Emmerson Stephens was born and raised in Lakewood, Washington. She began her ballet training at Pacific Northwest Ballet. Then at eleven years old, she studied at The Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. Emmerson then moved back home for three years to train under Deborah Hadley, a former principal dancer, with the Pacific Northwest Ballet. She then studied at Houston Ballet Academy where she performed in Ben Stevenson’s Nutcracker and Stanton Welch’s Ladies. Emmerson continued her ballet training as well as her academic studies at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. After graduation, she accepted a trainee contract with Richmond Ballet. She trained under Cecile Tuzi, Igor Antonov, Judy Jacob and Malcolm Burn. Emmerson performed in their full-length classical productions dancing as a “Fiancée” and “Swan” in Swan Lake and “Snow” and “Flowers” in The Nutcracker.

She continued her dance training at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She studied under renowned faculty to include Carter Alexander, Leslie Peck, Silas Farley, Brandi Coleman, Mark Burrell, Anne Westwick, and Myra Woodruff.  Emmerson’s collegiate repertory includes soloist in Meadows Serenade and principal in Of Heaven & Earth, both by Silas Farley, soloist in Stephanie Martinez’s Something To Remember You By, and a pas de deux in Less by Adam Hougland at the Winspear Opera House. She also performed in works by Mike Esperanza, Larry Keigwin, and Matthew Neenan. Emmerson had the opportunity to choreograph an original work, The Four Seasons, which premiered at SMU’s Senior Dance Concert.

Emmerson attended summer intensives at Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Kirov Academy of Ballet, The School of American Ballet, The Royal Ballet School, Next Generation Ballet, Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, The Juilliard School, Ellison Ballet, Ballet Austin, and Boca Ballet Theater. At Boca Ballet Theatre, Emmerson performed as the soloist in La Source by George Balanchine, principal in Rhapsody in Blue by David Palmer, and in the ensemble in Sleep Study by David Parsons.

Emmerson graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southern Methodist University with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and a B.A. in Art History. She is currently pursuing her M.A. in Art History at SMU.  Emmerson has been named Rehearsal Director of Ballet Papillon for the 2025-2026 season. In this new role, she brings a deep commitment to artistry, detail, and ensemble cohesion.