Articles & Interviews
Hear Ember on MPR
"I always feel better when I'm dancing," Ember told Nina Moini, host of Minnesota Public Radio's Minnesota Now on March 19. "No matter how stressed or angry I might be." Hear her story of a hard-charging state senator turned partner dancer. "I had to love myself first before I could love another person."
Then there's the amazing health benefits of dance, including a welcoming community. Did you know that loneliness or social isolation can increase risk of premature death by nearly 30 percent? Find out more in this MPR interview about the physical, emotional, and mental health benefits of partner dance!
Dance Wellness Community Interview
Tune in to Christine Bar Noël of The Dance Wellness Community as she interviews Ember at Snowball Dance competition in January.
American Dancer: A Powerful Prescription for Health—and Resilience
There’s Jim Carter of Duluth, Minnesota, who was gored in the thigh by a buffalo, exploding his femoral artery. His doctors told him he would never walk again; he would have none of it. Never a dancer, his physical therapist sent him to the local dance studio, where he practiced Waltz boxes for hours a day in front of a mirror to reconnect his brain to his leg. A few years later? He entered a ballroom dance competition with his instructor Andrea Kuzel – and won Top Newcomer Male.
Minnesota Women’s Press: Reinvention at Any Age
I walked into a dance studio at the age of 35 for one reason — to find a husband. I found one, but he doesn’t dance a step. Instead, dance changed me.
Minnesota Dancer: Ember’s Dance Story, Part I
Ember's mother, an Arthur Murray dance instructor, was known as the “Queen.” Ember didn't dance, because she felt she could never meet her mother's expectations. As an adult, Ember had an intense dual career as a young state senator and attorney, and she didn't have time for relationships. She forgot how to have fun or relax. Finally, at age 35, she walked into an Arthur Murray dance studio for one reason - to find a husband.
Minnesota Dancer: Ember’s Dance Story, Part II
During the pandemic, Ember realized how much dance—and the dance community—were essential to her well-being. She missed both. She turned to her second love—writing, to capture the impact partner dance made on her life and the lives of others.
WCCO Radio: The Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar
Coming January 13, 2026 is her new book The Dance of Resilience: Transforming Lives and Staying Vibrant Through Partner Dance! She joined Vineeta to discuss the book and to talk about the state of politics in Minnesota.
Washington Post: These Creative Activities May Help Slow Down Brain Aging
A new article from the Washington Post discusses how “a tango might be more than a ballroom dance when it comes to the aging brain.”
Washington Post: Walking Delays Alzheimer’s
An article from the Washington Post highlights a new study, which suggests that “people at heightened risk of Alzheimer’s disease may be able to slow their cognitive decline by taking more daily steps.”