Educator · Choreographer · Artistic Director

Erin Long-Robbins

Erin Long-Robbins

Twenty-five years shaping dancers & building community

Studio Owner of South Dayton School of Dance & Artistic Director of South Dayton Dance Theatre

Erin.robbins@wright.edu Dayton, Ohio
Scroll

Profile

A distinguished dance educator and artistic leader with over two decades of experience in higher education, professional training, and community arts. Erin Long-Robbins holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Wright State University and has dedicated her career to cultivating technical excellence, artistic depth, and professional pathways for dancers of all levels.


Her work spans rigorous academic instruction, direction of a thriving non-profit dance company and school, and active service on national boards shaping the future of pre-professional dance in America.

24+
Years at Wright State University
400+
Students at South Dayton School of Dance
1,800+
Annual Nutcracker audience members
17
Staff supervised

Higher Education

Teaching Experience

2001 – Present
Dayton, OH
Wright State University
Adjunct Faculty · Dept. of Theatre, Dance & Motion Pictures
Courses Taught:
Ballet Technique I–IV Modern Dance I–IV Ballet for Dance Minors Ballet for Dance Majors Ballet for Musical Theatre I & II Jazz for the Actor Jazz/Modern for Musical Theatre Pointe Technique
  • Developed classroom etiquette guidelines adopted by the Theatre Department for all dance courses
  • Choreographed works for WSU Dance Ensemble Faculty Concerts
  • Facilitated Regional Dance America National Choreographic Intensive at WSU (2023–2025)
  • Coordinating RDA/Northeast Festival at WSU (2027)
  • Developed COVID-19 safety protocols partially adopted by the Dance Department
2005 – 2023
Dayton, OH
Sinclair Community College
Adjunct Professor
Ballet I & II (DAN 1172, 2172) Dance History (DAN 145) Dance Appreciation (DAN 157)
  • Developed and modernized course materials, syllabi, and assessments during quarter-to-semester conversion
  • Collaborated with faculty to produce annual Sinclair Dance Ensemble concerts
2001 – 2005
Yellow Springs, OH
Antioch College
Adjunct Professor
Ballet (DAN 117)

Professional Studio

Studio & Company Teaching

2011 – Present
Dayton, OH
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
Company Ballet Instructor
Provide ballet instruction for professional company members.
2023 – 2025
Regional Dance America National Choreographic Intensive
Ballet and Pointe Faculty
2003 – 2023
Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre
Guest Master Teacher
Ballet and pointe/variations instruction.
2001 – 2006
Dayton, OH
Dayton Ballet School
Ballet Instructor

Artistic & Administrative

Leadership & Direction

2018 – Present
Dayton, OH
South Dayton Dance Theatre
Artistic Director & Chairman of the Board · 501(c)(3)
  • Direct all artistic programming for pre-professional dance company serving 100+ dancers annually
  • Produce The Nutcracker — second-largest attendance in the Dayton area with 1,800+ audience members
  • Oversee lighting design, stage management, costume/set design, and technical direction
  • Manage grant writing, fundraising, sponsorship development, and board governance
  • Supervise artistic staff, community outreach performances, and educational programming
2006 – Present
Dayton, OH
South Dayton School of Dance, LLC
Owner & Director (Sole Owner 2022–Present)
  • Direct comprehensive dance education program serving 400+ students across all levels and ages
  • Developed pre-professional division with alumni pursuing collegiate degrees and professional careers
  • Created curricula across ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, improvisation, and creative movement
  • Hire, train, and supervise 17 employees including faculty, administrative staff, and coordinators
  • Coordinate annual full-length ballet productions
2017 – Present
Regional Dance America/Northeast
Board of Directors
  • Chair, Membership Committee — facilitate recruitment and onboarding of new member companies
  • Co-hosted festivals in Harrisburg, Lancaster, and Scranton, PA
  • Coordinate vendor and sponsor relations for regional festivals

Creative Work

Selected Choreographic Works

The Nutcracker
South Dayton Dance Theatre · 2007–Present (Annual)
Giselle (full-length)
South Dayton School of Dance · 2024
Cinderella (full-length)
South Dayton School of Dance · 2025
Ohio Northern University Dance Concert
2023
Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre
2023
WSU Dance Ensemble Faculty Concert
Wright State University · 2007, 2018, 2021
Sinclair Dance Ensemble
Sinclair Community College · 2010–2019
Regional Dance America/Northeast Festival
Philadelphia, PA · 2014 (Selected Work)
Stivers School for the Arts
2016
City Folk Festival
Dayton · 2013
Gem City Ballet
2004–2006
Dayton Philharmonic Magic Carpet Series
2004
Antioch University Spring Dance Concert
2002–2005

Education & Training

Academic & Pre-Professional Training

2001
Dayton, OH
Wright State University
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance · Minor in Psychology
Faculty: Jon Rodriguez, Suzanne Walker, Patricia White
1994 – 1997
Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet
Full Scholarship Summer Intensive
Artistic Directors: Bo and Stephanie Spassoff
1992 – 1994
Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet
Summer Intensive
Artistic Director: Marcia Dale Weary
1984 – 1997
Allegheny Ballet Company
Pre-Professional Training
Artistic Director: Deborah Anthony

Pedagogical Impact

Student Achievements

◆
Professional Dance Companies
Former students are performing with companies including Smuin Contemporary Ballet, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Pennsylvania Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, Ballet San Antonio, Limon Dance Company, Dayton Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and many others across the country and world.
◆
Stage, Screen & Beyond
Alumni are performing on and off Broadway, in national tours, on cruise lines, in Las Vegas shows, and on The West End. The roster includes a Tony Award-winning producer, Tony-nominated performers, and a Tony-nominated choreographer, as well as dancers working in film, commercials, and as independent contractors worldwide — including The Rockettes.
◆
Higher Education
Students have earned scholarships and BFA degrees at Fordham/Ailey, Juilliard, Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, SUNY Purchase, Point Park, Butler, North Carolina School of the Arts, Boston Conservatory, University of the Arts, University of Utah, University of Arizona, Ohio State University, and Wright State University.
◆
Careers in Dance & Beyond
Beyond performance, former students are thriving as dance teachers, artistic directors, school administrators, and award-winning choreographers. Others have built successful careers entirely outside dance — as political analysts, journalists, nurses, doctors, surgeons, and architects.

Recognition

Honors & Awards

2020
Outstanding Adjunct Award — Wright State University
2014
Women and Dance — Featured Profile
2001
Outstanding Senior Award — Dept. of Theatre Arts, Wright State University
2000
Martin Sheen Theater Arts Ausburger/Estevez Scholarship
1999–2000
WSU Talent Scholarship
1997–2001
Presidential Academic Award College Scholarship
1998
Dance Magazine — Featured for performance at National Regional Dance America Festival

Performance Recognition

Professional Offers Received

2001
Dayton Ballet Company
Apprentice Contract Offer
1997
BalletMet
Apprentice Position Offer
1992
Joffrey Ballet
Traineeship Offer