#MeetTheArtistMonday | Meet Artistic Director Emily

Emily Runkle first began studying ballet at Ballet with Cindee Velle, intensively studying with Caryl Maxwell. In high school she attended The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia and received coaching by former dancers renown dancers from around the world. She danced as a trainee with Ballet Magnificat in Mississippi. Her professional repertoire includes soloist roles with Ballet Chesapeake, Misako Ballet Company, Merge Dance Company, and New York State Ballet, and she has performed works by Balanchine, Edward Stewart, and Eva Anderson, as well as the full length classics. Emily choreographs for both contemporary and classical companies and schools and has been teaching at Project C Studio since 2011, and is the director of the ballet program. Emily believes in interpreting the art of ballet in a very specific, yet attainable way for all students.

Continue reading to learn more about Emily.

Zodiac

Taurus

Favorite Food

Bagels and cream cheese

Favorite Color

Black and white

Favorite Book

Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings

Favorite Movie

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Favorite Music/Artist/Band/Genre

Mumford and Sons, Avett Brothers, Sam Cooke, Twenty One Pilots

Favorite Place to Be

In West Virginia at my parents cabin!

If you were a dinosaur, what kind would you be?

Spike, that sleepy fat one from Land Before Time. He's a simple guy.

Do you have any pets?

I have a dog named Apollo and he's a muscly ball of energy.

What genre of dance is your favorite? Why?

Ballet- because every step has an original story behind it, and I feel like it's constantly challenging, which keeps me engaged.

What's your favorite full length ballet/performance/variation? Why?

I love to watch Balanchine's Jewels, because it shows different ways/flavors of ballet and it also has beautiful music.

Why do you dance?

It's FUN!

If you wear pointe shoes, what kind do you wear?

I prefer Blochs or Freeds but now I have week old lady feet so I wear Gaynor Mindens.

What other jobs/activities/talents/passions do you pursue?

I love cooking and baking, and I go through phases where I do that really intensely...for two weeks. Same with crafts or research projects.

What are you looking forward to this season with Ballet Embody?

Sitting back and seeing first run throughs- that is always so exciting and rewarding.