Erika Bressler grew up in Southeastern Michigan. She began her dance education at age 5, training with the River Raisin Dance Academy and studying the Cecchetti method. She completed several Cecchetti levels, including earning the Intermediate Professional certification and performing in many full-length ballets. She danced the roles of Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker Ballet and Swanhilda in Coppelia. During their senior year of high school, Erika studied with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in their Pre-Professional program. They continued into PBT’s Graduate program where they learned repertoire from Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, and Terrance S. Orr’s The Nutcracker. Following training at PBT, Erika moved into a Trainee position with the Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco. At LINES, she was able to learn from former and current LINES Ballet company members while learning LINES repertoire. The 2024-2025 season marks Erika’s inaugural year with Ballet Papillon.