Photo by David Kim.

Biography

Choreographer, islands

A prominent voice in the movement industry, Emma Portner has become widely known for her inimitable quality and complex devotion to the craft of dance. The actor, dancer and director-choreographer has been recognized for her unique and “almost-paranormal” ability.

In 2012, Emma moved to New York City to study at The Ailey School and soon thereafter became the youngest woman in history to choreograph a musical, Bat Out of Hell, on London’s West End. Before she was 20 years old, she had garnered millions of international views through dance on film and worked with the music industry’s biggest names.

Her most recent work includes collaborations with Apple, Netflix, Vogue, The Norwegian National Ballet, Sony Studios, and indie music stars, Maggie Rogers, Blood Orange, and Sylvan Esso. Emma’s work has performed venues such as the Guggenheim Museum, Jacob's Pillow, New York City Center and Théâtre Champs-Élysées. She has been hailed as “beguiling” (The New York Times) and listed as “100 people to watch in 2019” (Paper Magazine).

Most recently, Emma’s acclaimed ballet islands shared a tour with quintessential choreographers Crystal Pite, Jiří Kylián and Ohad Naharin.

Emma continues to prove her versatility, portraying Gozer the Gozerian in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and acting in A24’s upcoming film I saw the TV Glow directed by Jane Schoenbrun.

Learn More

Read Article: Canada’s Emma Portner Presents Critically Acclaimed Duet