Erie Arts and Culture awards $1,500 through the Carla B. Hughes Memorial Dance Grant
Erie Arts and Culture is proud to announce its latest round of grantees, the very first to receive an award from the Carla B. Hughes Memorial Dance Grant. Mariah Johnson was awarded the $1,000 Choreographer grant, for her recognition in competition circuits, successful integration of dance styles, and compelling choreographic concepts. Mia Adelhardt received the $500 Dancer award, selected for her captivating technique, musicality, and strong interest in growing her choreography skills.
Join us in celebrating these wonderful artists at our next Creative Crowd networking event on October 13th from 5:30-7:30 at PennWest Edinboro’s Bruce Gallery. We supply the refreshments and food, and our creative community brings the fun energy and creative spirit.
Learn more about our grantees here:
Mariah Johnson is an Erie, Pennsylvania-based dance educator, choreographer, performer, and creative leader with more than 25 years of dance training and 13 years of teaching experience. She began dancing at the age of two and trained through the Erie Bayfront Ballet legacy, Erie Bayfront Dance, and Erie Dance Theater. She studied and performed ballet, jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and pointe under many of Erie's distinguished dance educators.
Johnson currently serves as a Dance Educator, Performance Team Director, Competition Team Leader, and Creative Marketing & Social Media Manager at Erie Dance Theater. She teaches jazz, hip hop and contemporary dance to students ages six through adult, mentors approximately 50–70 dancers each week, choreographs original works for the stage, and helps lead the artistic vision of productions, recitals, competitions, and community performances. Among her creative contributions are original full-length theatrical dance productions inspired by Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Black Panther, blending storytelling with choreography across more than eight dance styles for performers ranging from young children to advanced dancers. In addition to her work in the studio, she creates and manages Erie Dance Theater’s digital marketing and creative content, helping connect the organization with audiences throughout the region.
Her choreography has been presented in studio productions, community performances, and regional and national dance competitions, earning multiple Emerging Choreographer Awards, Best Choreography Awards, Judges' Choice Awards, Top Overall High Score Awards, Highest in Division Awards, Best in Category Awards, Platinum and Gold adjudications, Standout Studio Awards, and Hype Awards. She has also participated in professional development opportunities through conventions such as NYCDA and Intrigue.
Johnson attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she studied Interdisciplinary Fine Arts, and will begin pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at Mercyhurst University in Fall 2026. Through teaching, choreography, and lifelong learning, she is committed to strengthening Erie’s dance community by creating meaningful artistic experiences, mentoring young dancers, and inspiring future generations through the transformative power of dance.
Mia Adelhardt is a dancer, instructor, and choreographer from Erie, Pennsylvania, whose passion for dance has shaped her life from an early age. She began dancing as a young child, and returned to training at the age of eleven, after her mother opened a dance studio called Sovereign Ballet. From that point forward, dance became the foundation of her artistic identity and the path she hopes to pursue throughout her life and for years to come.
Over the years, Mia has continued to expand her experience as both a performer and educator while developing her own artistic voice as a choreographer. She has created numerous original works ranging from beginner-level pieces to advanced choreography, discovering a passion for crafting movement that communicates emotion and tells meaningful stories. She hopes to continue expanding her choreographic career by studying new compositional techniques and abstract theatrical elements, and developing innovative works that leave a lasting impact on audiences.
After graduating from high school in 2023, Mia enrolled at Erie County Community College, where she is continuing her education while pursuing her artistic goals. She plans to transfer her credits in the future and is considering earning a graduate degree to further support her career in the performing arts. Looking ahead, Mia hopes to train and perform with contemporary ballet companies, travel internationally to study a variety of artistic perspectives, explore dance companies throughout Europe and beyond, and potentially establish a future living and working in Europe as she continues to grow as both an artist and educator.
