Erika Ripley (she/her) grew up dancing at her local studio in the Chicago suburbs starting at the age of four. She primarily trained in Girodano jazz technique, Cecchetti ballet, and rhythm tap. She had the honor of dancing alongside working professionals starting at the age of twelve thanks to the wonderful people of the Schaumburg Dance Ensemble, performing in two shows a year until she graduated high school in 2009. In 2013, she graduated with a degree in performance dance, costuming, and entrepreneurship from Ball State University in Muncie, IN with honors. The same year she moved to Davis, CA and began teaching multiple genres throughout the Sacramento region. From 2016-2018 she danced with Core Contemporary Dance under direction of Kelli Leighton and Jared Baker.

Erika is passionate about continued education and became a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor in 2018, a method that quickly became a core foundation for much of the work she does with her students. She also obtained a certified education certificate in the Progressing Pointe Method from Josephine Lee of the Pointe Shop in early 2021, and has attended multiple injury prevention workshops related to the hip and foot, directed by the Pilates Dancer, Leah Bueno. Currently, she is working with Leah towards becoming a movement analyzer to better assist her students with their goals. She strongly believes ballet is for all and that the body is forever and must be cared for.

Erika is honored to be a part of the Pacific Ballet Academy family.