Jorma Elo
Encyclopedia
Jorma Elo is a contemporary choreographer. Elo began studying dance at a young age through classical training at the Finnish National Ballet School
and the Kirov Ballet School. He danced with the Finnish Ballet from 1978–1984 and with the Cullberg Ballet
from 1984 until 1990. In 1990 he joined Netherlands Dance Theatre where he worked with choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Hans van Mamen, Ohad Naharin, William Forsythe and Paul Lightfoot.
Elo has choreographed works for a variety of dance companies and was named the Resident Choreographer of Boston Ballet
in 2005. In addition to Boston Ballet he has also worked with American Ballet Theatre
, the Royal Danish Ballet
, Finish National Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
Elo has received numerous accolades for his choreography, including a mention by New York Times dance critic Anna Kisselgoff
as a “talent to follow”. In 2005 he won a choreographic prize at the Helzinki International Ballet Competition. In 2006 he won the Choo-San Goh Choreographic Award and that same year Pointe Magazine named him a Dance VIP.
Most recently Elo has been celebrated by critics for his evening of dance at Boston Ballet entitled “Elo Experience”. The performance featured eight selections from Elo’s repertoire, the remaining sections illustrated by Boston Ballet’s premiere dancers Jeffrey Cirio and Larissa Ponomarenko.
Finnish National Ballet
Finnish National Ballet is a professional ballet company at the Finnish National Opera, in Helsinki, Finland. The company was founded in 1922 and it currently employs 73 dancers. It is the only Finnish company that regularly performs a classical ballet repertoire...
and the Kirov Ballet School. He danced with the Finnish Ballet from 1978–1984 and with the Cullberg Ballet
Cullberg Ballet
The Cullberg Ballet is a Swedish contemporary dance company.It was founded by the modern dancer and pioneer choreographer Birgit Cullberg in 1967, who brought it to fame...
from 1984 until 1990. In 1990 he joined Netherlands Dance Theatre where he worked with choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Hans van Mamen, Ohad Naharin, William Forsythe and Paul Lightfoot.
Elo has choreographed works for a variety of dance companies and was named the Resident Choreographer of Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet, founded in 1963 by E. Virginia Williams, was the first professional repertory ballet company in New England. Boston Ballet’s national and international reputation developed under the leadership of Artistic Directors Violette Verdy , Bruce Marks , and Anna-Marie Holmes...
in 2005. In addition to Boston Ballet he has also worked with American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
, the Royal Danish Ballet
Royal Danish Ballet
The Royal Danish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, it originates from 1748, when the Royal Danish Theatre was founded, and was finally organized in 1771 in response to the great popularity of French and Italian styles of dance...
, Finish National Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
- External links :*...
and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
Elo has received numerous accolades for his choreography, including a mention by New York Times dance critic Anna Kisselgoff
Anna Kisselgoff
Anna Kisselgoff is a dance critic and cultural news reporter for the New York Times. She began at the Times as a dance critic and cultural news reporter in 1968, and became its Chief Dance Critic in 1977, a role she held until 2005...
as a “talent to follow”. In 2005 he won a choreographic prize at the Helzinki International Ballet Competition. In 2006 he won the Choo-San Goh Choreographic Award and that same year Pointe Magazine named him a Dance VIP.
Most recently Elo has been celebrated by critics for his evening of dance at Boston Ballet entitled “Elo Experience”. The performance featured eight selections from Elo’s repertoire, the remaining sections illustrated by Boston Ballet’s premiere dancers Jeffrey Cirio and Larissa Ponomarenko.