Emma FaulknerInstructor

DPT, Emory University

Emma Faulkner has been immersed in the dance world in many different capacities over many years. She trained extensively in ballet, modern, and contemporary styles through her childhood and high school years for before attending Elon University to study exercise science and dance.

Emma’s early dance career was full of injuries that resulted her in her introduction to physical therapy. A career ending ankle injury led Emma to change her goal of becoming a professional dancer to the goal of becoming a physical therapist with a dance medicine specialty. Through her injury and physical therapy process, Emma learned that she could continue to dance and enjoy movement at a less intense level and utilize her fundamental dance knowledge to help other dancers continue to move, dance, and enjoy their passions in healthier ways.

Emma graduated from Elon University in 2012 with a BS in exercise and sport science with minors in dance performance and choreography and public health. After graduation from Elon, Emma travelled to Los Angeles where she had the opportunity to explore a professional dance and acting career as well as teach ballet classes for young performers.

Upon her return from LA, she attended Emory University where she graduated in 2015 with her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. In 2017, she completed Mercer University’s Residency in Orthopedic Physical Therapy and became a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) in 2018.

Professionally, Emma is a leading dance medicine physical therapist in the Atlanta area and is one of the two primary therapists on staff with Atlanta Ballet. Emma also has a private practice in Decatur, GA and is a partner in Atlanta Dance Medicine, the city’s only adolescent dance medicine physical therapy practice.

Emma is also a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science and serves on the Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health. She also provides PT services for many smaller, contemporary, and modern dance companies within the Atlanta dance community. She is also developing a passion for dancer photography with her husband and continues to take dance classes and perform around the city.

My philosophy of teaching is to create an environment where students can learn and explore with supervision and guidance. I firmly believe that every human needs to have, at the very least, a rudimentary understanding of the human physical body. For dancers, a more in depth understanding of their body as a tool for physicality and expression is essential for the ability create, perform to the highest level.

I believe in melding science and experience into learning about the human body. The science of anatomy provides a framework for each individual to experience their own, unique, body. I strive to create a safe space for each student to explore their own physicality and experience their own movements within their body.

Emma’s research interests include dance medicine, choreography specific training, hypermobility, taping and bracing for dancers, and strength training and weight training for ballet.

Publications

Faulkner E. Choreography-Specific Cross-Training and Conditioning Programs. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2021 Feb;32(1):103-115. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2020.09.003. Epub 2020 Oct 29. PMID: 33198890.