Emily fell in love with ballet at the age of five in her hometown of Roanoke, VA and began dance classes at Roanoke Ballet Theatre, then continued her training with Unurbat Gunaajav and Michele Goacher. She played violin in the Roanoke Youth Symphony and performed dance roles in collaborative shows with Opera Roanoke, Mill Mountain Theatre, and Radford University. Emily attended summer intensives at the Richmond Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and on scholarship with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She spent her senior year of high school at the Virginia School of the Arts in Lynchburg, VA under the late Petrus Bosman, and then danced as a trainee at Richmond Ballet.

Emily later relocated to Charlottesville to co-found Charlottesville Ballet and attend the University of Virginia, where she earned an interdisciplinary degree in Nonprofit Management & Arts Administration. She performed in CB’s professional company throughout its first decade and retired from the stage in 2018. Emily is a member of the 2025 class of Lead Virginia and continues to lead the Ballet’s marketing and development efforts while fostering collaborations with nonprofit and performing arts partners. She is deeply grateful to all who have made this 18-year journey possible!