René Olivier’s professional dance career started in 1990 with the Natal Performing Arts Council (NAPAC) in South Africa. From there, she danced with Alberta Ballet in Alberta, Canada for their 1998-1999 season. She joined Tulsa Ballet Theater in 1999 and got promoted to Soloist in 2006. During this time, she started teaching part time for Tulsa Ballet Theater Center for Dance Education’s Preparatory Level. In 2010 she became a faculty member at Charlotte Ballet Academy. Ms. Olivier taught and choreographed for all levels year round, as well as for their summer intensives. She acted as assistant for visiting artist, Valentina Kozlova who set Corsaire, La Bayadere, Raymonda, and Paquita for Charlotte Ballet’s summer intensives, as well as Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s Three Overtures. In addition, she was responsible for setting Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s Danses Brillantes on Charlotte Ballet Company, alongside Sarkis Kaltakhtchian. In 2012 she started teaching for The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In 2017 she became a faculty member at the Hartt School Community Division Dance Department, and in 2019 started teaching as adjunct faculty for The Hartt School’s BFA Dance Program at the University of Hartford. She choreographed Carnival of the Animals for Level A, B and C (Division I). From 2021 to present she teaches as a quest faculty for Ballet Hartford in Connecticut. She will be returning this summer as faculty member at the Chautauqua Institution‘s Dance Summer Intensive.
Dancing offered Ms. Olivier the opportunity to perform in countries like China, Taiwan, India, Italy, Alaska, Canada and Germany. Favorite lead roles performed included the lead in George Balanchine’s Rubies and Serenade. Titania in Mark Hawkins a Midsummer Night’s Dream. Firebird in Jean-Paul Comelin’s Firebird. Lady Capulet in Michael Smuin’s Romeo and Juliet. Featured roles in Jerome Robbins In the Night and Fancy Free. Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra songs. Paul Taylor’s Black Tuesday. Danny Pelzig’s Nine Lives. Val Caniparoli’s Going for Baroque. Galina Samsova’s Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. Christopher Wheeldon’s Carnival of the Animals. Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella and Ma Cong’s Carmina Burana. She received her Solo Seal Award from The Royal Academy for Dancing in 1988. In 1990 she was awarded “Most Promising Dancer” award by NAPAC. She is the recipient of the 1997 FNB Vita Award for her performances with the Playhouse Company in Natal, South Africa.