Encinitas local, Emily Pepper, joined the DanceArts family over 20 years ago in La Costa, CA, and her loyalty has stuck with the studio ever since. Emily always had a deep infatuation with performing, and represented NCDA by winning top awards in competitive group, duo, and solo routines. She now coaches the program, and was awarded "Best Choreographer" in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Emily is a 2nd degree Black Belt, and trained as an elite national competitor for the American Taekwondo Association, ranking top in the country for forms, sparring, and weapons since the age of 9.
Emily attended Hawai'i Pacific University, and later transferred to MiraCosta College, where she was given a better opportunity to pursue her truest passions. Under full dance and academic scholarships and maintaining the highest of grades, Emily received her degree in Dance and in the fall will receive another degree in Liberal Arts with an Area of Emphasis in Applied Health, Nutrition and Kinesiology. Emily is a certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist, Dance Instructor and Pilates Instructor, and is completing her certification for Personal Fitness Training. She teaches Dance P.E. at San Dieguito High School Academy and hopes to build a dance program there in the upcoming years. Outside of school and dance, she works extensively with children and is the Daycare Coordinator for Saint James Academy in Solana Beach.
Emily loves any opportunity to continue to grow as a dancer, educator, and performer. She has been featured in over 20 faculty and student pieces in the MCC Dance Concerts, and performed across the county with MiraCosta's Dance Touring Ensemble for 4 consecutive seasons. With this performance group, she participated in the American College Dance Association conference for 2 years, and in 2016, the MiraCosta cast performed as regional finalists!
Emily is very excited and blessed to have come full circle in the NCDA family, and would like to give a shout out to her family for all their love and support, and to all her teachers, dancers and their parents for inspiring her to combine all her passions into one, and share her love for dance in a positive, healthy, and safe manner!
ALOHA NUI LOA!