Emma Stedman

Lead Teaching Artist

Emma Stedman is a Lead Teaching Artist with Celebrate the Beat, primarily working in the Denver area while also enjoying the opportunity to travel and teach in other communities. She grew up in the small town of Paonia on the western slope of Colorado, where she was first introduced to Celebrate the Beat. However, Emma didn't begin teaching until a few years later when she moved to Denver. She has always enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially camping, hiking, and being near rivers and bodies of water. Emma loves listening to live music outdoors and dancing, and she is an avid adventurer who has spent months traveling and exploring the United States.

In 2015, Emma started with Celebrate the Beat as an assistant in the full-year programs in Commerce City. By 2019, she took on a leadership role in the residency programs, traveling around Colorado to work with schools. Emma would immerse herself in a school for 1-6 weeks, organizing and leading performances before moving on to the next location. Her travels took her to Denver, Longmont, Crested Butte, Aspen, Eagle County, and the North Fork Valley, where she grew up. Emma is deeply grateful to have worked with so many incredible Celebrate the Beat teaching artists throughout the years, learning from each one.

Now back with the Denver team, Emma is excited for the future. With Celebrate the Beat, she found her dream job, combining her passion for teaching with her love of dance. Emma believes that the program does more than teach dance—it teaches children to believe in themselves, creating a safe space where they can try new things and step outside their comfort zones. The work brings her tears of joy every day as she sees firsthand how it boosts the children's confidence. Being part of that transformation is pure magic, and Emma continues to wholeheartedly support the mission of Celebrate the Beat.