Choreographer

Jorma Elo (Image © Eric Antoniou)

In just a few short years, Finnish-born Jorma Elo has become one of the most sought-after choreographers in the United States and Europe. Elo, who was named resident choreographer of Boston Ballet in 2005, was singled out as a “talent to follow” by Anna Kisselgoff in her 2004 Year in Review for The New York Times. It was an astute observation. He has since created numerous works in the U.S. and internationally, including Slice to Sharp for New York City Ballet, Glow-Stop for American Ballet Theatre, Carmen for Boston Ballet, 10 to Hyper M for Royal Danish Ballet, Offcore for Finnish National Ballet, Pointeoff for Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and From All Sides for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. His newest work, C. to C., for American Ballet Theatre represented a collaboration with artist Chuck Close and composer Phillip Glass.

Elo trained with the Finnish National Ballet School and the Kirov Ballet School in Leningrad. Prior to joining Netherlands Dance Theater in 1990, he danced with Finnish National Ballet from 1978 through 1984, and with Cullberg Ballet from 1984 to 1990. Throughout his career as a dancer, Elo worked closely with numerous master choreographers, including Ji?í Kylián, Hans van Manen, Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin, William Forsythe, and Paul Lightfoot.

Elo has also choreographed for Alberta Ballet (Blank Snow and L’Apres Midi d’un Faune/Spectre de la Rose), Norwegian National Ballet (Cut to Drive), Finnish National Ballet (Happy is Happy, Twisted Shadow, and Two Fast), Stockhom 59° North (in my DREAM team), Netherlands Dance Theatre (1st Flash and Plan to A), Staatstheater Nurnberg (Slice to Core), and Ballet X (Scenes View 2). In addition, Elo has choreographed works for Vienna Opera Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders, and Basler Ballet. For Boston Ballet, Elo has created four world premieres: Sharp Side of Dark (2002), Plan to B (2004), Carmen (2006), and Brake the Eyes (2007). He is also a skilled designer of costumes, lighting, and video effects for his ballets.

The 2005 Helsinki International Ballet Competition awarded Elo a choreographic prize and he was the recipient of the Prince Charitable Trust Prize and the Choo-San Goh Choreographic Award in 2006. Also in 2006, Dance Magazine recognized Elo as one of 25 to Watch, Pointe Magazine named him a Dance VIP 0f 2006, and The New York Times named him as one of 10 to Watch.

Biography courtesy of Boston Ballet