faculty & Staff
Emily Lofton
Founder & Instructor
Emily has always been filled with a curious and tenacious spirit, ultimately leading her to form her own independent youth ballet program, Austin Classical Movement Institute.
As the primary instructor of ACMI, she oversees curriculum management, company development, performance opportunities, and auditions.
A firm believer that art is for all, Emily is most interested in pedagogical modalities that prioritize the whole student, not just the dancer at the barre. Her curriculum and methodology emphasize a strong sense of trust in one’s self, enabling students of ballet to move boldly through their early training, and confidently embody whatever endeavor awaits them, on or off the stage.
Emily’s credentials include
BFA Ballet Pedagogy - University of Oklahoma
CPYB Teacher Training Workshop 2025
4Pointe Teacher Certification 2026
Thank you for trusting ACMI with your student’s dance education, we are entirely grateful to join you on the path of their becoming.
Michael Evans
Director of Operations
Michael Evans brings a rare combination of high-level technology consulting and a deep appreciation for art administration to the studio’s leadership team. As Director of Operations, Michael oversees the systems, infrastructure, strategic growth and community impact that enable ACMI to run sustainably.
A fixture in the Austin arts community, Michael has a proven track record of guiding non-profit organizations into seasons of growth and renewal. He recently served as the Executive Director for Chorus Austin and currently holds the role of Revenue Director for East Side Performing Arts (ESPA), where he manages development and organizational sustainability. Michael is also the Board President for Density512, a contemporary music collective, and serves as both a singer and Program Director for Austin Cantorum.
By day, Michael leverages his expertise in the tech sector as an Implementation Consultant, specializing in cloud content management and workflow optimization. This professional background allows him to bring "big tech" efficiency and security to the studio, ensuring our operations run with the smoothness of a well-executed rond de jambe en l’air.
