Emma Rutter Blood Clarke

Emma Clarke is a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Theatre and Drama program at UC San Diego and a cohort member of UCSD's Critical Gender Studies specialization. Emma's research has intersections into performance, dance, film, American, and cultural studies, along with feminist theory. Her dissertation examines the choreography and corporeality of female archetypal characters of mid-twentieth century American Westerns on screen and in live performance.

Emma has presented her scholarship at conferences held by the American Society for Theatre Research, Dance Studies Association, and Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association. In Spring 2021, Emma curated a public digital archival exhibit “Choreographic Innovation at the Pillow,” for the Jacob’s Pillow Archives as part of a master’s practicum. She has also served as a dramaturg for UCSD productions of Orlando by Sarah Ruhl and Bunny, Bunny by Raja Feather Kelly.

Emma began her professional career in arts fundraising most especially as a grant writer. She holds a MA in Performance Curation from Wesleyan University’s Institute for Curatorial Practice in Performance and a BA in Dance from Bard College where upon graduation, she received the Ana Itelman Prize for Performance.

Education 

B.A. in Dance, Bard College

M.A. in Performance Curation, Wesleyan University