ERIE DANCE THEATER STAFF
FOUNDER
Founder of Erie Dance Theater Company, Nathaniel Johnson has extensive experience as both a dance instructor and artistic director.
Mr. Johnson attended Du Point Manuel High Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY. After graduation he was awarded a 4 year scholarship to Western Kentucky University where he earned his degree in performing arts with an emphasis in Dance. He moved to Erie in 1992 as the director for the Long’s School of Dance Jazz Department. During this time he was also an instructor for the SPAVA Dance at Central High School for 7 years.
Artistic Director
Competition & Performance Team Director
Instructor: Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary
Mariah Johnson loves being apart of the EDT team. Mariah Johnson has been studying dance for 20 years, studying various styles of dance including jazz, tap, ballet, modern, hip-hop, and pointe. Mariah has had the opportunity to perform with Erie Dance Theater’s Company and its predecessor for the past 16 years. I love being able to share my love for dance with these children. I love choreographing pieces for the students and watching them bring them to life it is so exciting to see everyone growing into such amazing young dancers.
Competition Team & Performance Team Co. Director
Instructor: Ballet, Hip Hop, Modern
Jaden Johnson is a passionate and enthusiastic Dancer, Dj,Teacher and choreographer. Who has worked with credits of Calvin Klein, Dimitri Chamblas and Rich & Tone alongside performing and teaching at the CN D in Paris France. Known for being an alum of Interlochen Arts Academy and recently with a BFA degree from CalArts. Jaden has unique set of skills ranging from Ballet, Hip Hop and Contemporary.
Instructor: Ballet, Tap, Modern
Taylor Arrington received her BFA in dance with a double concentration in ballet and modern from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. Her dance training began at a young age and she has been trained in various techniques. Over the years she has studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, and pointe. Taylor has had the opportunity to work with and perform works by well known choreographers in Erie and New York City.
Instructor: Ballet
Susannah Faulkner is an Erie, PA native who started her training in ballet, modern, jazz, and hip-hop at Erie Bayfront Dance (now Erie Dance Theater) and Lake Erie Ballet. She is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts, as a ballet major, and attended various regional intensives and festivals. After performing, teaching, and choreographing for schools and companies in New York, Colorado, and England for a decade, she joined eMotion Arts Dance Co. in San Francisco as a founding member in 2018. Her passion for dance blends with her studies and work in public policy, politics, and activism holding a BA in Politics from Ithaca College and an MPA in Social Policy from the London School of Economics. Susannah returned to Erie in the fall of 2020 and is excited to join EDT staff in 2021.
Instructor: Ballet
Ramani Rosa grew up in the Erie, Pennsylvania. He has appeared with The Mercyhurst Dancers in the principal role of Hilarion in Giselle and in New York City at the HOT! Festival in a piece choreographed by Anthony. Ramani attended Mercyhurst University. While studying with an academic scholarship, he learned from notable instructors and choreographers, such as Jennifer McNamara and Matthew Christensen of Nashville Ballet, Lesley Bories-Scalies of Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Solveig Santillano of MOMIX and Mark Santillano of Pilobolus. Ramani’s dance training includes several types of ballet techniques including Balanchine and Cecchetti. He is also trained in jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and Graham and Horton modern. During his time at Mercyhurst, Ramani appeared in eleven contemporary works and the classical ballets,Giselle and Swan Lake with The Mercyhurst Dancers.
Instructor: Wee Hop
Jasinia Heidelberg, a native of Erie, has been dancing with Erie Dance Theater for 13 years since she was 6yrs old. She was a member of the EDT Dance Company and competition team for 6 years and also assisted in the Combo and Wee-Hop classes for several years. Jasinia studied all forms of dance including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Step, Contemporary, Modern, Acro, and Hip-Hop. However, she has always favored Tap, Hip-Hop, and Step. She is a recent graduate of Collegiate Academy and currently attends Penn West Edinboro studying Biology. This will be Jasinia’s second year teaching on staff with EDT!