V15 Daglig träning/Daily training
CONTEMPORARY
Tis/Tue-Fre/Fri: 10:15-11:45 + 12:00-13:30
Jon Ole Olstad started dancing at 16, realizing it to be his greatest passion. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the National Academy of the Arts in Oslo in 2009. Following graduation, he joined the tour project “Kamuyot,” a collaboration between the Swedish Riksteatern and Batsheva Dance Company under the artistic direction of Ohad Naharin. From 2012 to 2014, Jon Ole was a member of Nederlands Dans Theater 1, where he had the privilege of working with esteemed choreographers such as Paul Lightfoot, Sol Leon, Johan Inger, Hofesh Shechter, Marco Goecke, Alexander Ekman, Jiri Kylian, Mehdi Walerski, and Crystal Pite.
Jon Ole’s choreographic works have been showcased at various festivals and competitions, including the Cross Connection Choreography Competition in Copenhagen, Stockholm Dance Film Festival, and Gala of the Stars in Florida. In 2015, his solo “and we already knew the names” won first prize for both dancer and choreographer at the International Solo Tanz Competition in Stuttgart, leading to tours in Germany, Brazil, and New York City. In 2019, he received the production prize from Ballet Basel at the 33rd International Hannover Choreography Competition for his solo “Finally it’s everything.”
Since 2009, Jon Ole has been dedicated to sharing his knowledge and love of dance through teaching and choreography. He has worked with numerous educational programs and institutions worldwide, including, NYU-Tisch, The Palucca School, Marymount Manhattan College, National Academy of the Arts Khio-Oslo, Juilliard, Balettakademien in Gothenburg and Stockholm, The Alvin Ailey School, Henny Jürriens Studio, Peridance, Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, ArtÉmotion Summer Intensive-Ballet West, Vancouver Ballet Society Spring Seminar, Tanz Akademie Zürich, Tanz Akademie Mannheim, Danscentrum Väst, Oslo Dance Seminar, Oslo Jazzdansfestival, PRODA Oslo, Milano City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet Intensive, World Dance Movement Festival in Italy, NUOVA OFFICINA DELLA DANZA, Copenhagen Contemporary Dance School, and Lines Ballet. He has also conducted company classes for Gallim Dance, Ballet Hispanico, Ballet Nuremberg, Ballet Leipzig, Theater Pforzheim, Carte Blanche Dance Company, BODYTRAFFIC, Danish Dance Theater, Acosta Danza-Cuba, Micompañia-Cuba, and Theater Regensburg Tanz.
IN CLASS The contemporary class begins with a structured technical warm up, followed by choreographic phrases across the floor. The warm up draws inspiration from various contemporary forms, as well as elements from jazz dance, classical ballet, and the GYROKINESIS® method. It fosters deep spinal awareness and mobility through elements such as high release, contraction, spiral, side-bend, undulation, and flat back, in relation to a powerful, agile, and lengthened port de bras.
The legwork comprises precise classical ballet footwork and contemporary leg vocabulary, inspiring dancers to explore how the legs are grounded into the earth and articulated while the torso remains free and expressive.
The warm up is designed to prepare dancers for simple yet valuable choreography phrases across the floor, which practice various dynamics, qualities, intricate coordination, and musicality/rhythm, while also pushing beyond one’s limits to achieve a sense of expansion. These movements encourage dancers to explore and gain further insight into using the spine articulately while finding efficient weight shifts.
The class emphasizes finding joy in one’s passion for dance and musical expression, asserting that by investing energy into movement and mindset, the body will subsequently gain more energy for the remainder of the day.