Person Biography:
Emma was born on December 25, 1988, in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England. She grew up in Tamworth, a medieval town in Staffordshire, alongside her twin sister, Kelly. Emma's early exposure to the world of dance began at the tender age of four when she started studying ballet at Novelli Stage School. However, it wasn't until she was ten years old that she began competing in Latin American and Ballroom dance.
As a teenager, Emma's passion for dance led her to appear in a George Michael music video, shot at the iconic Rivoli Ballroom in London, which showcased various music styles from George's life. In 2005, at the age of sixteen, Emma took on the role of Principal Latin Dancer in the stage show 'Simply Ballroom,' which toured the UK, UAE, and South Africa.
During her time on 'Simply Ballroom,' Emma achieved significant success, winning the 2005 British Under 21 Latin American Championship at Blackpool and the 2006 UK Under 21 Latin American Championship at Bournemouth. Her impressive performance earned her a ranking in the world's top twenty for Under 21 Latin and represented England at all levels.
In 2007, Emma made her big-screen debut in the Universal Pictures movie 'Mamma Mia,' starring alongside Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth. She also contributed to the film's soundtrack. Later that year, Emma took on the role of a featured performer in the West End production of 'Dirty Dancing' at the Aldwych theatre in London.
Emma's subsequent appearances in the West End shows 'Latin Fever' and 'Cheek to Cheek' in 2007-2008 solidified her position as a talented and versatile performer. In 2009, she joined the multi-Emmy nominated Latin and Ballroom show 'Burn the Floor' for its world tour and residency on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre in New York.
In 2012, Emma was invited to join the fourteenth season of Dancing with the Stars in Hollywood, initially as a troupe member before progressing to Pro for season seventeen with comedian Bill Engvall. Her celebrity partners included actor Billy Dee Williams, NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip, and singer Redfoo.
Emma's choreography skills were showcased when she choreographed Usher's performance at the 2012 Billboard American Music Awards, Live at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. In 2014-2015, she starred in the highly successful Dancing with the Stars Live Tour show, hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, and performed live in front of thousands of fans at 39 different venues across the USA.
The tour received rave reviews and was a total sell-out. In 2015, Emma and partner Redfoo made history by becoming the first couple to do a live-stream rehearsal for Dancing with the Stars. Emma later became the first pro to do a live fitness class on All Access DWTS and hosted Dancing with the Stars All Access Live alongside co-host Gethin Jones.
