Emmy Butler

EMMY BUTLER, born in Washington, D.C., began her ballet studies at the Washington School of Ballet at age five. At fourteen, she was invited to join the HARID Conservatory on a full scholarship, where she studied for two years. Emmy continued her training on scholarship at Ellison Ballet in New York City under Evgenia Singur before accepting a scholarship to join the Joffrey Academy Conservatory in Chicago under Karin Ellis-Wentz. At Joffrey, Emmy performed Viva Vivaldi by Joffrey Ballet founder Gerald Arpino, 1st Odalisque from Le Corsaire, and an original piece by Joffrey company artist Xavier Núñez in the Joffrey Ballet 14th Annual Winning Works.

In 2024, Emmy was invited to join Ballet Arizona’s Studio Company under Alecia Good-Boresow. During her two seasons with Ballet Arizona, she performed with the company in The Sleeping Beauty, Ib Andersen’s Swan Lake & The Nutcracker, and George Balanchine’s Western Symphony & Walpurgisnacht.

She attended summer intensives at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Royal Ballet School London, San Francisco Ballet, and School of American Ballet. Most recently, Emmy spent her summer at Chautauqua, where she performed George Balanchine’s Serenade, staged by Patricia McBride, and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s Shindig. Emmy is excited to join First State Ballet Theatre for the 2026-2027 season!

Photos by Joe del Tufo