Emma Marcellana | Photo by Matt de la Peña

Where did you train? 

I trained at Bay Area Dance School in Los Altos, California. I have also attended various summer intensives, including The Juilliard School, Ballets Jazz de Montreal, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and the Preprofessional Dancer Institute.

What inspires you? 

I am fascinated by the human brain’s ability to create and curate deeply personal meanings from anything—movement, music, even conversation. This unique capacity for artists to transcend barriers and achieve the extraordinary, even through ordinary actions, inspires me to explore my craft with humility and responsibility.

Describe yourself in three words

Researcher. Orchestrator. Ally.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself

I danced for an ethno-classical ballet company where rehearsals were conducted entirely in Russian. After a close call of nearly being dropped on my head, I jumped into a Russian course to communicate better and avoid partnering disasters!

What does it mean to be part of USC Kaufman?

Being a part of USC Kaufman means being part of a community of uninhibited creatives who are willing to wander the outskirts of the ordinary. There is an inexplicable energy that emerges whenever Kaufman dancers share the space, driven by playfulness, camaraderie, and a genuine love for our art form. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to grow in an environment where individuality and unity flourish side by side.