Emily Schoen Branch is an American choreographer, director, and educator living and working in Seattle.
Artist Statement
Again and again, dance teaches me that when the filters fall away between people—when the boundaries of geography, religion and politics soften—the beginning and end of our relationships is always human.
I’m interested in dance as a vehicle for commenting on society, for laughing at ourselves, for expressing anger; as a place to appreciate beauty and awe just for the sake of it. This is the sacred work of artists.
News
Video by Steve Korn
Emily’s thoughts and behind-the-scenes footage from her new piece, dro·mi·a, commissioned by the University of Washington Chamber Dance Company.
Catalyst by University of Washington’s Chamber Dance Company
October 10-13, 2024
Meany Hall for the Performing Arts
Photos by Steve Korn
Seattle International Dance Festival presented Skywoman by Emily Schoen Branch on Saturday, June 15, 2024. The dancers are from University of Washington.
Photos by Jim Coleman
Derek Crescenti and Emily Schoen Branch. Image by Steve Korn.
As an MFA Candidate at the University of Washington, Emily performed with UW’s Chamber Dance Company in pieces by Doug Varone, Robert Moses, and Beth Twigs. Performances were at Meany Hall, October 12-15, 2023.
Emily was accepted into the prestigious graduate program at the University of Washington. She will pursue her MFA in Dance. Expected graduation: Spring 2025.
Performance Recap
Emily premiered a new work titled, “come to ground,” at the Seattle International Dance Festival at the Erickson Theater on Sunday, June 18, 2023. Collaborators include Leah Terada, Kyle Sangil, and Rhea Keller. The piece mixed poetry by David Whyte with original music by Simon Brouchka and Curtis Robert MacDonald.
See review: “A Night to Remember” by Marcie Sillman. Images by Jim Coleman below.
Kyle Sangil, Leah Terada, and Rhea Keller. Photo by Jim Coleman.
University of Washington awarded Emily the “Body Space Time” residency for winter 2022. She used the time to research new dance ideas with Leah Terada, Tess Neill, and Kyle Sangil.
Performance Recap
“Flight / An Evening of Dance and Drinks” was a great success! We sold out with over 200 people in attendance! We rented lights and transformed the venue into a living, breathing theatrical space. We danced on tables, theater boxes and the small in-house stage. We played with the audience and invited them to join in our antics. Our Comedy MC—Obadiah Freeman—constructed funny stories with suggestions from attendees and helped us investigate the age-old dance question, “Yes, but, what does it all mean?”
The kitchen even ran out of food.
Thank you to our supporters, to the Seattle dance community who showed up in a big way, and to our friends near and far. This show is all about community, and the celebration that is performance. It was a joy to make and share with all of you.
Check out some early images from the show.
