I create multimedia work concentrated in dance, movement, and text; through that I am interested in creating textured, and layered work for queer people. I explore the vast range of highs and lows that can categorize the queer experience: the themes I’m exploring are not necessarily happy–there is tragedy in oppression–however I don’t dwell on the misfortune inflicted by oppressors. There is richness in the queer community, and queer joy is a story just as important as (if not more than) the harm that is perpetuated against us. I shine a light on stories that aren’t often told, and allow my audience an opportunity to reflect on shared experiences. My artistic practice includes personal research on queer history–for my work I study how queer culture has been shaped over the years through memoirs, archives, and other historical documentation. I bring that research into both my movement and the prose and poems I perform alongside it. I pull from deeply personal experiences with the work I create, in the hopes that the vulnerability that comes with specificity will allow for an audience to see themselves reflected in my work.
Noel Olson is a dancer and choreographer from Omaha, Nebraska, based in New York City. They studied at The Ailey School, graduating from the certificate program in 2023, and with GibneyPRO, led by Alexandra Wells. As a performer they are versatile, with multidisciplinary credits. They have worked with Red is Dancing in a tribute to Judy Chicago featured in Elle Magazine. They also worked alongside Katy Pyle in Travesty Doll Play Ballez (After Copelia), and is listed as a featured performer in the PBS documentary Travesty. They performed Algorithm Ocean True Blood Moves, created by Ana Pi and Julien Creuzet, at the Leman Ballroom in New York in 2023, in Studio Boekman in the National Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam in 2024, and at the Palais de Justice in Dakar in 2024. They have also performed works by Adam Barruch, Sidra Bell, Ronald K. Brown, Peter Chu, Laja Field, Ana-Maria Lucaciu, Darrell Moultrie, and Lea Ved. Noel’s practice incorporates elements of drag and dance theater in nightlife settings including their performance in GODSPAWN created by GODCOMPLEX, and Lover Boys co-created with Jules Assue. Their choreography focuses on different elements of queerness, as seen in their work Do You Still Believe?, performed at NYU Tisch and The Tank as a part of the WADE residency, and at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting as a part of Physfest, and Nebraska Clarified in residency with Homeport Art House.
