“Emily is a fantastic teacher. Her classes are safe spaces in all the sense of the term. Her holistic approach of the art form she teaches allow her students to evolve not only on the technical level, but also as well-balanced artist and/or performers. She makes sure to focus on each student strengths while also ensuring that they also improve their weaknesses. I had the chance to have both group and private lessons with this amazing person, and I know I am a better artist thanks to her!
To anyone looking to for a great teacher of aerial arts, no matter if you are completely new to this or an advanced aerialist, I would highly recommend!”
-Francois Bergeron
Class Series
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Vertical Dance Summer Series-AFTERNOON
All are welcome to this three class series at Harbor Studio. During our time together, you will receive a combination of technique acquisition, guided flow and creative exploration culminating in a longer class with an emphasis on creation.
Wednesday 7/22, 1-2:30pm
Wednesday 7/29, 1-2:30pm
Wednesday 8/5, 1-3pm
Experience dancing in harness recommended but not required.
Bring your sense of adventure, curiosity and personality!
Pricing $35/class ($105 total), includes50% off open studio at Harbor during series
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Vertical Dance Summer Series-EVENING
All are welcome to this three class series at Harbor Studio. During our time together, you will receive a combination of technique acquisition, guided flow and creative exploration culminating in a longer class with an emphasis on creation.
Wednesday 7/22, 6-7:30pm
Wednesday 7/29, 6-7:30pm
Wednesday 8/5, 6-8pm
Experience dancing in harness recommended but not required.
Bring your sense of adventure, curiosity and personality!
Pricing $35/class ($105 total) 50% off open studio at Harbor during series
Workshops
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Vertical Dance
Vertical dance, also known as wall dance, gives you the power to fly, glide, flip and run in gravity defying ways by literally turning your world on its side. Transform your movement practice by using the wall as your floor. In these workshops we learn how to reorient our minds and bodies through a combination of body activating drills, skill acquisition, and creative exploration. Bring your sense of adventure, play and personality!
Options include
*Intro to Vertical Dance
*Vertical Dance Expanded
*Dance And Flow On The Wall
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Aerial Dance in Harness
Harness is a unique and minimalist piece of equipment that supports one’s weight at the hips to allow the artist to both connect with the ground and explore space at any height. Allowing you to glide, spin, hover and swing your way into new movement possibilities. In these workshops you will learn about safety practices, low flow movement and aerial exploration at inversion height with plenty of opportunities for creative exploration.
Options include
*Intro to Aerial Dance in Harness
*Dance and Flow in Harness
*Partnering For Aerial Dance in Harness
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Aerial Dance
Far more than stylized aerial arts, this beautiful branch of the aerial arts world integrates grounded dance movement with aerial movement to create fluid artistry inclusive of both earth and air. In this workshop we dip our toes into choreography, exploration, aerial dance history and creative exercises that help to draw everyone into the unique world of aerial dance.
Apparatus options include
* Lyra (low flow or inversion height)
*Dance Trapeze (low flow or inversion height)
*Fabrics (minimum working height 13’)
*Sling
I offer both semi-private and private lessons in vertical dance, aerial dance in harness and aerial dance on more traditional aerial apparatus.
Locations for vertical dance include, my private studio space in Atlanta GA, and online.
Private & Semi-Private Lessons
About Emily’s Teaching
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Technique enables expression, authenticity builds connection.
I believe that a strong foundation gives you the freedom to make aerial dance an expression of yourself. My goal is to give my students everything they need in order to embody their art and create safely, the key to this is an environment that is safe both physically and emotionally.
In class, we focus on understanding how and why things work. Because developing solid technique, understanding of foundations and building body awareness is how one gains the ability to truly create. Equally important is giving space to explore, play, and discover your own style. Because aerial dance isn’t just about doing things—it’s about expression.
I strive to create a welcoming environment where people of all identities, bodies, and learning styles feel safe, seen, and supported. No matter where you're starting from, you’ll be met with options, encouragement, and the tools to grow at your own pace.
I’m committed to ongoing learning—both through continued education and by listening to the people in the room. Your voice matters, and I’m always working to make my teaching more accessible, responsive, and empowering.
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Emily began her teaching journey in 2008, leading youth classes at Shaolin Kung Fu of Asheville. Since then, she’s never gone more than four months without teaching in some capacity. Her teaching experience spans a wide range of movement disciplines, including:
Dance (since 2013)
Fitness (since 2014)
Aerial Dance (since 2019)
Harness Dance (since 2023)
Vertical Dance (since 2024)
Now based in Atlanta, GA, Emily teaches regular workshops and private lessons and is actively working to grow the harness and vertical dance community in the Southeast and beyond.
Since 2024, Emily has been teaching long-form harness and vertical dance workshops across the country, sharing her deepening understanding of these unique forms. Her approach is grounded in both consistent continuing education and dedicated research, blending technique offerings with artistic exploration and play.
Over the years, her teaching has been shaped by a variety of roles:
In 2014, she served as a long-term substitute for Artspace Charter School’s dance program, learning to integrate academic curriculum with movement.
From 2015–2018, she worked as an ACE-certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, developing the ability to break down goals into personalized, accessible steps.
Her time as a teaching assistant at Artspace Charter School (2015) and Montessori Center School of Santa Barbara (2017–2019) deepened her skills in lesson planning and inclusive education, including training in interventions and accommodations for students on the autism spectrum.
Between 2020–2022, Emily helped build the aerial program at FM Aerial & Movement in Fargo, ND, alongside Yvette Reyes—helping create what became the first dedicated aerial studio in the state. She also taught aerial dance at Gasper’s School of Dance.
After relocating to Atlanta, she joined Akrosphere Aerial & Circus Arts (2022–2024) as a lead silks and lyra coach. There, she received in-depth continuing education from Constance Palmer in vertical theory, momentum, and progressive skill building.