Jon Ole Olstad

Jon Ole Olstad started dancing at 16, realizing it to be his greatest passion. He was accepted into the National Academy of the Arts in Oslo, 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 had the honor of working 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 several festivals, venues and choreographic competitions; Cross Connection Choreography Competition in Copenhagen, Stockholm Dance Film Festival, and Ravnedans Contemporary Dance Festival in Norway. 

In 2015, he presented his solo "and we already knew the names" at the prestigious International Solo Tanz Competition in Stuttgart. He was awarded 1st prize dancer and choreographer and toured the solo in Germany, Brazil and NYC. In 2019 he was awarded the production prize from Ballet Basel at the 33.rd International Hannover Choreography competition with the solo’ Finally its everything’.

In 2009, he started teaching to share his knowledge and his love of dance. He has taught and choreographed at numerous colleges: Juilliard, NYU-Tisch, Marymount Manhattan College, Acosta Danza, Khio- Oslo, Balletakademien in Stockholm, Alvin Ailey and Lines Ballet. He has given company class to Gallim Dance, Ballet Hispanico, BODYTRAFFIC and Theater Regensburg Tanz. He is a highly sought out teacher and 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. 

Across The U.S he has mentored at 

• Michelle Latimer Dance Studios (Top Five at the Studio of the Year Dance Awards 2014, 2016)
• Prodigy Dance (Studio of the year 2014 Dance Awards Dance Awards)
• Dance Studio of Fresno (Studio off the year 2015 Dance Awards and Top School and Top Ensemble YAGP)

"In my class I want each and every one of the students to discover something new about themselves, both physically and mentally. To be able to step outside the box but at the same time gain the knowledge of being inside the box with your center and technique. The class focuses on expanding your limits, reaching further as a dancer, breaking habits and a personal investigation to take your dancing to a completely different landscape. I encourage a balance between doing the steps that are given to you, but at the same time letting who you are as a dancer and person color the movements.”