A Little Bit About Me!

Hi there, my name is Emmaliana Proch, but my friends call me Emma! I’m originally from Aurora, Colorado, where my love for dance sprouted! I was initially enrolled in dance class to get me out of the house as a young, anxious kid, but I quickly fell in love, and here we are many years later! I joined the competition group at my studio, Starstruck Academy of Dance, under the direction of Lisa Holtz Odell, and dance quickly filled every inch of my life! It was at this time that I realized that dance was not just a passion of mine, but I wanted it to be my career! Through being a competitive dancer, I was exposed to many wonderful things! Namely, working with various incredible artists like Patrice Barakat, who is Jojo Siwa’s aunt and a great friend of mine! I obtained many life skills from these experiences, forming me into the hardworking, dedicated, and compassionate artist I am today!

Flash forward to the present! I am currently a rising senior at Oklahoma City University in the prestigious Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment! I am pursuing my Bachelor of Science in American Dance Pedagogy! Teaching has been a passion of mine since a young age, and I am ecstatic to continue to grow my love for it in my studies. Through the Ann Lacy School, I have had the opportunity to perform in a variety of shows, including the Student Choreography Show and productions by the Star Dance Company! Here, I have gotten the chance to work with numerous choreographers as both their Choreographic Assistants and their dancer!

Dancer and Disney Enthusiast!

While I do have a huge passion for dance, I also have a big place in my heart for Disney! I visit the parks and see the shows any chance I can get, which I did this past spring break! A major career goal of mine is to work as a performer for Disney, but until then, visits to the parks will do! After all, it is the happiest place on Earth!

Animals Galore!

On top of everything, I am also a huge animal lover and advocate! I grew up with smaller animals, but that quickly grew into what seemed like a farm! By the time I reached college, my family had 14 pets in the house! You read that right, 14! That was a total of 4 dogs, 5 cats, 2 guinea pigs, a bearded dragon, and 2 snakes. Personally, I own a cat and a corgi, who are the loves of my life! Fun fact: my cat gets to live with me while I go to school!

  • Louis Vuitton, my corgi!

  • Misha Ann, my cat!

  • Ryker and Murphy, two of my family dogs!

  • Nutter Butter and Dino, my guinea pigs!

  • Winston, another family dog!

  • Pixie, one of our family cats!

Alpha Chi Omega

Joining a sorority was something I never expected myself to do. In fact, I didn’t give it a second thought until my sophomore year of college, when I joined Alpha Chi Omega (Gamma Tau Chapter) through formal recruitment. I am so beyond grateful I gave it a second chance, as it gave me the best siblinghood and support system a college student could ask for!

Alpha Chi has not only taught me what a Real Strong Woman is but also given me many opportunities to expand my communication, leadership, and social skills! Being an assistant to our VP of Philanthropy has taught me compassion and how to deal with uncomfortable topics and situations with grace. Being an assistant to our VP of Intellectual Development has taught me how to be responsible and hold myself and others accountable. This doesn’t even scratch the surface of all the life skills Alpha Chi has taught me!

Alpha Chi has given me lifelong friends and lessons that I will carry with me through all stages of life. I couldn’t be more grateful and blessed to have been a part of this amazing legacy and chapter!

My Teaching Journey!

Being a teacher was something I always assumed would be part of my future, but I never knew how monumental it would become in my life! And now here I am, a Dance Pedagogy major! I began assisting classes at my studio during my freshman year of high school, mainly with younger kids. But during my junior year of high school, I was given an opportunity that skyrocketed my love for teaching!

PerformAbility is a nonprofit organization run by Melanie Barron that teaches children and adults with special needs how to dance! While I first began assisting these classes on the side of my training, I soon realized that this was a large passion of mine! Pretty soon, I was hired as an official coach for the program, where I taught weekly classes for all ages. Along with this, I choreographed and taught competition and recital pieces, as well as musical productions during the summer! PerformAbility has taught me so many valuable lessons as a teacher, especially when working with students who have a variety of abilities! I have so much love for every student and such gratitude for the program that started my love for teaching!

Looking at the present, this experience completely formed who I am today! Being a Dance Pedagogy major has been my greatest joy in college! Learning how children learn to dance and seeing the excitement on their faces as they dance always fills my heart with joy. I am so ecstatic to continue on this journey as a future dance educator!

Star Dance Company/The Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment

Throughout my time at Oklahoma City University, I have had the opportunity to participate in many productions put on by The Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment! I have performed in the Star Dance Company’s 2025 Spring show, “Move! Dance for the World of Entertainment!” along with the Student Choreography Show (2024, 2025)! Along with this, I have had the opportunity to work as a choreographer’s assistant for the 2025 winter show, “The Holiday Spectacular.” Throughout these shows, I have learned many valuable skills applicable to the entertainment industry. I have learned to use respectful communication skills and how to be organized. I have also learned how to work under pressure while still putting on a successful performance!

  • "Move! Dance for the World on Entertainment!" (2025)

    “Bounce”- Choreographed by Shadoe Brandt

  • "Move! Dance for the World of Entertainment!" (2025)

    “That’s Entertainment”- Choreographed by Jessica Fay and Tye Love

  • "Move! Dance for the World of Entertainment!" (2025)

    “New York, New York”- Choreographed by Vincent Sandoval

  • "On Our Way"- Student Choreography Show 2024

    “Live in Living Color”- Choreographed by Emily Kelly

  • "Just Getting Started"- Student Choreography Show 2025

    “Psycho Killer”- Choreographed by Emily Thielen

  • "Move! Dance for the World of Entertainment!" (2025)

    “Sing, Sing, Sing”- Choreographed by Alana Martin