My name is Eric and I’ve been with TSG since June, 2008, making me the most recent full-time addition to the team. I came to The Silverman Group via a not-so-traditional route. My background is in dance and sociology, both of which I studied at Northwestern University. While training with the likes of Billy Siegenfeld (Jump Rhythm Jazz Project), Brian Jeffrey (XSIGHT! Performance Group), Melissa Thodos (Thodos Dance Chicago), and many other formidable staples in Chicago’s dance community, at Northwestern I began to develop as both a performer and a burgeoning choreographer. I also developed a fascination with sociology. I loved exploring the idea of what makes people do what they do. While psychology tries to answer this question on an individual level, sociology tackles it from a group perspective, examining how our affinity for communities affects our daily life choices.
Following graduation I danced professionally for six 
years with Hedwig Dances and Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre, two Chicago modern dance ensembles. Both were part-time and provided a wonderful artistic counter-balance to each other. On the side, I was a freelance writer for Windy City Times, contributing to the coverage of local dance events. I loved writing and spreading the word about dance in Chicago. The gig with Windy City Times also led to the opportunity to get to know some of the city’s leading dance PR representatives, including none other than—you guessed it!—The Silverman Group.
years with Hedwig Dances and Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre, two Chicago modern dance ensembles. Both were part-time and provided a wonderful artistic counter-balance to each other. On the side, I was a freelance writer for Windy City Times, contributing to the coverage of local dance events. I loved writing and spreading the word about dance in Chicago. The gig with Windy City Times also led to the opportunity to get to know some of the city’s leading dance PR representatives, including none other than—you guessed it!—The Silverman Group. (Above: a "vintage" dance photo of me from my work with Same Planet Different World; photo by Cheryl Mann)
Unfortunately my dance career wasn’t fated to be as lengthy as I had hoped. In October, 2007 I tore my meniscus, my first major dance injury. (If you aren’t aware, the meniscus is a spongy layer of cartilage in the knee that helps absorb impact.) I came to realize that going back to professional dance wasn’t going to be an option if I wanted to maintain my health—in other words, keep walking—so I thought about how I could use my experience and knowledge in another way.
I feel very lucky to have found The Silverman Group when I did. Not only was their reputation unsurpassed (and still is, if I may say so), but they also had a stellar client roster, not the least of which included The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Luna Negra Dance Theater (pictured right; photo by Cheryl Mann). Aside from dance, they also had theater, music, film, and a variety of other arts-related clientele, all of which were impressive. Granted, I was sad to permanently hang up my dance shoes, but the new endeavor in PR was a chance to learn, a new direction in which to grow. The kind of work that we represent, with so many creative people and intriguing shows to promote, is always a source of inspiration, and I’m happy to work in a capacity that is still connected to the arts community. Sometimes a whole new world can open up with just a little shift in perspective. For me that shift wasn’t planned, but in hindsight, it certainly was welcome.
Unfortunately my dance career wasn’t fated to be as lengthy as I had hoped. In October, 2007 I tore my meniscus, my first major dance injury. (If you aren’t aware, the meniscus is a spongy layer of cartilage in the knee that helps absorb impact.) I came to realize that going back to professional dance wasn’t going to be an option if I wanted to maintain my health—in other words, keep walking—so I thought about how I could use my experience and knowledge in another way.
I feel very lucky to have found The Silverman Group when I did. Not only was their reputation unsurpassed (and still is, if I may say so), but they also had a stellar client roster, not the least of which included The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Luna Negra Dance Theater (pictured right; photo by Cheryl Mann). Aside from dance, they also had theater, music, film, and a variety of other arts-related clientele, all of which were impressive. Granted, I was sad to permanently hang up my dance shoes, but the new endeavor in PR was a chance to learn, a new direction in which to grow. The kind of work that we represent, with so many creative people and intriguing shows to promote, is always a source of inspiration, and I’m happy to work in a capacity that is still connected to the arts community. Sometimes a whole new world can open up with just a little shift in perspective. For me that shift wasn’t planned, but in hindsight, it certainly was welcome.
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