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Emily Wilson Brenner was born and raised in Brockport New York where she studied dance and theater. She has performed and choreographed in various classical and contemporary venues throughout the eastern United States and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Greensboro Ballet. Her special interests include pedagogical applications of Laban Movement Analysis and the ever-changing role of dance in culture and society. Ms. Brenner has worked as a dance educator in public schools, higher education, and the private sector. Her work as a dancer, choreographer, dance critic, and scholar informs her well-balanced approach to teaching dance. A member of the National Dance Education Organization, Ms. Brenner’s research has emphasized dance pedagogy, dance science, and cross-curricular integration in the dance studio. Along with teaching, Ms. Brenner continues to freelance as a performer.

Academy Dance I • The first level majors course is designed to provide foundational skills and comprehension of the dance discipline. Ballet and contemporary dance technique classes focus on development of skill and vocabulary. Related topics such as anatomy, somatics, improvisation, and basic composition are also explored.

Academy Dance II • The second level majors course is designed to emphasize students’ acquisition of refined movement skills and motor control. Ballet and contemporary dance technique classes continue, while second year dance students also gain experience in dance production.

Academy Dance III (Honors Advanced Dance and Advanced Dance Lab) • In the Fall semester, this third level majors course is designed to further develop technical skill and performance with greater fluency, precision, and articulation. In the Spring semester this dance lab is designed to further develop professionalism in rehearsal and performance with the opportunity to work with student choreographers.

Academy Dance IV (Honors Advanced Dance II and Weaver Dance Lab) • In the Fall semester, this senior class is designed to develop an advanced level of dance technique and refine skills in a performance, choreography, and related roles. In the Spring semester this dance lab is designed to emphasize students’ ability to clearly express ideas as they examine the creative process of integrating movement with choreographic intent. Students compose their own original work as well as perform in the works of their peers.

Academy Choreography • A study of dance composition through explorations of choreographic theories and design. Students study the process of creating dance through a series of structured exercises and explorations of movement and movement design. Each student creates a dance to be presented at the end of the semester in a public showing.

Academy Dance History • A study of dance history that traces the evolution of our contemporary theatrical and ritual dance forms including ballet, modern dance, and ethnic dance. Dance is explored as an expressive art that reflects various social and cultural movements in history, as students study the great works, choreographers, and star dancers of each period. Students watch dance on film, read and discuss primary sources, and participate in movement studies that address aspects of dance through the ages.