Emma Diehl

Emma began her dance training at age 8 in her hometown of Leesburg,

VA, immersing herself in all different styles before dedicating

herself to ballet at age 14. Throughout high school, she pursued

pre-professional training at the Washington School of Ballet and other

local studios in northern Virginia. A year after high school, she

danced full-time at BalletMet as a trainee.  She attended summer

intensive programs at Boston Ballet, Ellison Ballet, and American

Ballet Theatre in New York.

In 2020, following the COVID-19 shutdown, Emma decided to step away

from professional ballet training and pursue higher education. She

began taking classes at her local community college before

transferring to the University of Virginia, where she pursued a B.A.

in Cognitive Science and a minor in Data Science. Alongside her

studies, Emma excelled as a research assistant with UVA’s Educational

Neuroscience Lab, interned with the U.S. Department of Education, and

founded and directed a UVA chapter of the national nonprofit Ballet &

Books. Her academic and extracurricular excellence earned her

membership in The Raven Society, UVA’s oldest and most prestigious

honorary society. Throughout her academic pursuits, Emma nurtured her

enduring passion for dance as a member of UVA’s Rhapsody Ballet

Ensemble.

Upon her graduation in May 2024, Emma will begin a career in data

analytics and federal government consulting with Accenture Federal

Services in Arlington, VA. Her love for dance remains, as she

continuously seeks opportunities to train and perform. Emma is

thrilled to join Second Act and support others in their own journeys

beyond the world of dance.