Erika Navarro became the first head coach of the Forester varsity cheerleaders and dance team in the summer of 2025.
Navarro's own performance experience includes a season as an NFL Cheerleader with the Seattle Seahawks and two years on the Division 1 Dance Team at California State University, Fullerton. She graduated from the school in 2020 with degrees in political science and dance.
In the two years prior to her arrival in Lake Forest, Navarro worked with multiple studios in southern California, including Supreme Dance Center. She planned and directed all logistics for community and competitive performances, collaborated with the studio owner to develop engaging experiences that foster student leadership and visibility, and was the lead choreographer for performance teams across various styles (jazz, pom, lyrical, hip-hop).
Navarro also served as a varsity dance coach for two years and worked with the United Spirit Association as an instructor and freelance choreographer for eight. She created award-winning and competitive routines and gained experience in cheer and dance at the collegiate level contributing to the auditions at St. Mary's College of California and Fresno State University. In addition, she worked in collaboration with the physical education and dance teachers in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District for three years.
Navarro has also been active on the evaluation side of the industry, serving as an adjudicator for United Spirit Association and National Dance Alliance and judging regional and national competitions with a focus on technical accuracy, performance quality, and creativity. She has also been selected to judge internationally for Organización Nacional de Porristas (National Cheerleading Organization).
