Olivia started dancing at the young age of 2 and 9 months at Attitudes Dance Studio under the direction of Tania Attard-O’Dwyer. She trained in all styles of dance including Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) while at Attitudes and went on to successfully audition for the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS), starting her full-time dance training in 2011. During her 6 years at VCASS, Olivia was awarded the Anne Wooliams Dance Award, was appointed Dance Captain of the school and successfully gained her Royal Academy of Dance Solo Seal Award. She played Dorothy in Tanya Mitford’s ‘The Wiz’ and was a lead dancer in Tim Harbour’s ‘Chorale’ during her final Malthouse Season. She won the Premier’s award for VCE VET Dance with a Study Score of 50 and was chosen to perform her Technique Solo at the VCE Top Class Season of Excellence. Olivia completed 2016 by reaching the Semi Finals of the RAD Geneé International Ballet Awards in Sydney. Olivia then went on to complete her tertiary studies at the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) in Wellington, New Zealand as a Contemporary major, graduating with both a Certificate and Diploma in Dance Performance by the end of 2019. While at NZSD, Olivia performed as a dancer in the World of Wearable Arts Show (WOW), performed works by Raewyn Hill, Damien Jalet, Ross McCormack, Sam Coren, Huang Yi, Adam Barruch and Gabrielle Thomas. In 2020, Olivia up-skilled and gained her Certificates in Mat and Reformer Pilates Instruction. She enjoys the complimentary strength, flexibility and injury prevention tools that Pilates offers to assist the dancer.
Olivia is looking forward to sharing her passion and knowledge with the next generation of students in 2021, whilst continuing to pursue her own professional dance career.
Olivia Castagna
