Erik Novoa is nationally top-ranked
competitor, who made it through 3 rounds
of auditions to appear on the televised revival of Dance
Fever in 2003. He has also appeared on the "Today
Show" where he took First Place in a televised hustle
contest. In the past years, Erik has won 1st
Place in the Professional Classic division at Mid Atlantic Dance Jam in Baltimore,
Pacific
Hustle & Salsa Dance Classic in San Francisco and Hustle USA in New Jersey.
In the summer of 2004, Erik was the guest teacher for over 500
people at Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center
featuring the Big Bad Voodoo Daddies.
Erik has
been an integral part of developing and maintaining West Coast Swing and Hustle at some of New York City's major
dance studios such as DanceSport, Empire Dance, Stepping Out, You Should Be Dancing and the prestigious STEPs On Broadway, where many of Broadway's best dancers take
class. He also was one of the only instructors to
ever teach both dances at Equinox Fitness Centers
throughout New York. Recently, he has taught and
demonstrated West Coast Swing to the Connecticut Ballet
Company for their historical dance series at local
community elementary schools.
Erik began
developing the West Coast Swing (WCS), Hustle and Salsa
communities in southern Connecticut in January 2006,
offering regular weekly dance classes in Fairfield, Stamford
and South Norwalk. In his first year in business, Erik was
recognized and selected as the editor's choice for the
"Best Way To Get In Step" in Fairfield County's "2006 Best
Of The Gold Coast" rankings.
Event
directors and studio owners continue to seek Erik as a guest
instructor because of his knowledge of extensive dance
technique which he is able to incorporate in both WCS and
Hustle. In addition to weekly dance classes in lower
Fairfield County (CT), Erik continues to host his Platinum
WCS and Hustle parties in New York City, and travels
throughout MA, CT, NY (including Long Island), NJ and PA for
private dance instruction.
Erik Novoa
has been competing in West Coast Swing since 1998. In that
time, he has risen to compete in the Invitational division. He
has placed top-10 at the US Open in the Classic Division
three times and has excelled in Strictly Swing and Jack & Jill
competitions at numerous national events. Erik is also
an outstanding follower.
Anyone who has seen him follow in a Jack & Jack competition
knows that there is nothing he can't (or won't) do.His 18-year background in ballet, jazz,
modern, musical theater and tap is evident in his avant-garde
routines, creative social dances, and expert teaching style.
Erik crossed over into Hustle
in 2000 and immediately rose to the top by winning 1st place
in the Professional Classic Division at Hustle USA 2001, a
feat that he also repeated in 2002 to make him a reigning 2-year champion.
Erik
Novoa and
Heidi Groskreutz performing a
lead-follow demonstration (this was not
choreographed).
Erik's former
training in ballet, jazz, tap and musical theater enables
him to teach in a style which is knowledgeable, clear and
concise. He is a featured instructor for many regional and
national events because of his ability to get people dancing
quickly using his humor, personality, style, rapport with
students, and his solid knowledge of dance fundamentals and
technique. Students complete each workshop with a better
understanding of the specific dance, overall dance technique
and musicality.
Erik is possibly most famous for his "Fly Me To The
Moon" routine. This routine was top 5 in the
country at the time and exemplifies Erik's
choreography, partnering skills and classical
technique
Fairfield / Weston / Wilton Magazine
Erik
Novoa wins
Editor's Choice
for
BEST WAY TO GET IN STEP in Fairfield, CT
(Erik Novoa
dancing with Tami
Harris, 2000 US Open)
Erik Novoa was featured
in the July 2006 edition of the New Canaan / Darien Monthly
Magazine. It had a full feature article on dancing in the
southern CT area. It's great to see dance getting some very
good press. Congratulations to all of you (students and
friends) who have helped the scene grow. Special thanks to Suzanne Gerber for writing this article.
To see the entire
article
click here.
(Erik
Novoa dancing with Lisa Paternoster, Aug
2006 - Best of the Gold Coast Awards
Celebration)
Erik
Novoa featured again in October 2006 for the Best
Way To Get In Step.
(with Lisa Paternoster)
