In the studio: Slice to Sharp

Nancy Euvernik visited Tulsa Ballet to set Slice to Sharp, a ballet by Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo. Slice to Sharp will be performed as part of Tulsa Ballet's spring triple-bill, Exceptional Synergy, March 24-26.

Alfonso Martin and Alexandra Bergman

Jesus Pastor
Jesus Pastor, Hanae Seki and Soo Youn Cho
Nancy Euvernik, Jesus Pastor and Soo Youn Cho

Who is Jorma Elo?

Choreographer Jorma Elo was born in Finland and 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 and with Cullberg Ballet. Throughout his career as a dancer, Elo worked closely with numerous master choreographers, notably Jirí Kylián, Hans van Manen, William Forsythe and Paul Lightfoot. These influences led Elo to a choreographic career of his own. Elo was singled out as a “talent to follow” by Anna Kisselgoff in her 2004 Year in Review for The New York Times. Within a few short years, he has become one of the most sought-after choreographers in the United States and Europe. He has created numerous works in the US and internationally for companies such as New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Finnish National Ballet and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. The 2005 Helsinki International Ballet Competition awarded Elo a choreographic prize and he is the recipient of the Prince Charitable Trust Prize and the Choo-San Goh Choreographic Award in 2006. Dance Magazine (April, 2007) featured Elo on their cover with a corresponding article, Pointe Magazine named him a Dance VIP of 2006, and Esquire Magazine named him a “Master Artist” in 2008.