Ballet Faculty
Olivia Yoch (she/her) grew up in Richmond, Virginia, training with the School of Richmond Ballet. She obtained her B.F.A. in Dance Performance and B.A. in English Literature from Butler University before dancing with Tulsa Ballet II and Tulsa Ballet. Her fondest memories from Tulsa are dancing the principal role in Ma Cong’s Match Point, performing Adam Hougland’s Rite of Spring, and guesting with the Tulsa Opera.
She joined Atlanta Ballet in 2014, where she originated principal roles in works by Gemma Bond, Craig Davidson, and Juliano Nuñes. Her favorite repertoire includes roles in Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort, the Paquita pas de trois, Liam Scarlett’s Vespertine, Alexander Ekman’s Cacti, Nacho Duato’s Por Vos Muero, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s El Beso, Helgi Tomasson’s 7 for Eight, and Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette.
Olivia has taught student and adult learners in Virginia, Oklahoma, Indiana, Georgia, and California. She believes that ballet must evolve to center people who have been oppressed and marginalized. She also believes that students are the future of the artform.
She loves reading memoirs, talking about art, and eating pasta.