All Programs Instructor

Emma Ratzman is originally from Indiana and is currently based in Washington, D.C. She completed her undergraduate studies at Vassar College, where she majored in History—with a special interest in dance history—and French. She went on to earn her law degree from Georgetown Law. Emma’s teaching journey began in high school, where she served as a teaching assistant for pre-ballet, ballet/tap, and beginning ballet classes. During college, she taught informal beginning ballet classes at Vassar, and for the past two and a half years, she has been a dedicated instructor at DAV.

Emma’s dance background includes extensive pre-professional training, during which she performed in multiple full-length ballets and participated in Regional Dance America conferences. She began choreographing ballet pieces while in college and continues to share her love for ballet through both performance and teaching.

This year, Emma will be teaching at both locations. In her classes, dancers can expect to learn plenty of ballet vocabulary—often in French, which she enjoys incorporating into her teaching. Her advice for the year: “Be kind to yourself and to other dancers! Dance has a place for everyone.”