Martin Løfsnes

Martin Løfsnes was born in East Germany and grew up in Norway. He founded 360° Dance Company in 2007 as a place for dance artists to grow, experiment, and expand their horizons through the presentation of classic modern dance works and contemporary commissions. Before this, he performed as a principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company from 1993 to 2006.

He also appeared in Matthew Bourne/AMP’s Broadway production of Swan Lake and performed with Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Pearl Lang Dance Theater, Donald Byrd/the Group, and Errol Grimes Dance Group. In addition to original choreographic works for 360°, his choreography has been commissioned and produced by the Kanopy Dance Company (Madison, Wisc.) and the Ailey School.

Løfsnes received his early dance training in ballet, jazz, and Graham technique in Norway with Kirsti Skullerud and Øyvind Jørgensen. During 1990–92, he studied at London Contemporary Dance School/The Place with such teachers as Clover Roope, Ronald Emblen, Jane Dudley, and Susan McGuire. He came to New York City on a scholarship to the Ailey School in 1992 and studied at the Martha Graham School while performing with the Martha Graham Ensemble. While affiliated with the Graham organization he worked with his most influential teachers and mentors: Carol Fried, Pearl Lang, and Yuriko.

Løfsnes is on the faculty the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College and the Ailey School. He has also taught at the Martha Graham School, La Guardia High School, State College of Dance (Oslo, Norway), and Lehman College (CUNY). He is a member of the Arts Advisory Committee of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and is also the custodian of Jane Dudley’s Time is Money, handling the licensing and restaging of the piece on behalf of the Jane Dudley Estate.