10 things to know about Ken Ossola

1. He started out as a gymnast. Ossola’s natural grace on the mat caught the attention of his coaches. They recommended ballet classes as a way to develop his strength—only for the 16-year-old to discover that ballet was his true calling.

2. He learned from the greats. Ossola studied with some of the best ballet teachers in Switzerland, including former Béjart dancer Jean-Paul Balmer at the Claude Boucherin Dance School and Beatriz Consuelo at l’École de Danse de Genève.

3. He keeps good company. Ossola launched his professional dance career at Nederlands Dans Theater and created with world-renowned choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Paul Lightfoot, and Martino Muller (to name just a few).

4. His mentor was none other than Jiří Kylián. As a Company member at Nederlands Dans Theater, Ossola performed in the original cast of several Kylián ballets including Bella Figura and Wings of Wax. Collaborating with Kylián inspired Ossola to pursue a career as a choreographer.

5. He approaches ballet through a new lens. Ossola considers himself a sculptor or calligrapher more than a choreographer. His ballets play with shadow and light, and he formulates each step as if “painting on a canvas.”