OLIVER OGUMA

NEW YORK 3RD SEASON

Oliver Oguma was born and raised in New York City. He grew up as a hip-hop dancer and Ford model before he began dancing ballet at the age of 8. He trained at The School of American Ballet, The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre, The Rock School for Dance Education and San Fransisco Ballet School before returning to NYC to join American Ballet Theatre studio company. In 2014 he joined Ballet West, he danced soloist roles and also choreographed ballets for the company. In 2019 he joined Ballet de l’Opera National du Rhin in France. He has danced works of Ohad Naharin, Jiri Kylian, Alexei Ratmansky, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, and many more.

GET TO KNOW OLIVER

Hometown: New York City, New York
Inspiration:What inspires me is, dance, to watch someone with a mastery of their own body is one of the most mind-blowing things someone can experience. I feel like I have only started to learn about what my body can do. I just want to dance as much as I can, and learn as much as I can.
Describe a meaningful dance moment: Last season I danced with Opéra national du Rhin we performed “Kamuyot” by Ohad Naharin. During the show there is a moment when we shake hands with various members of the audience. During the first show after the world shut down from covid I ended up shaking hands with an older man, we shook hands and he began to cry (happy cry) as if he was so happy just feel someone’s touch, it was a special moment in my life, a connection with someone I didn’t know and will probably never see again.
The moment you knew you wanted to be a dancer: When I was 7 years old I took my first ballet class because I asked my mom to take me to one. I saw an Opera at the Metropolitan Opera House that had dancers and told her I wanted to do that! After the class I apparently said “I’m gonna do this now” and the rest is history.