ERICA ZINTEK PETRO
Erica was born and raised in Chicago and began taking dance lessons at the age of three, competing by the age of five, was performing in local musical theater productions by age fourteen and was teaching and choreographing by age eighteen. She received her B.F.A in acting from Wright State University in Ohio where she trained in several acting methods and styles including Musical Theater Performance, Improv, Shakespeare, Stage Combat, Stanislavski, Meisner and Viewpoints which she trained directly with Tina Landau of the Steppenwolf Theater Company.
Erica was also able to continue her love for dance, studying tap under the direction of Joe Deer, jazz under the direction f THomas G. Hellems and ballet and pointe under the direction of former Dayton Ballet principal performer, Michelle Slitor Goodman. Since graduating, Erica has spent the last 18 years teaching musical theater, acting, dance and voice in the Chicagoland area as well as travelling as a guest artist to over 40 states in the US, 2 provinces in Canada and 4 countries in Europe. She has worked with many companies as a teaching artist, choreographer, performing-arts curriculum developer and dance judge, including Missoula Children's Theater, Beverly Arts Center, Dance Masters of the Bluegrass, The Stage School and Play in a Book.
Erica is passionate about using dance and performing arts as a life sill tool to help dancers with body positivity, self-care and creative expression. She has received her C.Y.T 200 Yoga certification from Breathe for Change adding yoga instructor and mindfulness coach to her resume in an effort to help dancers reach their goals and enjoy performing and competing in a positive environment.