Michelle Olson

Michelle is a member of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation (Yukon) and the Artistic Director of Raven Spirit Dance. She studied dance at the University of New Mexico, Banff Centre for the Arts in Aboriginal Dance and furthered her performance training with Full Circle First Nations as an Ensemble member. Michelle works in areas of dance, theatre and opera as a choreographer, performer and movement coach and her work has been seen on stages across Canada. Selected choreographic and performance credits include Salmon Girl, Frost Exploding Trees Moon, Northern Journey, Gathering Light and Evening in Paris (Raven Spirit Dance); Mozart’s Magic Flute (Vancouver Opera); The Ecstasy of Rita Joe (Western Canada Theatre/National Arts Centre); Death of a Chief (Native Earth Performing Arts/National Arts Centre), and Wirawi Bulbwal, a collaboration with Wagana Aboriginal Dancers from Australia. She was the recipient of the inaugural Vancouver International Dance Festival Choreographic Award in 2013. She is currently teaching at Studio 58.