Emery LeCrone has choreographed works for Oregon Ballet Theater, Minnesota Dance Theater, Nova Ballet, the Comlumbia Ballet Collaborative and the National Choreographers Initiative directed by Molly Lynch, among others. She is the recipient of a 2010 grant from the Jerome Robbins Foundation's New Essential Works Program.
Born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, Emery received her dance training at the North Carolina School of the Arts under Melissa Hayden, Warren Conover, and Nina Danilova, and attended several summers on full scholarship at the School of American Ballet. After graduation she joined North Carolina Dance Theater. She moved to New York City in August 2007, where she performed with Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company in its inaugural City Center Season and with the Metropolitian Opera Ballet. She joined New Chamber Ballet in 2008.
This season Emery focusses entirely on choreographing, creating new works for North Carolina Dance Theater and New Chamber Ballet, among others. New Chamber Ballet already performs her Chamber Dances, made for the company earlier this year, and Five Songs.
Photo by: Paul B Goode
INTERVIEW:
Emery LeCrone in conversation about dancing and choreographing.
When did you first start ballet?
My mom started my sisters and I in ballet so she could have some free time for herself. She wanted us to gain discipline, and I'm sure the physical activity was a plus as well. I was around 4 or 5 years old. I started with creative movement classes, where we jumped over various stuffed animals for an hour. What four-year-old child wouldn't like that?
Where did you train?
I trained at the Greensboro Ballet, the University of The North Carolina School of the Arts, the School of American Ballet, and the North Carolina Dance Theatre
How did you join New Chamber Ballet?
In 2007, I moved to New York from North Carolina. I was taking class at Steps on Broadway, and Miro approached me and asked me if I would be interested in performing with his company. I was looking for more performance opportunities and gladly accepted.
What do you like about NCB?
I like the size of NCB. We all get to dance a lot and everyone really gets to know each other. It is a very close knit community.
What do you love most about being a dancer?
Performing and learning. Pushing my body to physical extremes.
... and what do you love least?
Auditioning and taking class. Since I have begun choreographing it has become even more important to make the effort to stay in the classroom. It is important to remain a student while becoming a teacher.
When did you get into choreographing?
I created my first work for North Carolina Dance Theater II in 2006. I was a member of the company at the time and was choreographing on myself and my peers.
What do you love about choreographing?
I like being able to create something and then have the opportunity to sit back and observe it. I also like the freedom to make changes within a step or within a new work. As a dancer I try to absorb someone else's movement and aesthetic, while as a choreographer I create my own.
Earlier this year you created your first work for New Chamber Ballet. How does this compare to your experiences making ballets for other companies?
I know the dancers here very well. I know their strengths and their weaknesses, and they know mine. We are also good friends, so there is a lot of trust and comfort in the room.
What is the hardest part about choreographing?
Editing yourself and your work, and listening to the energy in the room. The place and the dancers your are working with can inform your work in a very positive way, as long as you stay open to all realms of possibility. You must balance daily the ability to take risks and move forward and the chance to go back and re-do something.
What would you like your contribution to the dance world to be?
Every dancer and choreographer is currently making a huge contribution to the art form just by staying involved and keeping it alive through their performances and creations. That is what I hope most for my work. That it provides more jobs and opportunities in the dance world. That it inspires new fans, supporters, and whole generations of new artists.