An Interview With Melissa Llarena

Emily Pihlaja received her early dance training from the New England Academy of Dance. Yet, at the age of 12 she committed to dance as her vocation when she left home in Connecticut to attend the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. where she graduated in 2009. She then moved to Portland where she performed for four seasons with the Oregon Ballet Theatre. Emily was featured in ballets such as George Balanchine’s Serenade, Divertimento No. 15, Emeralds, The Four Temperaments, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Giselle, and The Nutcracker. She also performed in New York with Thomas/Ortiz Dance. Her performances with Spectrum Dance Theater include 5th Avenue Theatre’s Carousel and Donald Byrd’s Carmina Burana and more.  Listen closely for Emily’s unique take on these themes: The moment when dancing became more than a hobby through a series of choices that set her apart Her career journey from being a little girl who performed for fun to signing a contract as an adult with a dance company The art of performing before y