Emma Portner

Emma Portner (born c. 1994/1995)^[1] is a Canadian professional dancer and choreographer.^[2]

Early life

Portner was born in Ottawa, Ontario^[3] and began dancing when she was three years old. She started dancing at a competitive studio in Ottawa before spending her summers with The National Ballet of Canada. While in Ottawa, she also attended Canterbury High School's specialized arts program in their dance stream. When she was 17, she moved from Ottawa, Ontario to New York City to train at The Ailey School.^[1][4]

Career

Portner created the choreography for Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell The Musical.^[5][6] In 2015, she choreographed and starred in Justin Bieber's music video for his song "Life is Worth Living".^[6] She also created the choreography for Bieber's Purpose World Tour.^[7][8]

In 2019, she was nominated for Arena Dance Competition's "Best Female Dancer" of the year. Paper magazine also listed Portner in "PAPER Predictions; 100 people to watch in 2019". Portner has appeared on the covers of the magazines Dance Spirit and Dance Magazine.^{[citation needed]}

As of 2020^[update], her work has been displayed in a variety of environments including Apple, Netflix, Vogue, Sony Pictures, and in professional ballet. She has movement directed indie music stars such as Blood Orange, Maggie Rogers, and BANKS and performed at prestigious venues like the Guggenheim Museum, Jacob's Pillow, the Oslo Opera House and New York City Center.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

In January 2018, actor Elliot Page (then Ellen Page) announced his marriage to Portner on an unspecified date.^[9] The couple met after Page noticed Portner on Instagram.^[2] In December 2020, Page publicly came out as a transgender man and non-binary,^[10] and Portner expressed her support while the couple had separated in the summer of the same year. Page filed for divorce in January 2021,^[11] and the divorce was finalized in early 2021.^[10]

Portner has previously identified herself as a lesbian.^[12] After Page came out as transgender and non-binary, Portner declined to speak publicly about her own gender identity and sexual orientation.^[13]

References