Gemma Freitas

Gemma Freitas, currently a third-year BFA dance student at The Juilliard School, began her dance training at age two at David De Marie, a local dance studio in her hometown of Buffalo, New York. She continued her local training at the American Academy of Ballet. Her early studies focused learning a variety of styles and on dance competitions. Gemma’s passion has been performing since the first time she stepped foot on the stage.

While at Juilliard, she has had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Monica Bill Barnes, Emery LeCrone and Darrel Grand Moultrie, and has learned repertoire by Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Murray Lois, Eliot Feld, and Nils Christe. Gemma is passionate about educational outreach and has taught young children music and movement as well as performed at various locations throughout New York City, such as nursing homes and hospitals.

Gemma has also received training from various summer programs, such as the Chautauqua School of the Arts, Point Park University, Movement Invention Project, and Arte Libera in Valencia, Spain. This summer Gemma will be attending Springboard Danse Montréal and performing in the Chicago Dancing Festival in August. While continuing to enjoy the creative and supportive environment the Juilliard School provides, she is excited to start her future career in performance and teaching, with a goal to eventually practice dance/horse therapy for those with mental disabilities.