Emma Wheeler
Corps de Ballet
Ballet San Antonio
Hometown:
San Francisco, California
Joined BSA:
2022
Promotions:
Promoted to Corps de Ballet in 2023
Originally from San Francisco, Emma began her training under Julianne Spratlin, Henry Berg, Samantha Clark, and Kristin Long at Dance Training Center San Francisco. In 2020, Emma continued her training at Boston Ballet’s School Professional Division at Walnut Hill where she studied with Margaret Tracey, Miranda Weese, Andrea Long, Kathleen Mitchell, and Denise Lewis.
After graduating in the spring of 2022, Emma joined and began her first season as Apprentice with Ballet San Antonio that fall, and then was promoted to Corps de ballet in the spring.
Emma has also attended summer programs with Dutch National Ballet School, Arizona Ballet School, Boston Ballet School, School of American Ballet, Kaatsbaan, Royal Danish Ballet School, and The Royal Ballet School.
Get to know Emma
When did you start dancing, and why?
I can’t exactly remember why I first started to dance but my mom tells me often that I wouldn’t stop talking about ballet until she put me in ballet class. It wasn’t until I was 9, when I met my teacher, Julianne Spratlin, that ballet really became important to me. Julianne taught me to see and experience the many joys of dance.
What inspires you to be a professional dancer?
Growing up watching San Francisco Ballet inspired me throughout my childhood, especially watching the great classic ballets and Balanchine ballets for the first time live. Now, I feel most inspired by the works of Jerome Robbins and William Forsythe. However, my current favorite ballet is Crystal Pite’s “The Seasons’ Canon.”
Why did you choose Ballet San Antonio?
Gut instinct