Houston Ballet and its artists come together from a multitude of backgrounds and experiences with a common goal – to bring the beauty and artistry of ballet to our community. Get to know these artists and what they are experiencing during this ongoing crisis.
About the Artist
Emma Forrester was born in China and raised in Houston, TX, where she began dancing at 2 years old and classical ballet training at 4 years old. She joined Houston Ballet Academy’s Pre-Professional Program in 2011 and is currently a member of Houston Ballet’s second company, HBII.
Q&A with Emma Forrester
What do you miss about performing?
I miss the whole process of performing, from relentless rehearsing to taking the final bow at the end of a show. I miss the adrenaline rush and excitement right before going onstage and being inspired by the amazing dancers surrounding me. The feeling of being onstage is indescribable; the set, the energy from the audience and the onstage camaraderie make every hour of preparation worth it. Without performing, a dancer’s job is unfinished.
When we return, what do you hope to see as a multicultural dancer?
I consider myself a multicultural dancer, having been born in one culture and growing up in another. As such, I think positive steps have been taken to diversify the ballet world, including the rise of more women choreographers as well as more dancers from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. I hope to see this progress continue as well as our audience grow so that more people will come to appreciate this amazing artform. Dance, like music, is universal and my hope is that everyone can enjoy the expression of humanity through movement as there is truly nothing more exhilarating for the dancers or the audience!
Why do we need to #SaveTheArts?
The arts make us human, and I cannot imagine living in a world without the arts. Art both influences and reflects our lives. While the pandemic has transformed our lives in many ways and may alter the manner in which we perform in the future, we must save the arts because it is the place where our imagination and creativity live.
Save the arts today and keep our dancers dancing by donating at give.houstonballet.org/academy.