Position:
Coordinator for Theatre & Dance Recruitment; Associate Professor, Dance
Pronouns:
she/her/hers
Location:
Ruebush Hall, Room 102-A
Phone:
(540) 665-4647
Email:
ehelm@su.edu
Employed Since:
1989
Teaching Area(s):
Ballet Technique, Dance Science, Dance History
Conservatory Professional Highlights:
Erica Helm has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the American College Dance Festival Association, and in the Dance Education Division of the Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. In 1999, Helm received an Artie Award from the Shenandoah Arts Council, recognizing her contributions to the artistic community of this region. She has received several awards from Shenandoah University, including the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award and the Wilkins Award.
As a member of the Shenandoah Chamber Dance Company, she performed throughout the Shenandoah Valley region as well as in Washington, D.C. and on tour to Trinidad. She also danced for the Honolulu City Ballet, appearing in classical and contemporary repertoire as well as performing as a guest artist with Ballet Hawaii and the Hawaii Opera Theatre. As a member of stillMOVING dance company, she was engaged in a teaching and performance residency at the Harvard Center for the Arts in Boston in 2001.
Erica Helm has choreographed for The University of Hawaii Dance Theatre, Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, Opera Americana in Alexandria, Virginia, East Carolina University and for dance companies and madrigal ensembles in Hawaii and Texas. Her works have been presented in several Washington, D.C. venues, including the Jack Guidone Theatre, the Austrian Embassy and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as well as on tour in England, Spain, Scotland and China. Her choreography has also been selected by adjudication for the Annual Choreographers’ Showcase held at the Publick Playhouse in Cheverly, Maryland, and the Choreographer’s Showcase produced by the Reston Arts Council.
Ensemble(s):
Dance Ensemble
Educational History:
B.F.A., University of Hawaii; M.F.A., Southern Methodist University
Personal Quote:Shenandoah is an extraordinary setting where individual potential is nurtured and cultivated to its highest creative and academic excellence. Dum Vivimus . . . Saliamus!
Personal Highlights:
I enjoy social dance as well as concert dance, and you can find me at contra dances, English Country dances and studying the Argentine tango! One of my greatest delights is traveling with our dancers on international study & performance tours . . . the excitement experienced on Global Experiential Learning adventures is not to be missed!