Emma Portner is a Canadian dancer and choreographer who gained widespread acclaim when her short dance film “Dancing in the Dark” went viral. However, she is renowned as the wife of famous Canadian actor Elliot Page. Although Page was female at birth, he publicly came out as a trans man in December 2020.
While presenting as female, Page came to recognition for his role in the television franchise “Pit Pony” (1997–2000). He got a Young Artist Award nomination for his role in the film. He also gained recognition for his recurring roles in “Trailer Park Boys” (2002) and “ReGenesis” (2004). In addition, he became the first openly trans man to appear on the cover of Time in March 2021.
However, before being linked to her famous partner, Emma Portner made a name for herself in the dance community. She has choreographed for one of the biggest stars in the music industry, Justin Bieber.
Although Portner has been making waves in the entertainment scene, she made the headlines in 2021 when she and her spouse divorced. Consequently, she has gained the attention of fans. Here’s everything we know about the Canadian-born dancer.
Who Is Emma Portner?
Emma Portner was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on November 26, 1994. Despite being a renowned celebrity in her own right, Portner has kept most details about her upbringing private. Consequently, details about her parents and siblings are unknown. However, reports suggest she started dancing at a very tender age in Ottawa before making it to the big stage.
Compared to most people, Portner did not have a regular educational background. While in Ottawa, she attended Canterbury High School, where she participated in the school’s specialized arts program in her dance stream.
Afterward, Emma Portner moved from Ottawa to New York City to train at The Ailey School when she was seventeen. However, she dropped out after five months to begin her professional career.
When Did Elliot Page’s Ex-Wife Begin Her Dance Career?
According to reports, Emma Portner began dancing when she was three. She started dancing at a competitive studio in Ottawa before spending her summers with The National Ballet of Canada. However, she got her breakthrough after she met the Los Angeles-based dancer Matt Luck in 2012.
The duo choreographed and performed in the dance film “Dancing in the Dark,” which went viral, attracting millions of viewers. The dance sequence made her famous and helped her find a foothold in the industry. Toward the end of the year, the American Dance Awards awarded her the Young Choreographer of the Year title.
Afterward, she participated in the improv program, “RUBBERBANDance,” in 2014, shocking everyone with her natural ferocity and talent. After her outstanding performance, celebrities encouraged her to dance with abandon and pursue it as her life.
After her unique moves in the video “Dancing in the Dark” went viral, Emma Portner landed a spot in Justin Bieber’s project, “PURPOSE: The Movement,” which involved creating a dance video for each song in the singer’s new album. Consequently, Portner choreographed and featured in the album’s track “Life Is Worth Living” alongside Patrick Cook.
The video went viral, garnering over 50 million views on YouTube. The success of “Life Is Worth Living” landed Portner another opportunity to collaborate with Justin Bieber. Again, she choreographed sections of Bieber’s Purpose World Tour.
Since then, Portner has choreographed and worked with several artists and companies, including Netflix, Apple, and Vogue. In addition, her popularity has soared over the past few years, and she is among the most followed choreographers globally.
How Did Elliot Page and Emma Portner Meet?
In true 21st-century form, Elliot Page and the dancer Emma Portner met on social media in 2017. According to reports, Page first noticed Portner when she posted a dance video on Instagram to a song by Sylvan Esso. When Page saw the video, he felt inclined to message Portner.
Consequently, this marked the beginning of a beautiful relationship that tugged at the hearts of fans. Afterward, they became red carpet-official after they made their first public appearance at the LA premiere of Page’s film “Flatliners.” Despite the media attention they got, the couple kept their relationship private.
However, the media went into a frenzy after Page took to her Instagram to announce their marriage in January 2018. Despite the buzz, the then-couple kept their exact wedding date and details about the ceremony private.
Are Emma Portner and Elliot Page Still Married?
No, they are not. Three years after their private 2018 wedding, Emma Portner’s wife filed for a divorce. According to reports, the “Juno” actor filed the documents in a Manhattan court for a contested separation. As if that wasn’t enough, both of them have removed most of the photos of each other from their social media accounts.
While their divorce news left fans stumped, the couple has not shared their reason for divorce. However, Emma Portner and her former spouse said in a joint statement, “After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce following our separation last summer. We have the utmost respect for each other and remain close friends.”
While the divorce still leaves unanswered questions in the hearts of fans, the former couple continues to lead their lives separately. In addition, they have both experienced immense career growth in their respective fields. Like Emma Portner and her former spouse, another celebrity couple that is part of the LGBTQIA+ community that has captivated fans is Kristy McNichol and her partner, Martie Allen.
