by letting go of that focus and just feeling the style, rhythms and attitude of the music.

After college, I began teaching at The Dance Academy of Siagel Productions (TDA). I was so happy that I was no longer using dance to perform but could take my creative visions and make them come to life through my students. I used all styles of dance to help my students to grow as well-rounded dancers and discover their own unique connection with dance. At the Dance Academy, our mission is to be a place where everybody can dance. I loved this mission because it made dance accessible to everyone whether they wanted to take one class with a friend or grow in a competitive program, whether they wanted to do hip-hop or ballet, whether they are a beginner or advanced, there was a class for everyone.

I’ve been with TDA now for twelve years and this will be my 6th year as the director. My work as Director at The Dance Academy has introduced me to so many amazing people and allowed me to make a career out of my life’s passion. The most fulfilling part of my job is watching kids grow up in the studio and find their connection with dance. Whether they continue to dance or not, it has changed each and every one of them. My father may not have intended for dance to have this much of an impact on me, but signing me up at age 3 turned out to be the greatest gift he could ever give me!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With any endeavor comes challenges. My biggest challenge is that my passion is also my career so the lines are often blurred between work and life. I care so much about my students that it’s not a job that allows me to go home and forget about it at the end of the day.With each challenge over the years, I have gained perspective and confidence which has helped me become a stronger leader and learned not to sweat the small stuff.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Dance Academy Of Siagel Productions – what should we know?
TDA is a unique studio because kids can grow with us from babyhood in our Little Beats program to age 18. We also have an intimate community of families and alumni who return year after year to stay connected. We offer our student’s leadership building opportunities through assistant teaching, internships and community service.

What also sets us apart is our well-rounded staff! we have 15 teachers who are extremely talented and love sharing their passion with our dancers. Most of our teachers are still currently dancing in some of Boston’s leading dance groups and judging at national dance competitions.

Over the past 10 years We’ve grown from a school with 150 students to over 350, we now run camps, parties, and most recently have started an early childhood program called Little Beats with over 100 babies and toddlers coming to dance. We put on an annual dance fundraiser show called Dance for a Cause with Boston’s top Hip Hop crew, Phunk Phenomenon and we produce 4 recital performances in June each year. We are truly making a difference in our community with dance!

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Dedication is the quality that I strive to deliver to my students and is what has kept me focused over the years. I’m dedicated to sharing my passion for dance with my students. This is what has grounded me from the ups and downs and motivated me to always continue to grow. I feel the most successful when my students see their own dedication come to fruition.

Contact Info:

• Address: 94 Rowe st, Newton Ma 02466
• Website: thedanceacademynewton.com
• Phone: 6176145438
• Email: erica@siagel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tdaofsiagel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TDAofSPInc/

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