Emma Portner is a Canadian contemporary dancer, director, and choreographer who has reshaped commercial and concert dance spaces. Born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1994, she rose to early prominence through viral self-directed video collaborations, mainstream pop tours, and high-profile theater productions before breaking conventions in the ballet and film worlds.
Known for her boundary-pushing, emotionally intense movement language, Portner rejects rigid gender binaries in traditional choreography. Her career spans monumental projects, from staging routines for Justin Bieber to choreographing for world-renowned companies like Göteborg Danskompani.
Early Life and Foundation in Dance
Portner began dancing at the age of three in Ottawa, training extensively at competitive studios such as Leeming Danceworks. She spent two summers attending the National Ballet School of Canada's intensive summer programs, refining her technical foundation.
She attended Canterbury High School of the Performing Arts, graduating with honors in dance in 2012. That same year, she won the American Dance Awards National Young Choreographer of the Year title. At seventeen, she relocated to New York City to study at The Ailey School. Finding rigid institutional structures too restrictive for her evolving style, she dropped out after five months to forge an independent path in professional dance.
Breakthrough and Commercial Success
Portner gained wider public recognition in her early twenties through internet-native video projects and viral collaborations with dancer Matt Luck. Her choreography blended ballet precision with pedestrian vulnerability, attracting the attention of major pop acts.
In 2015, Portner co-starred in and choreographed the official music video for Justin Bieber's song "Life is Worth Living". This collaboration led directly to her appointment as a choreographer for Bieber's Purpose World Tour, bringing contemporary modern movement idioms to massive stadium audiences.
Her theater credits expanded when she contributed choreography to Jim Steinman's musical Bat Out of Hell, which premiered in Manchester and later enjoyed runs in London's West End. Her theatrical work earned praise for injecting physical urgency and raw psychological tension into commercial musical formats.
Transition to Concert Dance and Film
While commercial work brought visibility, Portner's primary artistic focus shifted toward contemporary concert dance and multidisciplinary performance art. She became one of the youngest choreographers to create work for major international institutions.
She has set pieces for elite European and North American ensembles, including Göteborg Danskompani and the National Ballet of Canada. Her choreographic style relies on extreme physical contortion, fluid weight-sharing, and deep emotional sincerity, often challenging how dancers interact regardless of traditional partnering conventions.
In addition to stage work, Portner expanded into film and television. In 2021, she performed the physical portrayal of Gozer the Gozerian in the feature film Ghostbusters: Afterlife. She also appeared in A24's surrealist drama I Saw the TV Glow (2024), directed by Jane Schoenbrun. Beyond dance and acting, she pursues experimental sound design and music, serving as the lead vocalist of the indie duo Bunk Buddy alongside producer Noah Rubin.
Personal Life and Marriage to Elliot Page
Portner's personal life drew intense media scrutiny following her relationship with Canadian actor Elliot Page. The two connected after Page spotted Portner's choreography videos on Instagram. They married in a private ceremony in January 2018.
During their marriage, the couple frequently used their platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility and artistic freedom. In December 2020, when Page publicly came out as a transgender man, Portner voiced immediate public support on social media, writing that she was deeply proud of him.
The couple amicably filed for divorce in January 2021, finalizing the separation shortly thereafter. Portner has since maintained a private stance regarding her personal relationships, choosing to focus public discourse strictly on her artistic output and movement research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Emma Portner's primary dance style?
Portner specializes in contemporary and modern dance. Her style fuses classical ballet technique with floor-work, pedestrian gestures, and fluid, counter-balance partnering that subverts traditional gender roles in choreography.
Did Emma Portner choreograph for Justin Bieber?
Yes. She choreographed and starred in the 2015 music video for "Life is Worth Living" and subsequently created movement pieces for Bieber's international Purpose World Tour.
What movies has Emma Portner appeared in?
Portner played the physical role of Gozer the Gozerian in Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and starred in the A24 drama I Saw the TV Glow (2024).
Was Emma Portner married to Elliot Page?
Yes. They married in 2018 after meeting on Instagram, and finalized a mutual divorce in early 2021 following Page's transition.
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