Olga Aru was born in Eastern Ukraine and grew up in Kyiv. She’s an alumnus of the renowned state ballet academy. Since graduation, she worked in professional dance theaters for 15 years internationally performing as a first and second soloist. Such experience influenced her versatility as a creative performer and shaped her vision as a choreographer. Ms. Aru has large experience performing with touring productions. She’s been in charge of the youth and company casting and staging process. Aru’s work “Dance on the Edge of Century” was represented at the 37th CID – UNESCO Dance Congress in Athens, Greece 2013. Summer of 2018 Ms. Aru launched an independent Summer Intensive Program which she brought into eight cities nationwide. Her short dance film “Isolated In Motion” was created during the early lockdown in 2020 and found recognition in several international film festivals. Feature film: “Montreal Independent Film Festival ”, “Cinevoyage International Film Festival”, “The Lift-Off Sessions”. Finalist: “Sweden Film Awards”,, “Boden International Film Festival”
It has been screened at Takoma Park Community Center as a part of Shorts Night, organized by the municipality of Takoma Park, MD. Aru is a founder and artistic director of Aru Dell’Arte and teaching faculty member at CityDance DC. Through art, she thrives to create a positive, authentic, and non-judgmental environment. Constant exploration of movement, and non-traditional thinking out of the box – are the key factors of her daily research.
In the past season, she produced and choreographed eight shows. An interdisciplinary performance of Ode In Free Verse, with its world Premiere at DCAC – on March 19th and March 25th, 2022, in Washington, DC. Another showing at ATLAS Performing Arts Center — on July 30th, 2022.
Incorporating a trio of live musicians performing on stage amongst the dance company. Choreography and staging of the one-act ballet Requiem Today premiered within the production.
In late 2022 Olga produced and choreographed Christmas Legend – Modern Nutcracker Story. Premiere at CULTURALDC’S Source Theatre on December 10th and 23rd, Washington, DC.
April 15th and April 22nd 2023, Aru staged and produced a performance called Life Of Movement, combining ethno-fusion on Ukrainian, African and Babylonian stories.
