Emily Wright

Emily Wright serves as a Lecturer in Dance at the University of Virginia, where she integrates academic scholarship with community-based dance practices through teaching, choreography, and research. Her work emphasizes inclusive collaboration across diverse age groups and backgrounds.

Her academic credentials include:

• BFA in Dance from Belhaven University (2002)
• MFA in Performance and Choreography from Arizona State University (2007)
• PhD in Dance Studies from Texas Woman’s University (2016)

Dr. Wright's research critically examines the intersection of religion and dance in American Christianity, notably documented in her book Dancing to Transform: How Concert Dance Becomes Religious in American Christianity. Her scholarly focus extends to embodied writing, experiential anatomy, and intergenerational community dance practices. Through interdisciplinary approaches, she connects theological frameworks with physical expression, exploring how concert dance functions as religious practice within secular contexts.

As an educator and choreographer, she develops innovative courses bridging university and community settings. Her practice prioritizes creating collaborative spaces where pre-professional dancers partner with community members aged 5–65, fostering mutual learning through contact improvisation and community-engaged projects. She actively contributes to regional arts infrastructure as an Associate Member of Charlottesville's McGuffey Art Center and through state-wide conference planning.