Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Poli
Hi Emily, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in South Florida. My parents started me in dance lessons as a way to get me into a physical activity. They found a recreational center that offered a combo class of ballet/jazz/tap, and so I did that for a couple of years until I took a break and took up swimming lessons instead. Swim started as just lessons, and then the teacher invited me to come to a swim team practice..but I was too nervous, shy, and anxious and never stuck with it. I told my parents I’d like to start dance again but I wanted to be in a more serious environment. So my parents asked around, and found the “first” studio I went to, Southern Dance Theatre, and I started there taking jazz and ballet under Penni Greenly and Julie Bravata. I was there for 3 years and during that time I discovered I really loved ballet. I enjoyed all my classes, but I was obsessed with ballet. I would spend pretty much all of my time outside of class practicing, stretching, watching YouTube videos of anything….full length ballets, professional company classes, documentaries of Russian ballet schools, interviews with my favorite ballerinas, tutorials on stage makeup, audition videos… all things ballet.
Eventually I felt like I needed to go study somewhere that specialized in ballet, so I found my next studio which was called School of Ballet Arts, led by Deborah Marquez. I studied at School of Ballet Arts for 2 years, and during that time I was able to hone in and sharpen my proficiency in ballet technique, pointe work, and partnering. Ms. Marquez poured her knowledge and passion into all of our cups, and was a leading influence in my desire to want to pursue dance professionally… all because she believed in me. During my senior year of high school I ran into my first roadblock towards achieving my goal of dancing professionally. My parents didn’t see the point or reason behind pursuing a career that wasn’t going to provide me with any sense of stability. And going to college for dance? A joke. I vividly remember my dad telling me that I wasn’t good enough and I wouldn’t ever make it. It was hard to hear that at that point in time…I was very emotionally fragile and didn’t have great self-esteem, to hear that was soul crushing. And they weren’t entirely wrong, I auditioned for a few apprenticeships and didn’t get the result I wanted because I wasn’t ready to be a professional at age 17. But having that conversation forced me to make a decision, stand my ground, and fully commit myself to my goal.
My mother has always supported me regardless of how uncertain and scared she is for my future, so she flew and drove me out to attend a couple of college auditions for dance. My first choice wasn’t able to offer me as much financial aid as I needed to attend. Fortunately I received a huge amount of financial aid from Jacksonville University, which made it entirely possible for me to go to college for dance since I didn’t need to pay a single dollar. My overall experience at JU was really wonderful. I was able to continue training, I had opportunities to work with dance professionals, and I also learned about other sides of the industry that don’t have anything to do with dance. JU served as a crucial period of time in my life where I was able to be surrounded by other individuals that are also serious in pursuing dance as a career, allowing me to grow artistically and in physical & emotional maturity. I received many no’s during my time at JU, which mentally toughened me up significantly, but also made me realize that just showing up for class isn’t enough. I needed to supplement my dance training with resistance training. I became increasingly interested in the physicality of dance, so I decided to pursue a minor in Kinesiology…which made my parents happy because it made them feel like I was going to do something in the realm of physical therapy… but I was actually pursuing it so I could supplement my dancing.
My senior year at JU felt like it was going to be the year when all the stars align. It started off with a guest artist residency, followed by our Senior Choreography Concert, and over winter break I attended a workshop with a company in Portland, thinking I was going to “be seen” but I actually ended up learning what I don’t like. Coming into the new year, 2020, I had so much excitement…from getting to attend ACDA for the first time, to actually receiving my first company contract, and finishing with the Spring Dance Concert which had many works that I was proud to be a part of… but then COVID paused everything all at once. So nothing happened and I was stuck dancing in my backyard to complete assignments in order to get my degree. It was a bummer, but fortunately I had Rebecca Levy (the Artistic Director of JDT) reach out to me in December 2020 to inquire if I would be interested in working with Jacksonville Dance Theatre. I said yes, of course, no questions asked, and I did a site specific work at the Cummer Museum and a dance on film gig with JDT until March 2021, when I finally made my move out to Denver, Colorado to pursue the contract that I received in February 2020.
From March 2021 to May 2023 I worked with 3 dance companies, each of them revealing to me specific skills necessary to be successful in the arts world. In February 2023, I faced a life threatening situation where someone I knew had broken into my apartment and attempted to stab me with a knife, totally flipping my world upside down. I was upset, traumatized, angry, confused, hurt….and I realized up until that point in my life, I had been so focused on finding success in dance that I didn’t prioritize living and experiencing life. I decided to not renew my contract with the company I was dancing with, finish the season, and move back to Jacksonville so I could close the gap in my long-distance relationship and be closer to family.
Amongst the many things I am grateful to have returned to, JDT has been an organization that welcomed me back and I am very proud to be a part of because it is really where I first started as a professional. I’m going on my second season with the company, and despite the unprecedented budget cut to the arts in the entire state of Florida from Ron DeSantis, JDT is committed to continuing to provide the community with professional level modern dance, and inspiring the younger generation of dancers to pursue their highest ambitions.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life itself is an obstacle that can sometimes put me in my place. It has helped me come to realize it’s important, and okay, to lean on others. I have had moments of clarity, where it felt like the path in front of me was clear and unobstructed, but overall it has been a bit bumpy. Most of the struggles I have faced are rooted in financial constrains; paying for rent, bills, dance classes, purchasing dance shoes and supplies, investing time into projects that only pay in experience, and balancing a work schedule that allows me to continue training. But there are also obstacles I have to face in terms of self confidence and self worth. Some days feel better than others, but doubt tends to have a way of creeping in.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a professional performing artist and dance educator. I currently work with Jacksonville Dance Theatre (JDT) and teach at a handful of studios across the Jacksonville and surrounding areas. With JDT, we are a contemporary modern dance company that performs locally and tours nationally in addition to outreach programming at schools and in the community. I teach a variety of classes ranging from ballet technique, to modern technique, to contemporary, classical variations, dance composition, and strength training for dancers. In my work to date, I would have to say that I am most proud of the simple fact that I have reached the professional arena. It takes a lot of mental and physical grit and dedication, and I’m happy to say that my parents do support my work now that I’ve shown them what I can do.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
For me, it was a time where I realized I truly needed to dance for my own well being. Whether or not I receive a paycheck, I will continue to dance because it is what I love to do. For me, it’s the thing that makes me feel connected to something outside of this physical world, and it’s the thing that I find safe keeping in. On the flip side, I also learned that pursuing other interests can in fact help me in my craft. So while taking a breath, pausing, and slowing down felt scary because I felt like my purpose was fleeting… it actually created the opportunity for me to dive into the complexity of myself and understand how I relate to others.
Pricing:
- Ron DeSantis vetoed 32 million dollars in arts funding this year
- A donation of $3,000 can underwrite a commissioned choreographer
- A donation of $5,000 can underwrite a dancer’s pay for rehearsals and performances for the season
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e_poli/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@emilypoli1628
- Other: https://jacksonvilledancetheatre.org/
