“Dance big” with Emily Chu

Name: Emily Chu

From: Clifton Park, New York

Age: 20

Emily is currently working towards her BFA in dance at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Part of the reason she picked CCM was that the dance department allows students to take company contracts starting junior year and still get their degree from CCM. She’s hoping to get a job with a contemporary ballet company soon, before or after graduation.

Emily’s first pointe shoe fitting at Saratoga Dance was with Katie when she was 11 years old. Here’s what Katie remembers about Emily:

At 4’11”, Emily was diminutive in stature but I remember being amazed by how powerful her legs and feet were at such an early age. I was also struck by how determined and focused she was. I remembering thinking to myself ‘I hope that no one makes the mistake of trying to tell this one that she won’t be able to do something, because she will achieve whatever it is that she has in her mind to do.’

Shoe: Bloch Heritage Strong

This shoe works for Emily because it has soft wings that broaden through the metatarsal area and accommodates her wide feet. It’s easy on her bunions she has inherited and the V-cut vamp supports her beautifully arched feet and lengthens her leg line.

Although Emily no longer lives in this area, she continues to order her dancewear and shoes from Saratoga Dance. We had the chance to catch up with Emily recently to find out how she is doing.

Saratoga Dance: How old were you when you started dancing?

Emily Chu: I started dancing in creative movement classes when I was 3.

SD: How old were you when you started pointe?

EC: I was 11 when I started pointe.

SD: Do you remember your first pointe shoe fitting? What is your most vivid memory about that?

EC: I remember my first pointe shoe fitting. It was my first time in the store, which I was just enchanted by. I mostly remember just being surprised by what my feet could do. Unfortunately, my first pair of pointe shoes weren’t actually shoes that I got fitted for. They were not a good pair for me at all, but my first fitted pair from you made me feel like I could actually dance in them.

SD: How old were you when you went away to Walnut Hill?

EC: I only spent my senior year at Walnut Hill, so I was 17 when I started there.

SD: What can you tell us about your experience there? Was it hard for you to go away at such a young age to a year-round professional dance school?

EC: Going to Walnut Hill was one of the best decisions I ever made. I only wish I could have started there earlier. I got to dance a lot more, and I got more training and performing opportunities in modern, which I hadn’t had much of before. I also got to choreograph, which was something I always wanted to do but never had the opportunity. The academics were great (and also not as long as public school!), so my college applications still looked good, and I made a lot of great friends from around the country and from different countries that I still keep in contact with and visit on occasion. Living away from home wasn’t too bad for me. Going to summer intensives over the years definitely helped me get used to being away on my own.

SD: You are very petite. How tall are you? What advice do you have for other petite dancers?

EC: I’m 4’11″. It’s tough not being in the “good” height range for ballet dancers, but I think it’s also sometimes a good thing because it sets me apart from other dancers. To other short dancers, I would say that just because you’re small doesn’t mean you can’t dance big. If you don’t hold back, no one will notice how small you are when you’re up on stage dancing.

SD: Who was your most influential teacher?

EC: Julie Gedalecia (Saratoga City Ballet) was my most influential teacher. I definitely made the most improvement in my dancing while I was being taught by Julie. It was under her that I learned what my body really could do.

SD: What dancer are you most inspired by?

EC: Maria Kochetkova (Principal, San Francisco Ballet) has always been an inspiration to me. I can relate to small dancers, and I love seeing dancers my height make it so big.

SD: So Emily, if there is anything else you want to say about yourself and your experience that you feel would be beneficial to other dancers?

EC: The only other thing I think I would have to say is that…

I was always pretty adamant about becoming a professional classical ballet dancer, but, once I had more exposure to modern dance and contemporary ballet, I realized that I’m more of a contemporary dancer. I would tell other young dancers to try other styles; you never know until you try! I didn’t even like or feel comfortable doing modern at first. It took a long while before I started to like it, and now I feel so comfortable in it.

If you would like to nominate someone to be one of Saratoga Dance’s Featured Dancers, send us an email.

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