Jon Ole Olstad

Jon Ole Olstad started dancing at 16 years old, quickly realizing it to be his greatest passion. He was accepted into the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO), graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2009.

After college, he was hired for the tour project Kamuyot, a collaboration between the Swedish Riksteatern, and Batsheva Dance Company, led by artistic director Ohad Naharin. In 2013, Jon Ole was hired by Nederlands Dans Theater 1, led by artistic director Paul Lightfoot. In NDT1, he worked with Paul Lighfoot and Sol Leon, Johan Inger, Hofesh Shechter, Marco Goecke, Alexander Ekman, Jiri Kylian, Mehdi Walerski and Crystal Pite.

His own choreography has been presented at Cross Connection Choreography Competition in Copenhagen, Stockholm Dance Film Festival, Gala of the Stars in Florida, Stuttgart International Solo Tanz Festival, where he won 1st prize dancer and 1st prize choreographer, and in 2019 he was awarded the production prize from Ballet Basel at the International Hannover Choreography competition.

Jon Ole has taught at numerous educational institutions: Juilliard, NYU-Tisch, Marymount Manhattan College, Acosta Danza, Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO), Balletakademien Stockholm, Alvin Ailey and Alonzo King Lines Ballet. He has given company class to Gallim Dance, Ballet Hispanico, BODYTRAFFIC and Theater Regensburg Tanz. He has been on faculty for acclaimed professional Dance studios, such as Edge PAC, Movement Lifestyle, Millenium Dance Complex, Peridance, Broadway Dance Center, ArtÉmotion Summer Intensive, Ballet West, Joffrey Ballet Intensive, World Dance Movement Festival in Italy and Nuova Officina della Danza. Jon Ole is a certified GYROKINESIS® trainer.