Meet Our Movers
The Emory Dance Program usually has between 40 and 50 majors and minors. Below, read about a few of our movers and their thoughts about studying dance in college!
Ellie Kim 28C
Majors: Dance and Movement Studies, Business Administration
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Since beginning my performing arts journey in middle school, dance – especially Hip-Hop and street dance – has shaped me in countless ways. Throughout high school, I trained with youth Hip-Hop crews and my school's dance program, through which I developed a love for art forms like Hip-Hop, House, Locking, Popping, and Breaking. I also discovered my passion for Hip-Hop history and culture, freestyling, choreographing, and teaching. Dance empowered me, building my self-confidence, creativity, and eagerness to advocate for social justice and community. At Emory, I've been able to expand my dance experience through the dance program's technique classes and Emory Dance Company, as well as continue my Hip-Hop journey with the support of the program's caring faculty and the vibrant student dance crews. The Emory Dance Program, TNT, and BlaeZ have not only given me opportunities to learn, perform, and choreograph, but also a forever community and home.
Jillian Lee 27C
Majors: Psychology, Dance and Movement Studies, with a Concentration in Arts Management
Hometown: Englewood Cliffs, NJ
The Emory Dance Program has deepened my understanding of dance as a somatic practice, expanding my perspective as a dancer with a classical ballet background. The technique classes offer an encouraging space to grow as an artist and choreographer, while Emory Dance Company (EDC) provides performance opportunities. Walking into my first rehearsal for EDC was unlike anything I had experienced. While immensely challenging, I learned to embrace novelty in movement and find joy in creation. Some of the most invaluable opportunities I’ve enjoyed include dancing with Doug Varone and Dancers through the Candler Concert Series and performing my own choreography at the American College Dance Association Southeast Conference. Through Emory Dance, I’ve found a community that values both artistic rigor and personal growth. It’s where I’ve formed meaningful connections with peers and professors as an undergraduate. I’m deeply grateful for the Emory Dance Program and excited to continue dancing, learning, and growing within this enriching community.
Natalie Linn 28C
Majors: Dance and Movement Studies, Chemistry
Hometown: Nashville, TN
I love Emory Dance because of the people, and how I can continue getting a diverse dance education while pursuing my academic curiosities. I’m very lucky to get to train under an incredibly talented and supportive faculty where I can push myself artistically every day and stretch the boundaries of my abilities. I also love getting to dance with like-minded students who have become some of my closest friends at Emory. Prior to coming to Emory, I practiced the styles of jazz, hip-hop, ballet, and contemporary. At Emory, I have found that I am able to continue developing an enhanced understanding of my own artistic abilities within each discipline. I am able to explore dance as an art form and focus on how my individual style works within a group to create something beautiful with other incredible dancers and people.
Sara Richter 29C
Major / Minor: Chemistry with a Biomolecular Specialization, Dance and Movement Studies
Hometown: Bala Cynwyd, PA
Beginning at age three in a small hometown studio, I took as many ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, and hip-hop classes as I could. By high school, dance had become more than an artistic outlet: as a member of my studio’s ballet and contemporary companies, I discovered my ability to be a leader, friend, and disciplined student. I’m grateful that coming to Emory has not meant giving up the connections and support system I have gained through dance despite simultaneously pursuing an academic focus in chemistry. Instead, the Emory Dance Program offers a bridge between my scientific and artistic passions in a space that encourages individuality, curiosity, and experimentation. The Emory Dance Company community has enriched my college experience by providing an outlet to continue to grow as a dancer and chemist while forming lasting friendships with incredibly talented peers and faculty that inspire me daily and make this program feel like home.
Kaylee Wright 25Ox 27C
Majors: Chemistry, Dance and Movement Studies
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
I love the Emory Dance Program because of the way that my view of movement has been shifted. Growing up, I fell in love with the act of performing, without falling deeply into one specific art form. At Oxford, I took an improvisation class simply to fill a requirement, but ended up becoming obsessed with the freedom of somatic exploration through improv. From there, the dance program has encouraged my growth through technique courses and expanded my interest in the creative aspect of choreography and movement analysis. This program welcomed me in so quickly after the Oxford transition and made me feel at home among dancers with an equal fascination with this incredible art-form.
Alice Stern 28C
Majors: Dance and Movement Studies, Anthropology and Human Biology
Hometown: Madison, New Jersey
I have always known dance to be a vital aspect of my being, and though my relationship with dance has grown and changed with me, I am lucky to say that I have been able to retain this invaluable piece of my life through Emory Dance. Dancing at Emory has been a vibrant experience that includes expansive core curriculum courses, guest teachers and speakers, and extensive performance opportunities in faculty, guest, and student works. Through Emory Dance, I had the honor to learn from and work with the Doug Varone and Dancers Company, providing me the opportunity to work with a professional company and expand my connectivity within the broader professional community. Additionally, Emory Dance enabled me to attend the American Dance Festival, at which I grew immensely through both classes and as a performer in the Footprints feature series. Emory Dance has so quickly become home, a welcoming, nurturing community that has already helped me to flourish as an artist.
Izzy Lefand 28C
Majors: Psychology, Dance and Movement Studies
Hometown: Waycross, GA
Growing up in competitive dance, I found value in the performance and creation of story-based pieces, likely influenced by my theatre background. Dance is a powerful medium of communication, fostering a visceral, internal connection between those on stage and in the audience. And so, I was drawn to pursue dance. Since being at Emory, I have been introduced to finding and creating movement for movement’s sake. Stemming from what “feels good” in the body, this movement explores unique and unfamiliar pathways. Throughout my classes, working with the Emory Dance Company, and attending staibdance workshops possible by Friends of Dance funding, I have continued to explore and find my creative voice. I have even had the opportunity to choreograph at Emory through organizations such as Dance Net. Dance at Emory has allowed me to pursue both academic and creative aspects of movement, and I am excited to continue this journey with my Emory Dance community!
Esther Zhou 28B
Majors: Business, Dance and Movement Studies
Hometown: West Chester, PA
I began my dance journey at 3 years old, focusing on a wide range of styles including jazz, contemporary, ballet, and hip hop. After doing competitive dance for 10 years, I shifted my main focus towards ballet. From there until college, I trained almost exclusively in ballet through classical technique, pointe, partnering and variation classes, competing in YAGP and National Ballet Competition. I love ballet wholeheartedly as it gave me a solid technical foundation as a dancer, but I also wanted to know what other styles felt like again. Coming to Emory, I was able to. Emory's modern-based program is different than ballet; instead of "rights and wrongs," there's emphasis on individuality, vulnerability, and improvisation. I was pushed to diversify my movements and understand the limits of my body in an empowering way. While I still take ballet classes in the program, Emory dance has made me a more holistic dancer, providing a community that embraces growth and experimentation.
