Principal Artist Emily Adams Celebrates 20 Years with Ballet West
When Principal Artist Emily Adams first joined Ballet West II in 2005, she started down a career path that would shape her artistry. Twenty years later, as she returns to one of her dream roles as Juliet in Smuin's Romeo & Juliet, the Pennsylvania native reflects on the journey.
"I always thought I was only ever going to be Lady Capulet, Lilac Fairy, or Carabosse. I was never going to do Aurora or Juliet," Adams said. Ballet West had different plans after she finished training at prestigious institutions like the School of American Ballet and San Francisco Ballet School.
Principal Artist Emily Adams | Photo by Beau Pearson
Adams rose through the ranks like a fairy tale, from corps member in 2007 to Principal Artist in 2015. Along the way, she's embodied some of ballet's most coveted roles, from the dual Odette/Odile in Swan Lake to the sparkling beauty of Diamonds in Balanchine's Jewels, to the transformative journey of Cinderella.
Principal Artists Emily Adams & Adrian Fry in Swan Lake | Photo by Beau Pearson
Her upcoming return to Juliet holds special significance. "It's always been one of my absolute dream roles," she explains, "mainly because of the style of dancing, the music, the fact that there's so much acting and really challenging partnering."
Principal Artist Emily Adams in Romeo & Juliet | Photo by Beau Pearson
Beyond her achievements as a principal dancer, Adams has emerged as a significant creative voice as a Princess Grace Honoria. She has choreographed six works for the company, including her latest creation, Mass Hysterical (2025), developed in collaboration with composer Katy Jarzebowski.
Soloist Victoria Vassos & Principal Artist Hadriel Diniz in Mass Hysterical | Photo by Beau Pearson
Adams' perspective on ballet has shifted over the years. "I feel like I've had to kind of change the way I think about it, where it's not about me as much. It's more about this gift I've been given and how am I going to share it with the world," Adams reflects.
"We don't often realize that it is bringing people joy and bringing people awe," she says, describing the separation between performers and audiences that can make dancers forget their impact. "I went to see a Broadway show, and I was sitting in the audience, and I was like, wow, I'm so moved and so grateful that these performers are up there sharing their talent that they've been given."
Principal Artist Emily Adams
As Adams prepares to once again step into the role of Juliet, she brings to the stage two decades of growth and maturity. From a young dancer who never expected to perform her dream roles to a principal artist and choreographer shaping the company's future, her journey embodies the transformative power of artistic courage.
Principal Artist Emily Adams | Photo by Beau Pearson